Shippy capitulate after fine start.
This was a complete Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Shipyard as they dominated early on, took a deserved lead, only to crumble on the half hour mark when both teams were reduced to ten men after an altercation in the middle of the park. Newburgh were unfazed by the loss of a player whereas the Shipyard looked rattled and they lost the control they had on the match. Sam Glancy, Robbie Crawford and Ross Lennie were all side-lined through injury. Scott Costello made his Shipyard debut between the sticks at the expense of Michael Gibb.
Newburgh keeper Calum Sutherland was sharp off his line to block Reece Brown with four minutes on the clock and moments later he brilliantly tipped a Dale Allan strike onto the post and out for a corner. Brown hit a shot into the side netting before the Shipyard pressure paid off. C. Sutherland did well to save from Ben Anthony, however, the loose ball dropped to Sandy Strang who had the simple task of prodding the ball home from inside the six-yard box. The visitors then enjoyed some possession and got forward without troubling Costello. Shaun Keatings tried his luck from distance and C. Sutherland reacted well as he pushed the shot up in the air before gathering. Costello saw his first action in the 27th minute and he did very well in a one on one situation with the Newburgh forward. He was then off his line to clear with his feet as Newburgh threatened. Arguably the turning point of the match arrived on the 30-minute mark. Keatings was smashed in the face with the ball nowhere near and as the Shippy midfielder lay poleaxed on the ground Brown was shown a red card for an alleged push. Meanwhile, Aiden Edwards was also dismissed for what everyone thought was in relation to Brown’s sending off. However, the referee confirmed that Edwards was red carded for the assault on Keatings meaning that the guilty party went unpunished. Once the dust had settled Newburgh gained the initiative and Costello gathered an attempt above his head. Just as the Shippy were looking for the half-time whistle they were hit by a double blow. Firstly, Scott Sutherland latched onto a through ball and slipped it beyond Costello for the equaliser. In added time a free-kick from Jamie Gay somehow eluded the big Shippy keeper’s grasp and ended up in the back off the net. Despite this double setback the Shipyard managed to create a couple of half chances that nothing materialised from.
B. Anthony drove forward only to be blocked out then both Iain Millar and Darrell Anthony shot over. The Shippy were level in the 55th minute when B. Anthony broke clear and beat C. Sutherland with the goal standing despite the Shippy man looking slightly offside. We had an almost identical incident at the other end with the same outcome as Newburgh quickly regained the lead. S. Sutherland scored his second of the afternoon, though he seemed to be quite clearly offside. Costello was the busier keeper as the match worn on with the Shippy guilty of leaving gaps at the back as they pushed for an equaliser. A strong claim for handball in the visitor’s box was turned down and with six minutes remaining Newburgh sealed their win as S. Sutherland found himself all alone inside the six-yard box at a corner and nodded home with ease completing his hat-trick. A quite shocking goal to concede from the Shipyard’s point of view with Shippy manager Stuart Innes struggling to contain his anger.
This Saturday (24/10/2020) the Shipyard travel to Blairwood Park to face Oakley United in another Fife derby. Kick-off 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; R. Crichton (M. Miller); I. Millar; D. Hunter; G. Ross; S. Strang (J. Galloway); D. Anthony; S. Keatings; B. Anthony; R. Brown; D. Allan. Unused Subs: R. O’Donnell & M. Gibb.
Newburgh Juniors: C. Sutherland; A. Johal; G. Clark; S. Kirkham; C. Robinson; S. Sutherland; A. Edwards; J. Gay; Y. El Seeedawy; K. Fraser; C. Murdoch. Subs: L. Rann; T. Nyass; C. Findlay; A. Cameron; P. Leadbetter; J. Annandale; H. Galloway.
Referee: R. Bowie.