Cook header seals the points

The Shipyard gained a much needed three points with a 1 – 0 win over Balgonie Scotia at Recreation Park to keep up momentum after last week’s friendly win, another clean sheet was a bonus. New signing Shaun Leishman made his debut in midfield replacing the suspended Mark Hamilton.
After all the heavy rain the pitch was in reasonable condition for the match which Balgonie started the better, without troubling the Shipyard goal in the first few minutes. In the 8th a Henderson cross had to be palmed away by Scotia keeper Eadie. Play switched to the other end and a McAndrew pass back caused panic in the Shipyard defence when he rolled the ball beyond Chalmers, however, the ball was cleared before it reached the line. Henderson then had another attempt but his shot was off target. Balgonie should have taken the lead after 24 minutes when McBride was put clean through but, his weak shot was easily held by Chalmers. Leishman had an effort just off target for the Shipyard and Balgonie replied with a free kick effort that was deflected into Chalmers’ hands. The Shipyard took the lead in the 39th minute when Bryan Cook bulleted home a header at the front post from a corner, for his first goal of the season.
The second half was dominated by the Shipyard with a Leishman shot from 9 yards blocked, a Whyte cross just missed by Johnston and a McCue free kick going narrowly wide, before Balgonie’s task was made much tougher when Melville was sent off for his second caution after 65 minutes. Immediately the Shipyard had another chance but, Small’s shot lacked power and direction. After good work by Small, McAndrew had his shot turned away for a corner. Again Small was causing problems for the Balgonie defence, this time his cross should have been put away but, Williams and Johnston got in each other’s way and the chance was gone. In 74 minutes McCue showed great skill on the edge of the box to control the ball and get in a shot that went just wide. Just being one goal ahead almost cost the Shipyard as Balgonie pressed near the end and had one effort over the bar. McNeill could have sewn it up for the Shipyard but, his shot from the edge of the box went over the bar. The best action of the day came in the 87th minute when Balgonie’s Muir unleashed a terrific shot that was heading for the top corner until Scott Chalmers flew across goal to touch the ball round the post for a corner, for a magnificent save and maintain his clean sheet.
Manager Whitehead was delighted with the victory but said he was concerned that not enough chances were being put away.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; Whyte; Brown; Cook; Small; McCue; Leishman(McNeill); Williams; Johnston(Tasker); Henderson(Dow). Unused Subs: Drummond; Houston.
Balgonie Scotia: Eadie; Kerr; Gallacher; Donaldson; Oswald; McGuire; Law; Muir; Johnstone; McBride; Sword. Sub: Pryde.
Referee: J. Bell.