Strath blown away in Shipyard onslaught
Strathmiglo were blown away by more than the strong wind as the Shipyard ran riot in the first half, taking a 6 – 0 lead into the break. It cannot be very often that a team wins 8 – 1 and the goalkeeper is the man of the match, however, that was the scenario today as Andy Martin enjoyed a remarkable match. The Shipyard starting eleven showed one change from last week with Grieve replacing the unavailable Cook. New signing Stuart Gray took his place amongst the substitutes.
The game got off to an amazing start as Andy Martin blocked a snap shot in the first minute. He then launched his wind assisted clearance deep into the Strath half where the ball took one bounce and flew over keeper Gibson to give the Shipyard the lead inside 45 seconds. Strathmiglo were playing some good football in the difficult conditions and Martin had to be alert to save a well struck shot at his near post. At the other end Russell twice tried his luck from distance, but Gibson was able to deal with both efforts. Strath were awarded a penalty in the 17th minute when the referee adjudged that Williams had handled in the box. The decision did look harsh but that did not deter Martin as he fisted away the powerfully struck shot. That man Martin was in the thick of the action again in the 29th minute. This time he held a free kick hit from around 22yards and cleared the ball early for Paul Ferrier to head the ball over a hesitant Gibson to double the lead. The Shipyard then scored three goals in a five minute spell as firstly, Gordon Grieve’s shot from 16yards was deflected into the top corner. The next goal was a well worked effort as Dow and Russell combined down the Shipyard right and the former’s cross was on a plate for Paul Ferrier to shoot home from 10yards. The Shipyard scored a fifth goal in the 39th minute when Mark Brough found the corner of the net with his well placed 25yard free-kick. Martin was still doing his bit and saved well in first half stoppage time as he pushed a strong shot away. Incredibly there was still time for the Shipyard to score a sixth goal as McCue played a fine pass through to Craig Russell who stoked the ball beyond Gibson and into the net.
Obviously Strathmiglo were going to come very much into the match in the second half with the strong wind now behind them. However, it was the Shipyard who were the first to go close as Ferrier headed wide from McCue’s free-kick. McLaughlin of Strath saw his shot hit the outside of the post in the 49th minute. Martin again showed his class in the 55th minute as he touched a fiercely hit shot onto the crossbar. He was eventually beaten in the 57th minute when the Strath forward turned the ball into the net from close range. Ex Shipyard man Leishman was doing his best to show his ability and shot from the edge of the box, but again Martin was equal to the task and saved well. The Shipyard were not being seen so much this half in an attacking force, though a good break out of defence from Whyte should have led to an opportunity being created. In the 74th minute the Shipyard worked the ball up to Ferrier and when he tried to beat the defender in the box he was brought down for a penalty. Mark Brough did his usual job from the spot and put the Shipyard 7 – 1 up. Ferrier missed a great chance for his hat-trick in the 85th minute when he was put clean through, however, he did not put enough angle on his shot and Gibson blocked it. It was to be Mark Brough who completed his Hat-trick when after three attempts, a Strathmiglo defender managed to get enough contact on Ferrier to bring him down for another spot kick. Brough again converted immaculately to round of the scoring. That was not to be the last of the action as the referee awarded the fourth penalty of the match, this time to Strath, for another harsh hand ball after a miscued clearance bounced up and hit a Shipyard player on the arm. The spot kick hit Martin’s right hand post, though he did dive the right way and was on hand to block the follow up.
Billy Whitehead was full of praise for his players and said “That was a fantastic performance, what quality, determination and professionalism every one of my players showed today, in what were very difficult conditions. I am really proud of them”.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: A. Martin; McAndrew; Brough; T. Williams; Whyte; McCue; Hamilton; Grieve (Wilson); Russell (Lamont); Ferrier; Dow (Gray).
Strathmiglo United: Gibson; Patrick; D. Baillie; Clark; Smith; Hampton; Anderson; Leishman; Woods; Simpson; McLaughlin; Subs: McIntosh; Main; Baxter; Spence; L. Baillie.
Referee: D. Campbell.