Carluke United FC Under-11s seven-a-side team finished in a very creditable third place in their age group at the Blackpool Cup over the Easter weekend.
United were taking part in their first ever international youth football tournament, which was at Lancashire University Sports Campus in Preston, where they competed against another 15 teams in their section.
Having attended the Preston v Ipswich match on the Friday, the boys went into their first match on the Saturday morning, where they lost 3-0 to Belfast team Shankhill Juniors.
Their second game was recorded as a 1-0 victory, as their opponents failed to show up.
Carluke’s final game on day one was a resounding 7-0 victory over Riverside Beanos from Dundee, with goals from Oliver Goodbrand (2), Connor North, Mac Mackay, Aaron Nuttall, Jack McCrae and Isaac Callan.
That result gave them second place in their section and a quarter-final tie against Aberdeenshire team Portlethen on the Sunday morning.
An excellent goalkeeping display from Lewis McKendrick and a very good all-round team performance helped the boys to a 1-0 victory, over a very competent team.
Goodbrand gave Carluke the lead in the first half.
The second period was very evenly balanced, and United held on for the win.
That was soured by an injury to defender Callum Hogg, who was taken to hospital for treatment on a serious arm injury.
That led Carluke to the semi-final against Northern Irish side from Dungannon, who ran out 3-0 winners.
Carluke went on to play Shankhill for a second time, in the third/fourth place play-off, with the Irish side going 1-0 up.
Goodbrand levelled for United, and went ahead through McCrae, only to be pegged back.
Persistence from Callan saw United go 3-2 ahead, which they held onto to finish third place in their group.
Team and officials would like to thank everyone for their support and fundraising to make the trip possible, and to parents and grandparents who cheered the boys on.
