Shippy slump to cup defeat.
For the second time this season the Shipyard were knocked out of a cup competition by Livingston United. Shippy went down 2-1 to Livi in the first game of the campaign at Station Park and on Saturday the visitors ran out deserved winners as they recorded a 3-2 win at Recreation Park. The bulk of the damage was done in the first half as goals in the 19th and 29th minutes had Livingston two ahead at the break. Although Shippy got back into the match early in the second half through Michael Gibb, a third goal was conceded shortly after and despite Mark James reducing the arrears again, Shipyard were not able to at least take the match to extra time. The Shippy team showed two changes from last week’s win over Coldstream with Ethan Bauld and Darrell Anthony replacing Matty Robertson and Blair Kerr.
An excellent cross in the 8th minute from Elliot Jowitt caused panic in the box and Livi were relieved to see the ball get deflected behind for a fruitless corner. The visitors then went close when Matthew Sampson headed over from a good position. Billy Dunlop then drove over as Livi looked to make the breakthrough. Livingston took the lead in the 19th minute when a free kick from wide on the lefthand side found its way into the net though it was difficult to see if anyone got a touch with the goal awarded to Grant MacDonald. Captain Iain Millar limped off in the 28th minute to be replaced by James. United doubled their lead in the 29th minute when a free kick was headed on and Ross Guy was on hand to head the ball beyond Kacper Okupnik. Gibb had a shot saved in the 32nd minute as Shipyard struggled to make in impact on the game.
Shippy made a flying start to the second half as Galloway saw his strike parried before Gibby pulled a goal back in the 49th minute. His initial attempt was blocked; however, he regained the ball and despatched it into the net from the edge of the box. Ryan Mahood was off target in the 54th minute, but his team did not have to wait long to score again as Guy got his second of the match. Despite being grounded he was still able to get his shot away and it beat Okupnik to find the net. Anthony saw his header hit the post before the danger was cleared in the 61st minute. Shippy got back into the match once again through a James header as he beat keeper Steven Clark to the ball and looped it over him and into the net. There were still twenty minutes left with everything to play for. That being said, there was very little in the way of goalmouth action until the 92nd minute when Okupnik was at full stretch to tip a dipping shot over the bar at the expense of a corner.
We are not back in action until a week on Friday (14/03/2025) when we travel to face Stirling University for a league match. Kick off for this one is at 7.45pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: K. Okupnik; K. Crielly (D. Brockie 46’); E. Jowitt; E. Bauld; I. Millar (M. James 28’); D. McBay; C. Bell (J. Hunter 64’); D. Anthony; M. Gibb; A. McAndrew (K. Ritchie 82’); J. Galloway (B. Kerr 64’). Unused Subs: K. Beard & C. McBay.
Livingston United: S. Clark; D. Lennie; E. Quinn; Z. Avinou; M. Sampson; E. Arthur; R. Mahood; B. Dunlop; K. Whyte (A. Smoleanu 88’); R. Guy (R. Allan 82’); G. MacDonald (M. Meechan 73’). Unused Subs: D. Keough; P. Gilbowski; J. Connelly.
Referee: D. McGuire.