Six goal Shipyard thrash Kinross
The Shipyard produced a scintillating performance to blow away Kinross at The Myre scoring 3 goals in each half to record a fine 6 – 0 win. Manager Whitehead had almost a full squad to choose from including a couple of trialists, for the first meeting with Kinross this season.
Kinross had the strong wind behind them and had the better of the early exchanges, though it was the Shipyard who had the first opportunity in the 4th minute when after good work between Small and Johnston, J. Williams headed the cross over. A minute later the Shipyard did take the lead when Shaun Leishman controlled a McAndrew cross and drilled the ball into the net from 8 yards. It was 2 – 0 in the 10th minute, Johnston done well on the right-hand side of the box, drew the keeper, then cut the ball back to Owen McCue who fired the ball into the unguarded net. The Shipyard were dominating the proceedings and McCue saw a shot from 20 yards go over the bar on the half hour mark. Chalmers was then called into a rare piece of action when he tipped a long range effort over the bar. Good interplay between McAndrew and Johnston saw the latter’s shot held by Gough in the Kinross goal. In the 40th minute Kinross had a chance to get back into the match when Carson, who looked offside, shot over from a good position. The Shipyard went three up in the 43rd minute when Small and Johnston combined down the right to set up Shaun Leishman for his second goal of the match, knocking the cross home from around 6 yards.
With the wind at their back’s the Shipyard started strongly in the second half with Dow going close after a quick break down the left-hand side, his shot hitting the side netting. T.Williams was next to try his luck, however, his 35 yard free-kick was well off target. The Shipyard continued to press with substitute Russell’s cross being dummied by Small but, Johnston’s shot was held by Gough. In the 55th minute Leishman had an attempt to get his hat-trick, this time he was off target after receiving a pass from Russell. It was 4 – 0 in the 58th minute, this time it was Neil Johnston who was on target, scoring from close range after good work from J. Williams. Twice within a minute J. Williams crossed from the left only for the first to be cleared for a corner, narrowly going wide of the post and the second finding no takers. After 68 minutes Sub Russell controlled the ball from a corner but hooked his shot over the bar. Twice in 5 minutes Kinross had good chances to pull a goal back, firstly Chalmers saved at point blank range 5 yards out then, from a free-kick, McIver knocked the ball over from inside the 6 yard box. A minute later in the 76th minute the Shipyard were pressing again, this time it was M. Hamilton who gathered the ball 22 yards out, turned and shot only to be denied by a fine save from Gough. Next it was Johnston to have an effort which was again well saved by Gough before it was scrambled behind for a corner. The Shipyard continued to press with both Russell and J. Williams going close. In the 84th minute the Shipyard scored a 5th when the two Hammies Set up Craig Russell to score on his Shipyard debut with a fine strike from 12 yards. 2 minutes later the Shipyard scored a sixth goal with Lee Small netting from close range after his initial shot was blocked by the keeper, who had done well at first to palm away a cross from S. Hamilton.
After the match a delighted Billy Whitehead said “ That was a great performance and we managed to convert more of the chances we are creating. Also, it was pleasing to keep a clean sheet and although Scott did not have a lot to do, what he did have to deal with he done very well. I thought that Craig Russell done well on his debut and gives me more options up front”.
Teams: Kinross: Gough; Burnett; Graham; Mercer; McIver; Thackery; Wilson; Hatten; Ellis; McIntyre; Carson. Subs: McFarlane; McKenna; Wardlaw.
Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; McCue; T. Williams (Cook); Grieve; Small; M. Hamilton; Leishman; J. Williams; Johnston (S. Hamilton); Dow (Russell). Unused Subs: Hutt; Houston.
Referee: S. Rosner.