Late goal secures Shipyard win.
The Shipyard youngsters recovered from their midweek mauling at the hands of Lothian Thistle to record a merited victory over visitors Coldstream at Recreation Park. Despite falling behind after the award of an extremely harsh penalty kick, the Shippy quickly drew level thanks to a composed finish from Lewis Payne and kept going until the last minute and were rewarded when Kirk Thompson found the net with an equally fine strike.
Shippy keeper Brandon Connor produced a great save to tip a fierce drive from Des Sutherland onto the post before the controversial penalty was given. In the 16th minute Peter Devaney, with his arms by his side, was struck by the ball from close range; however, referee Paul Hanlon deemed the contact to be deliberate and awarded the spot kick. Hagen Steele made no mistake from 12 yards. Two minutes later the Shippy were level when Payne received a fine pass inside the Streamers box and he made no mistake from around 14 yards. Coldstream passed up a couple of good chances before Payne went close again on the half hour mark but the youngsters lobbed shot drifted just wide. The Shippy had an escape when Grant Robinson smashed an effort off the post while Mark Brown went close at the other end.
The Shippy started the second half the more dominant team and the keeper pulled off a fine save from a Rowan Kay strike before the home team went even closer when Kirk Thompson saw his placed shot come back off the post, Streamers keeper Morgan Currie palmed the loose ball onto the head of Brown who headed home only to be thwarted by the referee’s whistle as he gave offside against the Shipyard forward. Connor produced a couple of timely blocks as the visitors looked to regain the upper hand but it was still the home team that looked the more likelier and Brown could not get enough power on his header to trouble the keeper as the game moved into the final ten minutes. The Shippy got their noses in front after 89 minutes when Kirk Thomson gathered the loose ball after a free-kick had only been partially cleared. Thompson’s well hit shot across the keeper found the back of the net to secure the win that in the end was fully deserved.
Burntisland Shipyard: B. Connor; K. Ford; L. Fleming; C. winter; R. Kay; B. Couper; P. Devaney (L. Thompson); M. McInnes; M. Black; L. Payne; K. Thompson.
Coldstream: M. Currie; L. Walker; J. Logan; J. Hebdon; P. Hossack; G. Wales (M. Johnston); G. Robinson; C. Beesley; D. Sutherland; H. Steele (R. Bowling); E. Gray (J. Brown).
Referee: P. Hanlon.