No cup run for Shippy after heavy defeat.
Once again it was defensive frailties the contributed to the Shipyard crashing out of the William Hill Scottish Cup at the first hurdle as Colville Park romped to an easy 7-0 victory. Colville thoroughly deserved their victory but the margin could have been a whole lot less had it not been for the generosity of the Shippy defending. The Shipyard squad was still missing Stevie Wilson which was a big blow as the central defender remains on the sidelines as he recovers from ankle ligament damage.
After early morning rain, the skies cleared for the visit of the Scottish Amateur Cup holders as a crowd of around 100 descended on Recreation Park. The visitors were ahead as early as the second minute when McLaughlin rose unchallenged to head home from close range. Dale Coulter saw his effort from the edge of the box held by the keeper before Colville Park doubled their lead. A corner was driven low into the box and McLaughlin first timed the ball into the corner of the net with the home defence posted missing. Lee Halpin and Brian Breen had attempts at goal as the Shipyard desperately tried to get back into the match but the score remained 2-0 to the visitors at half-time.
Lambie gathers high ball
Both teams had a chance early in the second half with Cammy Lambie saving well at one end and Halpin heading wide at the other. The match was over as a contest in the 53rd minute when Lambie rushed from his goals and needlessly gave away a penalty as the Colville forward headed away from goal. Craig sent Lambie the wrong way as he rolled the ball into the net. The Shipyard heads were now down and Colville swarmed around the Shippy box creating chances almost at will. Murray scored a fourth in the 64th minute before Craig converted another penalty in the 78th minute after another foul in the area. Miller got the sixth goal in the 84th minute and Craig completed his hat-trick as the game moved into added time.
Confidence in the Shipyard camp had been boosted after last week’s fine win over Heriot Watt University, however, it has taken another knock after this heavy defeat, albeit against a very good side, but until the goals conceded column improves victories against the better teams will remain rare. The Shipyard are not back in action until Wednesday 23rd August when they travel to Saughton Enclosure to face Tynecastle. Kick-off 7.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: C. Lambie; R. O’Donnell; G. McNab; M. Black; B. Breen; S. Powrie (L. McIntosh); E. Fotheringham; C. Drury; L. Halpin (S. Cusick); B. Hamilton; D. Coulter (Y. Iliopoulos).
Unused Subs: S. Malpas; R. McCarthy-Lee; R. McLaren; O. Ferry.
Referee: C. Wilson.