The Shipyard exited the South Region Challenge Cup with barely a whimper as they lost 6-1 to premier division Glenrothes at Recreation Park on Saturday. A catalogue of errors was their undoing as the Glens let 4-1 at the interval, with only a sensational strike from Mikey Gibb, levelling the match at 1-1, giving the Shippy faithful something to savour. Manager Lee Richardson rung the changes following the match at Armadale last week with Ryan Couser returning in goals, joining Kearyn Hicks, Dan McBay and Kris Murphy in the starting eleven. Finlay Russell, Tony McAndrew, Kierren Ritchie and Liam Taylor were the ones who dropped out.
The Shipyard defence coughed up an opportunity to Stuart Cargill in the 10th minute and the veteran striker didn’t need a second invitation as he lashed the ball home from the edge of the box. The Shippy were level in the 19th minute thanks to a great finish from Gibb. He outpaced Blair Smart to burst clear before he measured a great curling left foot shot into the top corner. Unfortunately for the Shippy they were unable to build on the equaliser as they conceded a needless second only a couple of minutes later. Confusion at the back led to the ball falling to Cargill inside the area and he placed the ball beyond Couser for his second of the match. Couser saved well from Lea Schiavone and at the other end Riley Laing also produced a good save denying the Shipyard’s Schiavone, Conor. The roof caved in on the Shippy in the final five minutes of the half as the Glens added another two goals thanks to Cammy Muirhead and Jay Bridgeford with questions again being asked about the defending. Murphy hooked wide for the Shippy seconds before the half-time whistle blew.
Jordan Galloway replaced Dan McBay before the start of the second period. Gibby shot wide as the Shippy made a promising start to the half but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished as Bridgeford got another goal in the 48th minute. The rest of the match saw a whole host of substitutions from both teams as the visitors comfortably kept control of the game with neither team creating too much until the final minute when Muirhead also grabbed a brace as the Glens netted their sixth goal of the match.
Richardson was critical of his defence when he said after the match “The defending, particularly in the first half, was not good enough. We can’t give those type of chances to the calibre of forwards that Glenrothes have. I thought that when Gibby equalised it might have settled us but to concede within two minutes, in such a manner was very disappointing.”
We return to league action on Saturday (24/08/2024) with a visit from Fife neighbours Oakley United. Kick-off is at the usual time of 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie (C. McBay); K. Crielly; E. Bauld (M. Robertson); K. Hicks; D. Anthony; D. McBay (J. Galloway); B. Kerr (K. Beard); K. Murphy; M. Gibb (K. Ritchie); C. Schiavone. Unused Subs: A. McAndrew & L. Taylor.
Glenrothes: R. Laing; C. Tully; A. McDonald; C. Wilson; B. Smart; C. Thomson; L. Schiavone; J. Watson; C. Muirhead; S. Cargill; J. Bridgeford. Subs: R. Dyce; A. Ramzan; R. Gait; J. Mackenzie; S. Allan; P. Thomson; I. McManus.
The Shipyard went down 2-0 to league leaders Armadale Thistle at Volunteer Park on Saturday, however, the Dale were made to work hard for their victory and it wasn’t until the 89th minute that they secured the win with their second goal and in the process, condemned the Shippy to their first league defeat of the season. The Shipyard were forced into four changes from the side that won just along the road at Bathgate on Wednesday night with captain Iain Millar injured and Ryan Couser, Matty Robertson and Kris Murphy all unavailable. Couser’s absence meant a debut for 17 year old keeper Finlay Russell and the youngster can be proud of his performance as he produced an assured display showing no lack of confidence. Kieran Crielly, Conor Schiavone and Kierren Ritchie were the others who came into the starting eleven.
Unfortunately for the Shippy they conceded an early goal as Armadale took the lead with only seven minutes on the clock. A through ball caught out the visitor’s defence and Robbie Feeney found himself with time and space to beat Russell from inside the box. The Shippy responded well and good build up saw Schiavone lay the ball off to Blair Kerr, however, the midfielders shot was blocked. In the 16th minute Liam Taylor picked up the ball just outside the area but couldn’t keep his strike on target. The Shippy went mighty close three minutes later through Mikey Gibb as he lashed the ball off the underside of the bar and Kerr saw his follow up blocked. Armadale went close when a corner was allowed to bounce in the box, however, the defence was able to clear the danger before the ball crossed the line. Russell then made a good save to deny Aaron Ramage with 33 minutes on the clock.
Juwan Abubakar couldn’t get a decisive tough on the ball as it flashed across the face of the Shipyard goal in the 47th minute. The Shipyard weren’t getting forward as much in the second period as the hosts took a stronger grip on proceedings and in the 74th minute Russell saved with his foot to deny Craig Baillie. In the space of two minutes the Shippy defence did well to block a couple of efforts and sub Dan McBay was on hand to head another effort off the line. In a rare foray into the Dale box Schiavone headed over a Kerr cross as the match entered the final ten minutes. Substitute Ryan Robertson headed over before Armadale sealed the victory in the final minute. A quick break down the righthand side saw the ball played to Baillie who lashed the ball home giving Rusell no chance.
With no midweek fixture this coming week we will welcome Glenrothes to Recreation Park for a South Challenge Cup first round tie on Saturday (17/8/2024).
Armadale Thistle: A. Murphy; J. Sayers; J. Fairley (G. Hamilton); E. Herriot; D. Wilson; A. Higgins; J. Abubakar (K. Jackson); D. Kane; R. Feeney (B. Stewart); A. Ramage (R. Robertson); C. Baillie. Unused Subs: C. Neilson & S. McLeod.
Burntisland Shipyard: F. Russell; D. Brockie (K. Beard); K. Crielly; E. Bauld; M. Gibb; D. Anthony; A. McAndrew (J. Galloway); B. Kerr; C. Schiavone; K. Ritchie (E. McQuade); L. Taylor (D. McBay).
The Shipyard maintained their 100% start to the league campaign but had to come from behind to do so at Creamery Park on Wednesday night. After conceding in the 19th minute the Shippy were level four minutes later and two quick goals as the interval approached had the visitors 3-1 ahead at the break. Despite being pegged back in the 53rd minute the Shipyard comfortably repelled the Bathgate attacks and they scored a sensational fourth goal in the 88th minute to ensure the win.
Unsurprisingly, there were no changes to the team that started against Stirling University on Friday night though the bench was strengthened by the return of Ben Anthony and Conor Schiavone. Mark James remained side-lined through injury.
The Shippy created their first chance in the 4th minute when Mikey Gibb broke down the right-hand side and when he delivered his cross Kris Murphy poked the ball narrowly wide from around six yards. Gibb was involved again in the 10th minute as he again found space in behind the Thistle defence. He had to hurdle over a wild challenge as keeper Craig Saunders charged from his goal and although Gibby got a shot away from a tight angle, it didn’t have the power to find the net. Glen Thomson shot just over for Bathgate following a quick throw in and five minutes later the hosts took the lead. Again, the Shippy defence were caught napping when a free kick was played into the box and Alistair McInnes had time and space inside the area to put the ball into the net. The Shipyard equalised four minute later when Gibb got on the end of a ball played over the top by Matty Robertson and he showed great composure as he slotted the ball beyond Saunders. The Shipyard suffered a blow in the 25th minute as captain Iain Millar had to be replaced as he pulled up with a hamstring injury, Schiavone came on and Gibb dropped back into the defence. Murphy put his team ahead in the 37th minute when he gathered a loose ball at the edge of the box and stroked the ball home in off the post. Liam Taylor scored an almost carbon copy goal two minutes later, again with the ball going in off the post. Both goals came about thanks to the Shippy forwards pressing the ball high up the park.
McInnes brought his team back into the match in the 53rd minute when he capitalised on some hesitation in the Shippy defence, reducing the arrears to one. The hosts were spurred on by this and were enjoying their best spell in the match throwing a lot of crosses into the box, however, Couser comfortably dealt with everything that was coming his way. Blair Kerr saw his shot held and substitute B. Anthony was foiled on a couple of occasions. Talking about saving the best until last!! This was certainly the case as the Shippy sealed the win with a sensational strike. Thistle keeper Saunders cleared the ball from the edge of his area but the ball only found Schiavone some 40 yards out and he unleashed an incredible strike over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net.
Assistant manager Fergus Lockhart spoke after the match when he said “I thought the boys showed a lot of character tonight as they put a couple of setbacks behind them and got on with it. As the squad starts to gel, I can see the confidence starting to grow.”
Bathgate Thistle: C. Saunders; K. Mooney; J. Macadam; H. Maguire; G. Dryden; L. Peddie; M. Campbell; F. Cormack; A. McInnes; G. Thomson; J. Rodger. Subs: R. Stevenson; L. Smith; G. MacDonald; F. Mackay; J. Mairs; R. Wilson; C. Thomson.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; M. Robertson; I. Millar (C. Schiavone); E. Beard; D. Anthony; A. McAndrew (D. McBay); B. Kerr (J. Galloway); K. Murphy (B. Anthony); L. Taylor (K. Ritchie); M. Gibb. Unused Subs: K. Crielly & F. Russell.
The Shipyard got their league campaign off to a flying start with an emphatic 4-0 win over Stirling University at Recreation Park on Friday night. Goals from Liam Taylor, Michael Gibb, Kris Murphy and Darrell Anthony had manager Lee Richardson in a joyous mood, and when he spoke after the match he said “That was night and day from Saturday’s performance at Livingston. Tonight, the boys played to a system they were asked to and as everyone could see, it worked. My three strikers all scored and I thought that we scored some fantastic goals.” He went on to say “I have to praise my defence too as they also did what was asked of them. Stirling posed us problems but we defended well and Ryan Couser was impressive in keeping a clean sheet.” Murphy, Blair Kerr and Club captain Iain Millar returned to the starting eleven with Ellis McQuade, Jordan Galloway and Cammy Lewis dropping out. Lewis was able to take a place on the bench as he had recovered from the injury he picked up last Saturday.
Shippy players celebrate 4th goal. Pic courtesy of J. Brown.
The match kicked off in front of a healthy crowd of 142, with several well-known ground hopper in attendance, looking to enjoy their fill of Friday night football. It didn’t take long for them to see some goal action as the Shippy took the lead in the 7th minute. Taylor received the ball just outside the box and he worked his way into the area then picked his spot with a composed finish from around sixteen yards. Gibb doubled the lead in the 19th minute when he gathered the ball eighteen yards out and smashed it into the bottom corner. The visitors were never out of it and Couser was forced into a couple of decent saves as the students got forward at every opportunity to try and get back into the match.
The second half started with the lights on amid the gathering gloom and it was the visitors who started the better though Couser was not overly stretched. The Shipyard increased their lead to three in the 61st minute when Murphy headed home from a corner. Despite the best efforts of the Stirling defence the big striker’s effort found its way over the line. The Shippy kept searching for more goals and a fourth arrived in the 87th minute. This time it was Anthony who scored as he drove in a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
There is midweek action on Wednesday as we travel Creamery Park to face Bathgate Thistle in league action. Kick-off for this one is at 7.15pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; M. Robertson (K. Crielly); E. Bauld; I. Millar; D. Anthony; T. McAndrew (D. McBay); B. Kerr (J. Galloway); K. Murphy (K. Ritchie); M. Gibb; L. Taylor (C. Lewis). Unused Subs: M. Moodie & F. Russell.
Stirling University: S. McDermott; L. Stewart; J. Farrell; O. Hunter; A. Penman; B. Craig-Hislop; D. Mason Bone; R. Lennon; L. Danquah; C. Myles; J. Elliott. Subs: L. Dobson; B. Moule; C. Doan; C. Shiels.
In a dramatic finale Livingston United scored a one hundred and first minute penalty to knock nine man Shippy out and secured their place in the next round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Although there were two penalties awarded and two red cards shown, it wasn’t a match that was full of incident with neither team ever gaining control of the match. There were competitive debuts for Daniel Brockie, Tony McAndrew, Liam Taylor and Kieran Crielly. Ryan Couser and Darrell Anthony made returning debuts as both have had previous spells with the Shipyard. One thing that did remain constant was the usual array of players missing for one reason or another.
The new season kicked off in warm and sunny conditions at Station Park, how long will that last everyone will ask, with the Shipyard creating the first opportunity in the 2nd minute when Taylor’s pass found Michael Gibb inside the box but Gibby couldn’t get his shot on target. At the other end Couser saved from Livi’s Conlon Burchill. Ethan Bauld headed a Jordan Galloway corner wide and at the other end Daniel Duncan drove wide. Couser saved a low drive from Zac Avinou before the Shippy spurned a golden chance to take the lead in the 29th minute. Taylor was tripped in the box and the youngster dusted himself down to take the kick, however, Dominic Duffy saved well as he dived low to his right to stop the shot. This turned out to be a double whammy for the Shippy as the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later when Lee Kelly fired the ball home from fifteen yards out. Good work from Cammy Lewis set up a chance for Taylor but he stabbed the ball wide.
Liam Taylor’s penalty is saved (Picture Ian Cunningham)
Matty Robertson replaced the injured Mark James for the second half and he would not have been expecting to be involved in two major incidents later in the game. A forceful run from Taylor set up a chance for Gibb but the shot was blocked. Couser misjudged a cross into the box but Livingston could not put the loose ball on target as the ball flew over the bar. There were loud claims from the home team for a penalty in the 54th minute but the referee saw nothing untoward in the handball appeal. The Shipyard lost another player to injury as Lewis left the field with a cut to the back of his head following a challenge just outside the area. Kieran Crielly was his replacement. Following a long delay Anthony headed Galloway’s free kick off target. The Shippy drew level after another Galloway free kick in the 76th minute. The set piece was only partially cleared and Gibb’s strike deflected off Robertson on its way into the net. Burchill saw an attempt come off the junction of the post and bar as both teams sought a winner. The Shippy’s hopes were dealt a blow when Taylor received a second yellow card as he tracked back and his rash challenge merited a caution. Kai Beard came on for McAndrew as the midfielder was sailing close to the wind should he have committed another foul. Nine minutes into added time it looked like the Shippy might seal the win as Gibb broke through the middle of the Livi defence but agonisingly for the Shipyard his lob landed on the top of the net. Then came the decisive moment a few seconds later as Livingston were awarded a penalty. Robertson tangled with the Livi forward at the corner of the six yard box and grabbed the player’s leg. It was also a second yellow for him which meant that the Shipyard were down to nine men. Matty spoke after the game and he said “I have apologised to the boys in the dressing room. As we were on the ground it felt like the boy dug his nails into my hand and in a rush of blood to the head, I grabbed his leg and brought him down right in front of the referee. Apparently, there was only five seconds remaining.” When the dust had settled in the 11th minute of added time Dan Duncan tucked away the spot kick to earn his side the win.
Livingston United: D. Duffy; R. Allan; L. Kelly; D. Lennie; D. Duncan; E. Arthur (R. Guy); J. McKnight; Z. Avinou; C. Burchill; J. Barclay (K Whyte); M. Sampson. Unused Subs: E. Quinn; J. Gilchrist; C. Bryans; B. Chetowski.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; E. McQuade; E. Bauld; M. James (M. Robertson); D. Anthony; A. McAndrew (K. Beard); J. Galloway; C. Lewis (K. Crielly); M. Gibb; L. Taylor. Unused Sub: C. McBay.
