All square in the “Docks Derby”.
A second half goal from Andy Watt earned the Shipyard a well-deserved point against Conference A leaders Leith Athletic and in the process stretched their unbeaten league run to six matches, gathering 14 points from a possible 18 along the way. It was the proverbial game of two halves with the Leithers on top in the first period and the Shippy to the fore in the second, with both sides scoring when in the ascendancy. The Shipyard were unhappy as Leith’s goal looked suspiciously offside, however, with no assistants to help the referee it is always difficult for the official to get every decision correct. Jason Finlay returned to the squad following a long absence due to injury and the youngster made an immediate impact coming off the bench as he set up the Shipyard’s equaliser. Michael Gibb was back between the sticks after missing out at Kinnoull the previous week and Kris Kwapinski was in the squad for the first time as back up to Gibb.
The Shipyard were unlucky to see the ball scrambled off the line in the 17th minute and were even more disheartened four minutes later when they fell behind. Greg Kerr passed to Kyle Mitchell and Leith’s top scorer finished well with Shipyard appeals for offside ignored by the referee. Gibb pulled off a great save from a Mitchell header in the 35th minute as the striker looked for his second of the match.
Sam Glancy saw a thunderous strike from 25yards go just wide while at the other end Oban Anderson saw his effort strike the bar. The Shipyard were gaining the upper hand with captain Sandy Strang having a couple of efforts at goal. The Shippy levelled in the 78th minute when a fine deep cross from substitute Finlay reached fellow replacement Watt and the big forward netted with fine low shot. Leith keeper Ben McGinley kept his side ahead as he reacted well to save a deflected Glancy shot with seven minutes remaining.
This Saturday (19/10/2019) the Shipyard host Haddington Athletic at Recreation Park in a big match for both sides as the Shippy can cut the gap between the clubs to one point. Entry to the game is £5 for adults, £3 for Concessions and under 12’s free. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Leith Athletic: McGinley, Allan, Shaw, Smith, Nesbit, Brown, Currie, Anderson, Kerr (Garvey), MacKenzie (Mein), Mitchell.
Burntisland Shipyard: M. Gibb, R. O’Donnell, I. Millar, D. Hunter, G. Ross, S. Glancy, Jor. Galloway (A. Watt), Jon. Galloway, R. Brown, S. Strang (B. Hutchison), R. Crawford (J. Finlay). Unused Subs: C. McQuade, G. Dolan, K. Kwapinski.
Referee: I. Gallacher.