Shipyard hot after big freeze
Football finally returned to Recreation Park on Saturday, as the Shipyard came out of cold storage, albeit thanks to Inverkeithing kindly agreeing to swap the fixture to Burntisland. The pitch was in fine condition with only the goalmouths a bit on the firm side. Manager Whitehead had a couple of trialists in his squad, though he was still missing players through suspension and injury.
The Shipyard had the first attempt after 7 minutes when a shot from McCue looped over keeper Wilson and hit the bar. Small was next to have an effort but his shot was turned round the post by the keeper. Chalmers in the Shipyard goal was first called into action after 22 minutes when he comfortably held a free header from the Swifts striker. A minute later the Shipyard were back on the attack and McCue should have done better than putting his shot over the bar from a good position. The game was a bit stop start at this stage with the referee constantly blowing for fouls or offside. The Shipyard took the lead after 39 minutes when Stephen Hamilton rolled the ball into the net from the edge of the box after receiving a pass from Johnston, with the Inverkeithing defence appealing for offside. A minute before half-time Scott Chalmers pulled of a superb save, turning the ball round the post after seeing it late. The last action of the first half saw the Shipyard almost double their lead but unfortunately, scorer Hamilton’s header came back of the bar.
The shipyard started the second half brightly and claimed a goal after 52 minutes but, the referee ruled that the ball had not crossed the line, though it clearly had. A minute later it was 2-0 when the ball broke to Neil Johnston 8 yards out and he stroked the ball into the corner of the net. Twice just after the hour mark, Johnston crosses created chances for Hamilton, the first he headed wide and the second was blocked for a corner. Inverkeithing had an effort at goal in the 69th minute which Cook blocked for a fruitless corner. The game was sewn up in the 75th minute when substitute Steven Dow lobbed the ball over Wilson after it fell to him 25 yards from goal. The Shipyard dominated the closing stages, with a McCue free-kick from at the edge of the box was well off target. The game finished with Inverkeithing being reduced to 10 men after their defender was given a second yellow card for a shocking tackle on sub Birrell.
After the match manager Billy was delighted with the result and performance, he said “we passed the ball well and played some good stuff and it was also very pleasing to keep a clean sheet”.
Teams: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts: Wilson; Miller; J.Stewart; Roger; Tarvitt; A. Stewart; Brechin; Slimmings; Ritchie; McGilvary; Birnie. Subs: Fraser; Briggs; Simpson.
Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; Grieve(Birrell); T. Williams; Cook; Small; McCue; Leishman; S. Hamilton(Dow); Johnston; J. Williams. Unused Subs: Tasker; Allan.
Referee: S Roesner.