The Shipyard
eased into the second round of the League Cup with a comfortable victory over
Dalkeith Thistle at Recreation Park on Saturday. Following this victory, the
Shippy can look forward to a visit from Stirling University EOS in the next
round. Only the concession of a late consolation goal put a dampener on an
otherwise impressive display against the hard-working visitors. Ben and Darrell
Anthony both returned to the squad alongside the injury free Ross Lennie,
however, Matty Miller was missing through illness.
Sam Glancy unleashed a venomous volley inside the first minute but it lacked the accuracy to trouble Jamie Newman in the visitor’s goal. Reece Brown then saw his angled drive drift wide before Newman cut out a cross from Darrell Anthony with Brown waiting to pounce. Newman was in action again in the 10th minute as he threw up a hand to stop Anthony’s stinging shot. The Shipyard made the breakthrough their dominance deserved in the 29th minute as Glancy smashed home a loose ball from outside the area. Dalkeith’s first real sight of goal came in the 38th minute through Kenneth McMillan, however, his weak effort was never going to trouble Shippy keeper Michael Gibb. Ian Millar powered home a header from a Glancy free-kick in the 44th minute but his joy was cut short by a marginal offside call.
Sam Glancy celebrates his stunning opener.
Robbie Crawford failed to get a clean connection on a Brown cross three minutes into the second half before Dalkeith enjoyed a spell of pressure as a James McPartlin shot was deflected wide and Gibb cleared a dangerous cross from the foot of a Thistle forward. The Shipyard doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Crawford had the simple task of converting a Brown cross from close range. A dangerous ball into the box has Gibb scrambling and the Shippy keeper was relieved to see the ball hit the outside of the post before it was cleared. Brown saw a shot drift wide of the far post before he got the goal he deserved in the 65th minute. He beat the offside trap and bore down on goal before he drilled the ball into the net with an angled strike from around sixteen yards. Gibb saved low from Thistle substitute Jack Fairgrieve as the game moved into the final quarter of an hour and Shipyard sub Ben Anthony was denied by Newman who pushed out his shot from a tight angle. There was a blemish to the Shipyard’s fine performance with the concession of an added time goal when possession was conceded to Dalkeith and the ball was played through to the unmarked forward who beat Gibb to make it 3-1.
Robbie Crawford nets from close range.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, I. Millar, G. Ross, D. Hunter, S. Strang (R.
Lennie), D. Allan, S. Glancy, R. Brown (B. Anthony), D. Anthony (J. Galloway),
R. Crawford. Unused Subs: A. Watt, P. Bell, R. Connor.
Dalkeith
Thistle: J. Newman, R. Aitchison (C. Leslie), R. Clelland, G. Kerr, S. Woods, J.
Burrows, L. Linton (J. Fairgrieve), M. Fairnie, K. McMillan (A. Wilson), M.
Bennett, J. McPartlin. Unused Subs: C. Burke, S. Dowie.
The Shipyard
hit lowly Craigroyston for six at St Mark’s Park on Saturday with top scorer
Reece Brown helping himself to hat-trick in the process. It was a depleted
Shippy squad that made the short trip over the bridge with the Anthony brothers
at a “stag party”, Ross Lennie Injured and Benn Hutchison still unavailable. Credit
must go to the Craigroyston groundsman who had the pitch in great condition, if
a little soft, given the recent poor weather.
The Shippy started tentatively as the hosts looked to impose themselves on the game with some sharp tackling from the outset. One such challenge led to free-kick twenty-two yards out with Robbie Crawford firing the set piece over the bar. Shipyard keeper Michael Gibb saved a low shot from Dylan Tait before the Shippy took the lead in the 11th minute. A corner was not cleared and Brown sent a looping header over keeper Aaron Heap and into the back of the net. This signalled an increase in tempo from the visitors and a second goal arrived soon after. Craigroyston conceded another free-kick at the edge of the box and this time they were punished as Brown drove the ball into the corner of the net. The Shippy had their tails up now and a superb third goal arrived in the 16th minute. Sandy Strang linked with Brown who moved the ball onto Crawford and the winger smashed an unstoppable shot beyond Heap. The goals kept coming and the fourth had a touch of good fortune about it as Sam Glancy’s free-kick from wide on the left sailed over Heap’s head and dropped into the net. The Shipyard were four ahead with 21 minutes on the clock. What was already a daunting task for the hosts got a whole lot harder a few minutes later when Chris Inglis was dismissed for a crude challenge on Strang, however, the Shippy captain was able to continue after a few minutes treatment. Jordan Galloway and Crawford both saw shots held by Heap before slackness in the Shippy defence allowed a chance for Craigroyston, however, Ryan O’Donnell recovered brilliantly as he produced an excellently timed challenge to avert the danger. Brown was sent through on goal shortly before the break but he couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity as Heap forced him wide and the chance was gone.
Reece Brown helped himself to a hat-trick.
Dale Allan
had a powerful strike pushed away by Heap before Brown completed his hat-trick
in the 56th minute when he drove the ball home from the edge of the
box. Craigroyston pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Craig
Spalding’s well placed free-kick found the net. The Shipyard thought they had a
sixth in the 73rd minute when Dean Hunter’s header was cleared off
the line with the big Shipyard defender adamant the ball had crossed the line. That
sixth goal was only delayed for a minute as Crawford and Brown engineered a
chance for Allan who couldn’t miss from around a yard out. Gibb produced a
tremendous save as he sprung high to his right to tip a goal bound strike over
the bar. Craigroyston got another goal at the death and Spalding produced an
even better free-kick finish than his first as he curled an absolute beauty
into the top corner.
The Shipyard
return to Recreation Park this week as they host Dalkeith Thistle in the first
round of the League Cup. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Craigroyston:
A. Heap, C. Mackintosh, L. Andrew, C. Spalding, B. Anderson (K. Doig), C. Jack,
G. Summers, D. Tait, C. Inglis, M. Johnston (T. Irvine), S. Mullen (M. Scott). Unused
Subs: R. Smail, B. Gilchrist.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell (M. Miller), I. Millar, D. Hunter, G. Ross, S.
Strang, J. Galloway, S. Glancy, R. Brown (A. Watt), D. Allan, R. Crawford (P.
Bell). Unused Subs: R. Connor.
A host of
missed chances and some frustrating refereeing decisions saw the Shipyard throw
away what seemed an unassailable 2-0 lead with only a couple of minutes left on
the clock. It really should have been three points in the bag and back up the
road. Despite the horrendous weather conditions on the Journey to Galashiels, everyone
was surprised on arrival at Netherdale, how much lower the strength of the wind
actually was when disembarking the coach. Even the rain didn’t seem as heavy as
what had been falling on the journey south. New signing Matty Miller took his
place on the Shipyard bench alongside the returning Sam Glancy. Ross Lennie
didn’t make the squad having failed to recover from the injury he picked up
last Saturday.
A driving run from Darrell Anthony almost produced a goal as early as the second minute but he was thwarted by the frame of the goal and then Hawick keeper Dean Fry who saved his follow up shot. Ben Anthony saw his drive pushed round the post as the Shipyard dominated the early stages. Reece Brown fired a shot off target in the 15th minute before the Albert started to impose themselves on the match. Centre forward Jack Hay saw his attempt come back off the upright as he capitalised on a mistake in the Shippy defence. In the 22nd minute it took a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Ryan O’Donnell to deny Hawick a shooting opportunity as their forward bore down on Michael Gibb. A Brown snapshot was saved by Fry and almost immediately the hosts could have taken the lead. Nathan Gillie looked well offside as he moved onto the long clearance up the park, however, he somewhat fluffed his lines as he shot wide. Dean Hunter was the next to produce an excellent challenge as he denied another shooting chance and the danger was not cleared as the ball broke to a Hawick player some 25yards out and he hit a fierce drive that was tipped over by Gibb. The Shipyard struck the woodwork again on the stroke of half-time when Robbie Crawford got on the end of Brown’s cross but unfortunately for the Shippy the ball bounced off the post and into the keeper’s arms.
The Shipyard took the lead three minutes into the second half with a simple goal. A Dale Allan corner played into the front post was easily flicked home by the unmarked D. Anthony. There was a huge moment of controversy in the 63rd minute as B. Anthony burst clear. Fry came out to challenge him but was never getting there. Anthony got to the ball some thirty yards from goal and as he looked to take the ball round the sprawling keeper it was blocked by what looked a blatant handball, however, the referee though it hit his backside and waved play on. Hawick had a couple of efforts just after this as firstly Gibb saved low from John Shankie and then Hay shot wide. The Shipyard doubled their lead on 66 minutes with a great goal. Substitute Sam Glancy played a delightful ball to D. Anthony and he showed great composure as he rolled the ball into the corner of the net. Young Anthony was denied his hat-trick by another harsh decision when he knocked the ball into the net after Fry had pushed the ball out to his feet in saving a cross cum shot from B. Anthony. It seemed that the referee failed to notice the Hawick player who had tried block the cross had played Darrell onside. This seemed to spur the Shippy on and big Iain Millar went close in the 68th and 73rd minutes. A Brown shot was tipped over and an Allan effort was deflected wide as the visitors dominated. A ball flashed across the Hawick six-yard box might have been turned in and the Shippy were made to rue these missed opportunities as the Albert threw caution to the wind for the final few minutes. Hay drove forward and won a corner after his strike was blocked before another controversial decision. An innocuous ball into the Shipyard box saw two players challenge for the ball and the referee was the only one who saw something amiss as he pointed to the spot awarding Hawick a penalty. Despite the vehement protests from the Shipyard players the decision stood. Substitute Ross Scott smashed his penalty beyond Gibb. In the 92nd minute another long ball through the middle caught out the Shippy defence and Hay was able to break clear and remain composed to slot the ball into the net sending the home contingent wild. Those celebrations should have been cut short within a minute as B. Anthony was presented with a glorious chance, however, the normally clinical striker blasted over from around twelve yards with the goal at his mercy. There was still time for Hay to receive a second yellow card, possibly for something he said, to go along with his first for wearing an earring, which ended a somewhat eventful day.
The Shipyard
are at home this week (22/02/2020) as Dalkeith Thistle visit Recreation Park
for a league match. Kick-off is 2.30pm.
Hawick Royal
Albert United: D. Fry, K. Paterson, R. Shepherd, K. Strathdee, A. Reilly, D.
Chandler, N. Gillie (R. Scott), G. Ford, J. Hay, L. Swaney (C. Hope), J.
Shankie. Unused Subs: S. Burton.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, I. Millar, D. Hunter, G. Ross (M. Miller), S.
Strang, R. Crawford (S. Glancy), D. Anthony, B. Anthony, R. Brown, D. Allan. Unused
Subs: J. Galloway, A. Watt, K. Kwapinski.
A storming first half performance from the Shippy blew Tweedmouth Rangers away, meaning the match was more or less over at the interval with the home team 5-0 ahead. Five goals from five different scorers pleased manager Stuart Innes but he was left scratching his head at some of the chances missed, particularly in the second half, having encouraged his players to keep up the momentum during his half-time team talk. The second period was more even than the first and Tweedmouth fully merited their consolation goal with twelve minutes remaining. Sam Glancy was unavailable which meant a start for Robbie Crawford, now fully recovered from his long-term injury.
Two scorers are all smiles after another goal.
The Shipyard had the strengthening wind behind them at kick-off; however, it was by no means Storm Ciara conditions at this stage. Ben Anthony had a shot touched over by keeper Stuart Allan in the first minute and the striker saw another effort deflected wide a few minutes later. Gavin Ross nodded over following an Iain Millar long throw as the Shipyard kept the visitors pinned back. That being said, Rangers should have taken the lead in the 17th minute. A Miguel Friere shot was deflected wide following sloppiness in the Shippy defence and from the resultant corner Tweedmouth struck the bar and it seemed inevitable that the loose ball would be knocked home but somehow the home defence managed to get a couple of blocks in before eventually scrambling the ball away. Ross Lennie left the field injured and he was replaced by Reece Brown on nineteen minutes and almost immediately the Shipyard took the lead with a well worked goal. B. Anthony saw Dale Allan in space and his fine pass allowed Allan to drive the ball across the keeper and into the corner of the net from around 15 yards. It was 2-0 a minute later as Crawford flicked the ball home from inside the six-yard box with the assist coming from Brown, though it would be fair to say it was a somewhat scrappy goal. There was a similar scramble as previously, this time in the Tweedmouth box, as the Shipyard players could not force the ball over the line. Michael Robinson blazed wide in a rare Rangers attack but most of the action was taking place in front of Allan with B. Anthony peppering his goal. Two attempts were just off target before he struck with a sublime effort in the 32nd minute as he curled the ball beyond Allan from the left-hand side of the box. Ben had another shot tipped over before brother Darrell was also denied by the overworked Tweedmouth keeper. Ross made it 4-0 when he headed home at the back post following another corner. It became 5-0 in added time as substitute Brown rifled the ball into the net with an angled drive.
Robbie Crawford flicks in the Shippy’s second.
The second
half was much less frenetic with the first notable attempt coming from the boot
of D. Anthony with almost an hour on the clock. Michael Gibb then saw a bit of
action as he saved low to his right from a Regan Graham effort. The Anthony
brothers combined with Ben feeding Darrell only for the latter to shoot wide.
Tweedmouth pulled one back in the 78th minute when Friere netted, a
goal that the youngster’s performance merited. B. Anthony rattled the
Tweedmouth bar and Shippy sub Andy Watt couldn’t direct the loose ball on target.
Watt then shot over following more good play from B. Anthony in what was the
last meaningful action of the match.
It’s back on
the road this week as we travel to Whitestone Park to face Peebles Rovers in a league
match. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell (A. Watt), I. Millar, D. Hunter, G. Ross, R.
Crawford (J. Galloway), R. Lennie (R. Brown), B. Anthony, D. Anthony, D. Allan.
Unused Subs: P. Bell & K. Kwapinski.
Tweedmouth
Rangers: S. Allan, R. McLeod (J. Rutherford), J. Crombie, R. Dixon, K.
Cromarty, N. Richards (J. Forster), M. Friere, C. Hatsell, M. Robinson, S.
Campbell, R. Graham. Unused Subs: K. Cooledge, J. Dougall, J. Gibson.
The Shipyard
produced a performance that was long overdue as they swept aside promotion
chasing Dunipace with relative ease at Recreation Park on Saturday. The main
difference from previous matches was that the defence looked solid, giving the
whole team the confidence that had been lacking in recent weeks and with that
came the desired performance and result. Iain Millar returned from suspension and
Robbie Crawford was back in the squad following a long-term injury. There were
also home debuts for the Anthony brothers but unfortunately for Darrell it was
cut short due to injury with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Dunipace had the first attempt at goal in the 3rd minute with Shippy keeper Michael Gibb able to watch Aiden Stevenson’s looping header clear the crossbar. Millar saw his header from a Sam Glancy corner drift off target with the giant Shipyard defender appealing in vain that he had been manhandled as he met the ball at the back post. Crawford replaced D. Anthony who hobbled off having picked up a groin injury after nine minutes. It was obviously disappointing for Anthony but it was great to see Crawford returning following his long layoff. Young Crawford almost made a dramatic return four minutes after coming on when he gathered a cross from the left, turned and shot, however, his attempt was straight at keeper David Kane who held comfortably. There was a controversial moment in the 18th minute when B. Anthony got clear of the visitor’s defence in pursuit of a long ball. He was hauled to the ground a yard outside the box as he looked to create a scoring opportunity. The referee chose to show a yellow card for the crude challenge which drew much debate around the ground. Glancy’s free-kick was spilled by Kane and Dale Allan saw his follow up attempt blocked before the danger was cleared. The Shippy were very much on top at this stage and exerting a fair amount of pressure on the Dunipace goals. B. Anthony saw his free-kick clear the bar by a yard or so before the hosts took the lead on 31 minutes. From another fine Glancy set piece delivery Millar rose highest to nod home off the underside of the bar and despite the valiant efforts of the Dunipace defence to clear, the ball was over the line and the goal was given. The visitors might have gotten level a few minutes later but no one could get on the end of a ball driven at pace across the Shipyard box.
Big Milzy nods the Shipyard ahead.
Dunipace had the first attempt in the second half but Morgan Galloway headed wide from a corner. Crawford showed great close control as he weaved his way into the Dunipace box, however, his shot failed to match the quality of his run and Kane saved easily. The Shippy doubled their lead on the hour mark though there was a touch of good fortune about the goal. Another Glancy corner caused panic in the box and despite clearing the ball off the line a couple times Dunipace’s luck deserted them as the ball cannoned off Allan and into the net. The Shippy should have been three ahead after an unbelievable passage of play. B. Anthony broke clear down the right-hand side, took the ball around the advancing Kane and shaped to cross. He then nutmegged the defender on the by-line and beat Kane again. Sandy Strang couldn’t connect with the goal gaping, however, Glancy at the back post did connect but somehow put the ball over from a couple of yards out. Remarkable! In the 73rd minute a third goal duly arrived via the penalty spot. Glancy was involved again as he burst into the box and he was barged off the ball as he shaped to cross. Referee Billy Cooper had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and B. Anthony made it four goals in four appearances though Kane was unlucky as he got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. Galloway was off target again from another Dunipace corner, though to be fair, Gibb was rarely troubled by the shot shy visitors attack. B. Anthony flashed the ball across the face off goal following good work from Allan in what was the last meaningful action of the match.
Ben Anthony’s penalty finds the back of the net.
It was a much-needed win for the Shipyard, a win that sent the young “Shippy Ultras” home happy as they sung their songs leaving the ground. Next week (01/02/2020) sees the Shippy on their travels again as they face Arniston Rangers for the first ever time in a league match at Newbyres Park. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, I. Millar, G. Ross, D. Hunter, S. Strang, D.
Allan, R. Lennie, B. Anthony, D. Anthony (R. Crawford) (J. Galloway), S. Glancy.
Unused Subs: P. Bell, A. Watt, K. Kwapinski.
Dunipace: D.
Kane, J. McMahon, L. Davidson, M. Galloway, J. O’Grady, S. McHaffie, L. Craig, G.
Wright, C. Zok (S. Dymock), A. Stevenson, P. Nash (A. McFadden). Unused Subs:
K. Stevenson, A. Thomson, C. Martin.
A late strike from substitute Sandy Strang earned the Shipyard a well-deserved point in a six-goal thriller at Paties Road Stadium on Saturday, however, there was still disappointment in the Shippy camp as they really should have left with all three points. Once again poor defending was the source of frustration as the hosts went in at the interval 3-1 ahead, that being said, credit has to go to the player as they showed great character in the second half and only the width of the post denied them victory. There was a debut for Darrell Anthony as he joined up with his brother Ben in the Shipyard starting eleven but that addition to the squad was tempered as Iain Millar was serving a one match suspension.
Sandy Strang netted equaliser for the Shippy.
The Shippy took
the lead with only two minutes on the clock as a Sam Glancy strike from the
edge of the area beat United keeper Ash Tufail at his near post. Unfortunately
for the visitors the lead only lasted six minutes as Brian Breen turned a Sonny
Swanson shot into his own net. The Shipyard could have regained the lead in the
12th minute but Reece Brown shot wide of the open goal. The Shippy
were hit with a sucker punch in the 21st minute as the hosts broke up
the park and took the lead. Good play between Stephen Scott and Euan Lee
created the chance and when the ball wasn’t cleared Scott was on hand to knock
the ball home. The Shipyard were still on the front foot and in the ascendancy but
could not find an equaliser and shortly before half-time there was close calls
at both ends as firstly Scott missed a great chance for United and at the other
end Tufail held a fierce Darrell Anthony shot. Deep in added time the Shipyard
shot themselves in the foot as they needlessly conceded possession in their own
half and Scott set up Shaun Meikle who slotted the ball home.
Manager
Stuart Innes did not mince his words at the interval and it seemed to have the
desired effect when Reece Brown went close on two occasions as firstly, he
fired a shot across the face of goal and he was unlucky in the 51st
minute to see his effort come back off the post. The pressure paid off as the
Shippy were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute when Scott Hay
fouled Ben Anthony in the box. The striker dusted himself down and confidently
converted from the spot. Corey Robertson kept his team in the lead with a
brilliant goal line clearance to deny Darrell Anthony. The Shipyard were
well on top though United’s Scott had a rare chance for the hosts before the
Shippy got their just rewards. In the 89th minute a dangerous cross
was not properly cleared and when the ball broke to Strang he gleefully smashed
the ball home to get his team level. Another five minutes and who knows what
might have happened but ultimately it was the concession of poor goals that
cost points again. Shortly after the final whistle some players clashed as they
left the pitch and the outcome was that a red card was shown to Gavin Ross and
it was very disappointing that he was singled out for punishment given the
nature of the incident.
The Shipyard
host Dunipace FC at Recreation Park on Saturday (25/01/20) with the match
kicking off at 2.00pm.
Edinburgh
United: A. Tufail, T. Black, C. Robertson, S. Hay (C. Henderson), R. Kerr, S.
Meikle (J. Finnie), S. Miller (J. Smith), E. Lee, S. Swanson, D. McKinlay, S.
Scott. Unused Subs: C. Hanratty, M. Maughan, C. Coppola.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, B. Breen, D. Hunter, G. Ross, S. Glancy, D.
Allan (B. Hutchison), R. Lennie (S. Strang), B. Anthony, D. Anthony, R. Brown.
A catalogue
of horrendous errors cost the Shipyard dear at Warout Stadium on Saturday as
Glenrothes were gifted an easy win. It really had to be seen to be believed, from
the concession of a needless penalty in the 37th minute to losing
the fifth goal in added time, because this wasn’t schoolboy defending as young
players would be a damn sight better than this. Glenrothes were in charitable
mood too as the Shipyard goal came from a bad mistake, however, they limited
their howlers to just the one. Brian Breen made a return to the Shipyard ranks
after a loan deal with Oakley United was agreed on Friday, allowing the big
defender to take his place in the starting eleven. Ryan O’Donnell returned
after illness and Gavin Ross was back in following a suspension.
The Shipyard made a bright start to the game and were on top in the opening stages as they dominated the ball. Ben Anthony drove the ball across the face of goal before a moment of pure brilliance in the 11th minute. The ball fell to Sandy Strang in the middle of the box and he smashed a thunderous shot towards goal. Incredibly, Glens keeper Ross Wortley dived to his left and touched Strang’s strike away for a corner. It was a truly remarkable save, undoubtedly the highlight of the match. Wortley was involved a few minutes later as he raced to the edge of his area to pip Anthony to the ball. When the ball was played in to Reece Brown his attempt lacked the power to trouble the keeper who had made his ground. In the twentieth minute Anthony’s shot beat the keeper but a defender was on the line to hack the ball clear. Glenrothes came into the match a bit more and created a couple of half chances without threatening the goal. Sam Glancy and Anthony both fired in long range efforts before the game turned dramatically. Ian Millar tangled in the box with a Glens player at a set piece and the referee quickly blew for a penalty indicating Millar had a hold of his opponent’s shirt. Fionn McLeod Kay confidently converted from the spot. No complaints about the decision, however, if the ref gives a penalty for that, he should really be penalising a lot more.
Ben Anthony went close on a couple of occasions.
The Shippy
were deservedly level within a minute of the restart following a clanger from
Wortley as he slipped allowing Brown to knock home the loose ball. There was
worse to follow. A Glancy free-kick was held by Wortley before Shippy keeper
Michael Gibb’s day turned sour. Breen rolled the ball back to him and everyone
was astonished when he let the ball go under his foot and trundle into the
unguarded net to let the Glens regain the lead. Another Glancy free-kick was
just off target and Millar did well to keep the ball in play at the back post
but no Shipyard player was on hand to connect with the loose ball. At the other
end Gibb stood big as Kay tried to dink the ball over him. Millar headed a
Brown corner over as the Shipyard searched for the equaliser, however, calamity
was about to strike at the other end again. Despite several chances to clear
the ball no one managed to do it and suddenly Glens new signing Owen Andrew
found himself with just Gibb to beat and he rounded the keeper and knocked the
ball home. Gibb tipped substitute Lewis Hynd’s effort over the bar in the 75th
minute but a fourth goal arrived seconds later when more slack play allowed
Glenrothes to fire the ball across the face of goal for Andrew to net from
close range at the back post with the Shipyard claiming in vain for offside. The
final disaster arrived in added time with Gibb again culpable as he sclaffed
another pass back at the expense of a corner. From the set play Patrick
Calderwood rose unchallenged at the front post to head the ball home.
Reece Brown nets the Shipyard goal.
What looked
like a very good performance and positive result in the offing, turned into a
disastrous day for the Shipyard as they shot themselves in the foot time and
time again and then need to drag themselves out of this current run quickly to
save their season.
Another Fife
derby awaits on Saturday (11/01/2020) as Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts visit
for a cross conference league match at Recreation Park. Kick-off is at 2.00pm.
Glenrothes:
R. Wortley, C. Kinnes, B. Duff (L. Hynd), A. McDonald, B. Smart, L. Grierson
(C. Denton), L. Schiavone, S. McDonald, O. Andrew, F. Kay (P. Calderwood), S.
King. Unused Subs: S. Russell, C. Watt, M. Millar, C. Richardson.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, I. Millar, B. Breen (A. Watt), G. Ross, S.
Strang, S. Glancy, R. Lennie, B. Anthony, D. Allan, R. Brown. Unused Subs: D.
Hunter, J. Galloway, K. Kwapinski.
Despite a storming comeback that included a debut brace from Ben Anthony the Shipyard ultimately came up short against Oakley United at Blairwood Park on Saturday. It was a welcome return to action for the Shippy having not played a competitive match since November 23rd due to adverse weather conditions, and it showed as it took the Shipyard around seventy minutes to get going. The pitch was in poor condition at the outset and as the match wore on it deteriorated significantly as some areas turned into a quagmire with the players doing well to produce a decent game for the spectators. As mentioned previously Ben Anthony made his long-awaited debut following his signing from Thornton Hibs some weeks ago, however, the squad was stretched due to illness, injury and suspension with only three substitutes listed.
The Shippy
fell behind as early as the eighth minute as Oakley moved the ball down the left-hand
side and when the ball fell to Mark Allan, he lashed an angled drive into the
roof of the net. The Shipyard had a let off with fourteen minutes on the clock
after Jordan Galloway was dispossessed and they were relieved to see the Oakley
player somewhat fluff his lines. A couple of Ian Millar long throw ins and a
corner saw the visitors exert some pressure on the Oakley defence, however,
play returned to the other end and Craig Martin saw his strike deflected for a
corner and from the resultant set piece Allan shot off target. A Sam Glancy free-kick
fell to Ross Lennie in the centre of the home box but unfortunately for the
Shippy, the midfielder’s shot drifted just wide of the goal. Oakley doubled
their lead on 32 minutes and from the Shipyard’s point of view it was poor as Martin
was afforded a free header at the back post. Far to easy! Glancy lashed a loose
ball over the bar on the stroke of half-time.
The Shipyard
made a change at the break with Benn Hutchison replacing Galloway with the sub
slotting into the middle of the park with Lennie moving to right back. Anthony
saw his shot deflected as the Shipyard started the second period brighter
before Oakley regained the ascendancy when John Harrison almost capitalised on
a Millar error. The striker didn’t have to wait too long for his goal as the
Shippy defence got themselves into a total fankle at an Oakley free-kick and
Harrison had an easy finish at the back post. Michael Gibb saved well from Stuart
Love just before Pete Bell replaced Andy Watt as the Shippy made another alteration
to their formation. There was a slight delay as Oakley looked to make a
substitution though apparently the player hoping to come on was not on the
teamsheet, therefore he could not take any part in the game. The Shipyard
started to dominate the game now and were pushing Oakley back with Lennie, Bell
and Hutchison driving the Shipyard forward. The Shipyard pulled a goal back
with ten minutes remaining as a flowing move up the right-hand side found
Anthony and he drilled the ball across the keeper and into the far corner to
notch his first Shipyard goal. Four minutes later the Shipyard were awarded a
penalty when Reece Brown was scythed down as he burst into the box and Anthony
made no mistake from the spot sending the keeper the wrong way. Oakley were on
the ropes now and hanging on for dear life and they had their substitute keeper
Aaron Jones to thank as he pulled off a sensational save to push away a
thunderous Brown strike as the game moved into added time.
At the end
of the day it was too little too late for the Shippy and very much a case of
what might have been had the played with the same intensity for a bit more than
fifteen minutes or so. They now move on to another Fife derby as we make the
short journey to first foot Glenrothes on Saturday (04/01/2020). Kick-off at
the Warout Stadium is 2.00pm.
Oakley
United: S. Robertson (A. Jones), C. Runciman, R. Gruar, D. Kelly, G. Ironside, R.
McGill, C. Martin, R. Gunn, S. Love, J. Harrison, M. Allan. Subs: J. Moon, D.
House, C. Bennett, D. Patterson, B. McEwan.
Burntisland
Shipyard: M. Gibb, J. Galloway (B. Hutchison), J. Finlay, S. Strang, I. Millar,
S. Glancy, D. Allan, R. Lennie, B. Anthony, A. Watt (P. Bell), R. Brown. Unused
Sub: R. Connor.
