Shippy still leaking goals as Crossgates triumph.
A late second half collapse saw the Shipyard slump to another home defeat as Crossgates Primrose ran out 5-1 winners at Recreation Park on Saturday. The Shippy led early on through a strike from ex Primrose player Andy Watt but the visitors levelled six minutes before half-time and once they forged ahead with 17 minutes remaining there was only going to be one winner as the Shipyard defence buckled under the pressure and conceded another three goals in the closing minutes. Dean Anderson and Ross Lennie made welcome returns for the Shipyard and with no suspensions there was more or less a full squad for Stuart to choose from.
Crossgates created the first chance but Scott Hynd headed wide and a couple of minutes later Ryan O’Donnell produced a fine clearance as the visitors threatened on the break. It was the Shippy who took the lead in the 9th minute when Watt converted a pass from Callum McAulay and he certainly enjoyed his strike against his former club. Crossgates had the lions share of possession but created very little in the way of clear-cut chances before Hynd equalised in the 39th minute. The Shipyard could not deal with a long throw into the box and the striker was able to hook the ball home from around six yards.
A great break out of defence from Lennie set up Watt, however, the Shippy man was thwarted by an offside flag. Ryan Adamson touched a long-range effort wide and Crossgates would have been disappointed to see a free header from a corner end up well off the target. A great cross from Rab Kinnaird found Watt in the middle but the big striker did not get a good enough contact on the ball and the opportunity was gone. Crossgates took the lead in the 73rd minute with a fine finish from Mark McKenzie as he converted a cross from the right-hand side. It was more or less all over two minutes later when Adamson could only push out a free-kick to the feet of Hynd and he made no mistake from close range. A Jonny Galloway free-kick was not too far off target as the Shippy looked for a foothold but it was Crossgates who scored again, this time from the penalty spot through Scott Lawrie after a foul was committed at the corner of the area. A late fifth through Blair Clark was harsh on the Shippy but Crossgates were clinical, particularly in the latter stages as they look to gain a top five finish.
Burntisland Shipyard; R. Adamson, R. O’Donnell, S. Glancy, S. Strang, D. Anderson, R. Lennie (R. Bernard), R. Crawford, Jon. Galloway, A. Watt, C. McAulay (Jor. Galloway), R. Kinnaird (R. Brown). Unused Subs: P. Bell, C. Simpson, M. Jarrett.
Crossgates Primrose: G. Henderson, D. Swan, B. Clark, M. Forbes, M. Wilkie, A. Moffat, M. McKenzie, D. Aitken, S. Hynd, S. Lawrie, L. Shaw. Subs: D. Allan, K. Brand, B. Hutchison, G. Nutt, B. Paterson, B. Penman.
Referee: A. Gamble.