Following our hugely disappointing Scottish Cup exit last weekend we returned this week to league business for the first time in many weeks, facing Rothie Rovers at Lawsondale. We, historically have enjoyed some memorable encounters with the country side over the years and this afternoons had to go into the must win category, the 3 points would be vital in our quest for promotion. Manager Marlow just back from the Canaries in the early hours of the morning, remained on the side line leaving a 15 man pool. Ellis, Hamilton, West and Trialist Stuart “Duncs” Duncan were on the bench. Sct Marlow in goal, Mutch, G.Fulton, Young & N.Duncan in defence. MacDonald after a good showing coming on against Calderbank, R.Fulton, Morgan and Simpson formed the midfield and the Laing Webster partnership continued up front. The importance of the 3 points was laboured prior to K.O. and Halli started brightly. Morgan Simpson and Webster linked well down the left with Websters cross cleared by the visiting defence. Rothie had not read the script and took the lead in 8 mins. A pretty inept ball forward was inexplicably left by N.Duncan and his man raced onto it and shot his side in front..Had Sct Marlow shouted for this one? Who knows, what is certain is that the ball should have been attacked and cleared! We kept the heads up and began to put some great moves together. R.Fulton was in exceptional form throughout the first 45 and his passing in particular was well on song. He expertly slotted a fabulous ball in for Webster who could have hit it first time left footed, instead he turned inside and the keeper saved. R.Fulton them sent a lovely pass into the path of Laing who looked certain to equalise. He went one on one but the keeper blocked. Our pressure paid off when in 25 we went level. Webster resplendent in his number 14 shirt collected on the left of the area steadied himself then placed a shot beyond the keeper and a defender. Rothie responded with a right wing attack and a deep cross was well taken under pressure by Sct Marlow. In 30 Simpson was well picked out by Morgan wide left, he cut inside then fell to his knees in prayer. These prayers were answered soon after when we took the lead. Webster did well to set up Laing and the hitman thundered in a low drive. G.Fulton did very well to cover across his back line and clear down the left then moments later Mutch raced back to slide in a challenge which broke up a left wing attack. From this challenge the ball bawbled loose in the centre circle and Webster screwed a great pass out to MacDonald. He set off in pursuit and with Laing screaming for a square ball he went alone and drove his shot beyond the far post. (H.T.2-1). We had done well to turn the game round and in truth we should have been well in front. We had to get a bit tighter on our opponents, get there first, but we were looking pretty comfortable at the break. As it was Rothie were the side that went onto dominate the second half. They came out in search of an equaliser and continued to press for the majority of the second 45. R.Fulton had been a major factor in our domination first half but he seemed to fade out of it which helped the visitors. Halli attacks became few and far between, then something strange happened….Greg Young appeared on the park to put in a bone crunching challenge wide left as he welcomed the Rothie sub to the game!! Despite Rothie doing well they never really tested Sct Marlow in our goal. In 65 the Rothie keeper who had done more than his fair share to keep his side in the game, sold the shirt when he sent a goal kick straight to a Halli player. The ball was squared wide to Morgan who in turn delivered a great ball into the area. The ball fell nicely between a defender and the keeper and as they hesitated Webster ghosted in, stole the ball away and put us 2 in front. In 70 we played far too tightly wide right on the half way line. This resulted in Rothie clearing and G.Fulton did well to get across and make an important challenge. Unfortunately he took a heavy knock and was forced off for treatment. He did however return to the action but was withdrawn after 80 along with Webster. Hamilton and West taking over. West only managed a fleeting appearance as after only 4 mins he fell victim to an assault by the keeper and had to be replaced by the gleeful Duncs. The striker who has the build of a space hopper was keen to do well in this his 2cnd Halli appearance and indeed he almost touched the ball, however just missed out after falling to the ground as he haired after an upfield punt off Mutch (F.T.3-1). Excellent 3 points, fully deserved. We did fall out of it second half but had done more than enough in the first to win the match. A great first half from R.Fulton who fell away in the second period. Hallitopman for a solid display throughout was Graeme Fulton. This win sees us sitting in 3rd slot in the table. We must aim to pick off the two in front and our objective should always be to better our 14 game winning run from last year