Shippy slump to relegation.
First of all, a huge thanks to the 235 spectators who turned up to watch the match on Saturday. A great turn out, but sadly most left bitterly disappointed following the Shipyard’s 4-1 defeat which condemned them to relegation. The Shippy looked tense and nervous whereas Rosyth, who had nothing to play for, were relaxed and played with a freedom and style the Shippy couldn’t match. Given how well the Shipyard had played last week in an equally vital match, it was disappointing that they could not reach these levels again. Scott Costello returned from suspension in what was the only change to the starting eleven and while Sam Glancy returned to the squad, Sandy Strang dropped out.
The Shipyard fell behind in disastrous circumstances after fourteen minutes when Costello and Iain Millar got in each other way the ball ended up in the net as it appeared to come off the big centre half. Things looked decidedly grim for the Shippy when the visitors doubled their lead in the twentieth minute. Following an indirect free kick inside the area, that was deflected off the top of the bar, Rosyth won corner. When the set piece was played into the box Darren Ormiston was on hand the knock the ball into the net. It was soon three nil and the Shippy were staring into the abyss. A good move from inside their own half resulted in Callum Strang being released into the box and he slotted the ball beyond Costello to realistically put the game out of the Shippy’s reach. A Rhys Wardlaw cross come shot hit the top of the bar and the big striker was unlucky to see his header go just wide after he had won an aerial challenge with keeper Macauley Jarrett at the edge of the area.
The Shipyard really should have pulled one back in the 64th minute when Wardlaw burst into the box only to be denied by the keeper. It looked certain that Cammy Lewis would prod the loose ball into the net, however, a Rosyth defender beat him to the ball and cleared the danger. Costello pulled off a smart save from Thomas Hampson as the game drifted towards its conclusion, though there was time for another couple of goals. The Shipyard defence struggled to clear the ball and eventually it fell to Ryan McDonald who netted from the centre of the goals. The Shipyard immediately pulled one back with a fine strike from sub Robbie MacAulay when he floated the ball over Jarrett and into the top corner.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; M. James (A. Brown); J. Wilson; L. Ross; I. Millar; S. Orrock; D. Thomson; D. Anthony (R. MacAulay); R. Wardlaw; J. Galloway (S. Glancy); C. Lewis. Unused Subs: R. Connor; R. Crichton; S. Keatings; D. Pierce.
Rosyth: M. Jarrett; J. Denham; G. Leighton; R. McDonald; J. Penman; C. Strang; T. Hampson; M. Sludden; A. McAvoy; D. Ormiston; G. Nutt. Subs: J. Tapping; C. Aikamhenze; M. Ness; Z. Mooney; F. Binnie; C. Cattanach.
Referee: R. Bowie.