The shipyard suffered another defeat, this time at the hand of Rosyth Civil Service by 2 goals to 0, though manager Whitehead can take encouragement from the debut of James Whyte and some of the performances from fringe players. With the forthcoming Scottish and Challenge Cup ties coming up, no players with niggling injuries were risked.
Rosyth were first to show and after only 3 minutes came close to opening the scoring when a header hit the post and then fell into Chalmers’ hands. Both teams were failing to create any chances of note until Rosyth took the lead after 27 minutes when Alistair Brown’s run was not matched and he was able to poke the ball beyond Chalmers. In the 36th minute Rosyth had another attempt, when a corner from the right was headed wide. On the stroke of half-time the Shipyard almost drew level when Ferguson’s free-kick was heading for the top corner until McNab got across to save.
In the 51st minute Penman of Rosyth really should have done better when with only Chalmers to beat he dragged his shot wide. The Shipyard hit back and a great run and Shot from Whyte narrowly went passed the far post, with the keeper getting a fingertip to the ball, although a goal-kick was awarded. Rosyth doubled their lead in the 62nd when a shot by Garry Penman from around 20 yards went in off the post. Chalmers made a good save in 75 minutes turning the ball round the post for a corner and a minute later the Shipyard should have pulled a goal back when sub Henderson was clean through but shot straight at the keeper. Williams saw an ambitious overhead effort go high over the Rosyth bar, then in the last minute Henderson beat 2 Rosyth defenders wide on the right and sent in a fantastic cross that 2 Shipyard attackers failed to get on the end of.
Teams: Rosyth Civil Service: McNab; Cooper; Ramsay; Harrison; Rodger; Guild; Lambie; Curry; Ferguson; Penman; Brown. Subs: Perry; Wilson; Smart; Dyche; Harwood.
Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; Ferguson; Whyte; Williams; Grieve; bell (Brian Couper); Tasker; Hamilton; Annandale (Henderson); Huskie; Meade. Unused Subs: Drummond; Ben Couper.
Referee: P. Simmons.