Missed chances cost Shippy dear.
Despite having a much healthier squad available on Wednesday night the Shippy still fell to defeat against Kennoway Star Hearts at Recreation Park. It was an unfortunate lose as, particularly in the second half, the Shippy created an abundance of chances, however, no-one had their shooting boots on as several golden opportunities were missed. When chances came the visitor’s way, they converted them and that was the difference on the night. Ben Anthony, Sam Glancy, Ellis McQuade, Kris Murphy, Matty Robertson, Evan Stanfield, Sandy Strang and CJ Thomson were all back in the fold with only Shaun Keatings dropping out due to suspension.
Kennoway opened the scoring in the 13th minute as a corner from the left-hand side found the unchallenged Campbell Tully and he was able to power his header beyond Mikey Couser and into the net. Dan Thomson saw a shot blocked as did Glancy when he latched onto the loose ball and in the 21st minute keeper Kyle Moran was at full stretch to tip away Michael Gibb’s strike. With the game in additional time at the end of the half both Ethan Bauld and Thomson missed the target as the Shippy sought an equaliser.
The Shipyard were on top in the second half with the introduction of the Anthony brothers at the interval changing the formation, as Darrell lined up as a trialist alongside brother Ben. Benji was playing wide on the right and his pace was allowing him to get crosses into the box but sadly none of his teammates could convert any of them. Murphy spurned a great chance in the 66th minute when he swivelled in the box but his hooked effort narrowly went wide of the post. At the other end Couser pulled off a tremendous save to deny the visitors from increasing their lead in the 72nd minute. There was an almighty stramash in the visitor’s box in the 77th minute but no Shippy player was able to force the ball home, though it looked like a Shipyard player blocked a goal bound effort. Another opportunity was passed up in the 81st minute before the Shippy suffered a sucker punch seconds later as a long ball up the park wasn’t dealt with and the Kennoway player took advantage and scored. The game became very feisty in the closing stages with Darrell seeing red for a second yellow, though how the Kennoway player went unpunished for his part in the incident was astonishing.
Manager Lee Richardson said after the match “We created plenty of chances but unfortunately couldn’t convert any of them and at the other end two mistakes cost us dearly. I was disappointed in the amount of times Ben was flagged for apparently being offside and also the amount fouls on Sam that went unpunished. The Darrell incident was embarrassing.”
Edinburgh South are the visitors on Saturday (23/03/2024) with the match kicking off at 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: M. Couser; E. Bauld (D. Anthony); M. Robertson; D. Turner; M. James; CJ. Thomson; M. Gibb (E. Stanfield); S. Glancy; D. Thomson; K. Beard (B. Anthony). Unused Subs: S. Costello; E. McQuade; M. Moodie; S. Strang.
Kennoway Star Hearts: K. Moran; R. McGill; M. Wilson; C. Tully; L. Young; G. Allan; L. Black; D. Walker; D. Nugent; S. McMeechan; E. Wilson. Subs: L. Bryce; D. Meldrum; A. Malcolm; R. Nicholson; C. Anderson.
Referee: K. Gibson.