No case for the defence
The Shipyard turned in a woeful defensive performance in the second half at Recreation Park to let their half-time lead slip as Eastvale ran out comfortable winners in the end. The Shipyard also ended up with nine men after two red cards in the final 7 minutes. Manager Whitehead selected the same team for the third game running, with only a couple of changes on the bench.
The Shipyard started with a strong wind behind them and created their first chance in the 6th minute when the ball broke to Small in the box but, his weak shot was blocked then cleared. M. Hamilton was next to have an attempt when he burst through, only to see his shot go wide. Chalmers in the Shipyard goal saw his first action in the 11th minute as Eastvale broke away. He was able to parry the ball to safety. The Shipyard were back on the attack with McCue taking on the Eastvale defence and putting a good ball into the box, however, there were no takers. The Shipyard took the lead in the 27th minute when James Whyte took a free-kick from the half way line and shot at goal. Curran in the Eastvale goal made a total hash of trying to gather the ball and could only fumble the ball over the line. In the 31st minute M. Hamilton had another shot at goal, this time it was straight at the keeper who managed to hold on this time. The Shipyard then had an appeal for a penalty when a cross from McCue was handled in the box but, the referee waved play on. In the 35th minute a McAndrew free-kick from wide right had Curran scrambling again as the ball drifted wide.
The Shipyard started the second half on the front foot and the keeper held a McCue free-kick. In the 50th minute he then held a 16 yard attempt from Small. Eastvale equalised in the 59th minute when a corner from the right was headed into the net by the unmarked Forrester at the back post. The Shipyard went back up the park and had another appeal for handball in the box turned down. Most people at the park, including me, thought Small had put the Shipyard back into the lead but, his fierce shot from 8 yards hit the side netting. Grieve made a good block for the Shipyard in the 74th minute before the Shipyard defence went to sleep a minute later. A throw in was left by everyone, giving Armitt the easy task of rolling the ball into the net. The Shipyard were all at sea now and in the 80th minute Eastvale were afforded another free header in the box. This time the attempt was off target. It was game over for the Shipyard and Cook in the 83rd minute when he conceded a penalty, bringing down the Eastvale forward in the box. Having already been booked in the first half the referee sent him off for his second yellow card. Forrester rolled the penalty into the net sending Chalmers the wrong way. In the last minute of normal time Cramb made it 4 – 1 when he outpaced T. Williams, drew Chalmers then stroked the ball into the empty net. Deep into injury time T. Williams was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for something he said to the referee. The scoreline probably flattered Eastvale but, they took their chances when they came along. After the game an angry Billy Whitehead said “we can’t keep on giving goals away like that. Teams do not have to work hard to get their goals against us”.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; Whyte; Cook; Grieve (Leishman); Small; M. Hamilton; T. Williams; McCue; Johnston (Russell); J. Williams. Unused Subs: Dow; S. Hamilton; Houston.
Eastvale: Curran; Westwood; Sturrock; Thomson; Halley; Beaumont; Gillies; Forrester; Cramb; Craigie; Armitt. Subs: Peters; Moir; Allan; Miller; McLeish.
Referee: J. Bell.