Here is the Rutherglen match report from last Wednesday's game.
Rutherglen Victoria left Show park with a vital three points after a 4-2 win over ten man East Kilbride Thistle.
East Kilbride Thistle were looking for their first win in three however after only thirteen minutes they were 1-0 down. A long throw from the left hand side was cleared by Ryan Mailey in the Thistle goal but only as far as Brian Welsh who fired home to put Rutherglen ahead.
Thistle couldn’t handle Rutherglen and six minutes later Rutherglen doubled their lead. Another long throw, this time from the right hand side found Denis McLaughlin unmarked in the box and his header beat Mailey to make it 2-0.
Things went from bad to worse for Thistle as after twenty six minutes it was 3-0 Rutherglen. Thistle’s defence was all over the place and a misplaced pass set up Brett Agnew who fired the ball into the top corner to make it 3-0 and pile more misery on Thistle.
Thistle ended a disappointing first half by pulling a goal back through an own goal as Andy Ward accidentally headed the ball past his keeper from a Thistle corner. Thistle started the second half brighter than the first and nearly pulled another goal back as Chris Dallas after good play went round the keeper however he could only hit the post from a tight angle.
Just before the hour Rutherglen secured the victory through a penalty. Graeme Dempsey was adjudged to have taken down Agnew in the box and the ref pointed to the spot. Joe McAlpine made no mistake converting the penalty to make it 4-1 Rutherglen.
Rutherglen seemed content with four however had the chance to make it five from the penalty spot with only a few minutes left on the clock after a Paul Bain foul in the Thistle box. Bain received a second yellow and red card for the challenge however McAlpine ’s penalty was saved well by Ryan Mailey.
Thistle grabbed a late consolation through top scorer Chris Dallas. Graeme Dempsey flicked on a dangerous cross to Chris Dallas who headed home to make it 4-2. This was one of the last kicks of the game as Rutherglen secured a vital victory in their efforts to avoid relegation this season.
Team : Mailey, Sloan (Morgan 69), Allum, Daly, Bain, Dempsey, Young (McMillan 76), Innes, Chaplain, Dallas, McVey (McRoberts 69)
Subs Not used: Smith, Harkins, Gorman, Bonnar
Goals: Ward (Own Goal 45) , Dallas (90)
Yellow Cards: Bain, Innes, Dempsey, Mailey
Red Cards: Bain
