Heavy defeat after poor performance
The Shipyard exited the South Region Challenge Cup with barely a whimper as they lost 6-1 to premier division Glenrothes at Recreation Park on Saturday. A catalogue of errors was their undoing as the Glens let 4-1 at the interval, with only a sensational strike from Mikey Gibb, levelling the match at 1-1, giving the Shippy faithful something to savour. Manager Lee Richardson rung the changes following the match at Armadale last week with Ryan Couser returning in goals, joining Kearyn Hicks, Dan McBay and Kris Murphy in the starting eleven. Finlay Russell, Tony McAndrew, Kierren Ritchie and Liam Taylor were the ones who dropped out.
The Shipyard defence coughed up an opportunity to Stuart Cargill in the 10th minute and the veteran striker didn’t need a second invitation as he lashed the ball home from the edge of the box. The Shippy were level in the 19th minute thanks to a great finish from Gibb. He outpaced Blair Smart to burst clear before he measured a great curling left foot shot into the top corner. Unfortunately for the Shippy they were unable to build on the equaliser as they conceded a needless second only a couple of minutes later. Confusion at the back led to the ball falling to Cargill inside the area and he placed the ball beyond Couser for his second of the match. Couser saved well from Lea Schiavone and at the other end Riley Laing also produced a good save denying the Shipyard’s Schiavone, Conor. The roof caved in on the Shippy in the final five minutes of the half as the Glens added another two goals thanks to Cammy Muirhead and Jay Bridgeford with questions again being asked about the defending. Murphy hooked wide for the Shippy seconds before the half-time whistle blew.
Jordan Galloway replaced Dan McBay before the start of the second period. Gibby shot wide as the Shippy made a promising start to the half but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished as Bridgeford got another goal in the 48th minute. The rest of the match saw a whole host of substitutions from both teams as the visitors comfortably kept control of the game with neither team creating too much until the final minute when Muirhead also grabbed a brace as the Glens netted their sixth goal of the match.
Richardson was critical of his defence when he said after the match “The defending, particularly in the first half, was not good enough. We can’t give those type of chances to the calibre of forwards that Glenrothes have. I thought that when Gibby equalised it might have settled us but to concede within two minutes, in such a manner was very disappointing.”
We return to league action on Saturday (24/08/2024) with a visit from Fife neighbours Oakley United. Kick-off is at the usual time of 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie (C. McBay); K. Crielly; E. Bauld (M. Robertson); K. Hicks; D. Anthony; D. McBay (J. Galloway); B. Kerr (K. Beard); K. Murphy; M. Gibb (K. Ritchie); C. Schiavone. Unused Subs: A. McAndrew & L. Taylor.
Glenrothes: R. Laing; C. Tully; A. McDonald; C. Wilson; B. Smart; C. Thomson; L. Schiavone; J. Watson; C. Muirhead; S. Cargill; J. Bridgeford. Subs: R. Dyce; A. Ramzan; R. Gait; J. Mackenzie; S. Allan; P. Thomson; I. McManus.
Referee: J. Fairley.