Shot shy Shippy suffer narrow defeat.

The Shipyard bowed out of the King Cup at Recreation Park on Saturday as Heriot Watt University scored the only goal of the match to progress to the next round. It was the visitors who created the more and better of the chances, particularly in the first half, and they will no doubt feel they merited their victory. The Shipyard never created enough clear-cut opportunities and were constantly thwarted by the well drilled Uni defence who used their height to good effect at both ends.

Calvin Muttitt set up an early chance for Ryan Higgins but the striker’s powerful shot hit the side netting. The visitor’s prowess in the air was giving the Shippy cause for concern and they had Ryan Adamson to thank for keeping out Giovanni Michelon’s header. Following another corner Aidan Quinn saw his snapshot hit the crossbar and go over. The Shippy’s first opportunity came in the 11^th minute and Andy Watt’s drive almost broke the deadlock but his effort was well saved by Uni keeper Erik Peterson. Watt then saw his header from a Hynd cross saved too as the Shipyard looked to impose themselves on the game. Another Heriot Watt corner produced a chance for Muttitt, however, he blazed over from a good position. The goal that the Uni had been threatening arrived in the 35^th minute and it was no surprise that it came from a corner, as Neil Laurenson headed home from around eight yards out. The Shipyard almost replied immediately when good build up play found Glancy free in the box, however, brave defending by the Uni rear-guard saw the midfielder’s fierce strike blocked. Adamson produced a superb fingertip save on the stroke of half-time as he touched Quinn’s free-kick from no more than 19 yards onto the bar and over.

Midweek signing Grant Skinner made his debut at left back with Sam Glancy, Benn Hutchison and Scott Hynd all returning having missed out last weekend.

Sandy Strang replaced the injured Jordan Galloway for the start of the second half and within minutes the Shipyard were forced into a second substitution as Hutchison picked up a knock with Reece Bernard taking his place. Bernard almost made an instant impact and he probably should have at least hit the target rather than firing narrowly wide following good work from the tenacious Glancy. The second period produced a lot less chances than the first and although the Shipyard enjoyed far more possession the Uni defence were comfortable with what was getting thrown at them, other than on one occasion with five minutes remaining when Peterson was grateful to see his defender clear the ball off the line following a scramble in the box. Laurenson and substitute Aaron Singh had chances for Heriot Watt, though Singh should have done better when through on Adamson but credit to the Shippy keeper for producing a good save.

Burntisland Shipyard: R. Adamson, Jor. Galloway (S. Strang), G. Skinner, R. O’Donnell, R. Lennie, B. Hutchison (R. Bernard), S. Glancy, Jon. Galloway, S. Hynd (R. Brown), A. Watt, R. Crawford. Unused Subs: R. Kinnaird, C. McAulay, C. Simpson.

Heriot Watt University: E. Peterson, G. Michelin (M. Larmour), S. Munro, H. Barclay, A. Quinn, T. Huxford, R. Higgins (A. Singh), J. Hogg (M. Graham), C. Muttitt, C. Smith, N. Laurenson. 

Referee: S. Gill.