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Newmains United 3 - 1 Carluke Rovers

Goal up: Newmains players celebrate after Mikey Barton's opener (Photo: Graham Robb)

By DYLAN INGLIS

PAUL DAVIES reckons a settled squad led to Newmains kickstarting pre-season with a win.

Goals from Mikey Barton, Lewis Noble and Jamie Henderson saw them beat local rivals Carluke Rovers.

Victory leaves United top of the Breathing Space Cup table after the first rounds of games.

United recently re-signed 15 players and have now brought former defender Craig Scott back too.

Co-boss Davies believes that familiarity helped them gel quickly and he said: “We were brilliant and it’s a great start.

“I thought we went in there with a plan which we executed well.

“We have the players from last year still here which I think really makes a difference.

“I said to the players coming off the pitch when you have a settled squad it makes a massive difference.

“We’ve brought Craig Scott in from East Kilbride but we’ve had Craig with us before and we know what he can do.

“Everything went well against Carluke – even the new boys who came in we were all excellent”.

United were rewarded for their bright start on 25 minutes when Barton reacted brilliantly to a loose ball in the box.

His smart over-head kick looped into the roof into the net.

Steven Frame equalised for Rovers just before the break.

But Newmains came out firing for the second 45 and Noble and Henderson had them two ahead by the 51st minute.

Carluke pushed to reduce the deficit but resolute United defending saw the game out.

Davies said: “We knew we were going to make changes at half-time and everything just went well.

Scorer: Mikey Barton (Photo Graham Robb)

“It was a really good game. I said to the boys we had to concentrate from the start and that’s exactly what we did.”

United top the six-team group backed by Scotland’s mental health awareness organisation Breathing Space on goal difference from Royal Albert and Lesmahagow, who have played a game more.

They next face Bellshill this Saturday with the game expected to be played at Bothwellhaugh (kick-off 2pm).

Davies added: “Although these are friendlies Breathing Space have kindly put up a trophy for the tournament so it’s something we definitely want to win.

“We’re not here just to make up the numbers and you could really see that in the way the boys were tackling and their desire to win the ball.”

Newmains United 3 - 1 Carluke Rovers

By DYLAN INGLIS PAUL DAVIES reckons a settled squad led to Newmains kickstarting pre-season with a win. Goals from Mikey Barton, Lewis Noble and Jamie…