The Shipyard’s season went from bad to worse with a diabolical second half performance against Lumphinnans at Ochilview Park. Leading 2 -1 at half- time the Shipyard lost 6 goals in the second half, 5 of them after being reduced to 10 men with less than 2o minutes to go.
Billy Whitehead made 2 enforced changes to last week’s team with Brown and T. Williams dropping out through suspension. They were replaced by Tasker and McNeill. The shipyard were one down in the 7th minute when Tasker lost possession in midfield and the Lumphinnans player strode forward to sent a fine shot past Chalmers. In the 20th minute a goalmouth scramble produced several attempts by the Lumphinnans attack which the Shipyard defence repelled, albeit at a cost, as Grieve received a nasty eye injury that subsequently required 4 stitches. The Shipyard were level in 23 minutes when a training ground free-kick was sweetly struck home by Owe McCue. Chalmers kept the Shipyard level with 2 fine saves in a minute, both times turning the ball round the post for a corner. In the 31st minute the Shipyard took the lead with another free-kick, this time Neil Ferguson was the scorer, hitting his shot from the left hand corner of the box.
Lumphinnans were level early in the second half when Chalmers dropped a corner, the Lumphinnans player was on hand to crash the ball into the net. Chances were now being created at both ends with Williams, McCue and Hamilton all going close for the Shipyard. Lumphinnans hit the bar with a headed effort and saw a shot fly over the bar with Chalmers beaten. In the 71st minute James Whyte harshly received a second yellow card and was sent off. Worse tackles were not being equally punished. Then the roof caved in as the Shipyard lost a goal almost immediately and in the 75 minute a mix up between Chalmers and Stand-in centre half Hamilton gifted Lumphinnans their 4th goal. 3 goals in the last 10 minutes as the Shipyard capitulated gave Lumphinnans a total of seven and left manager Whitehead with major problems to rebuild the defence and confidence.
Teams: Lumphinnans United: B. Thomson; Lynas; B. Hardie; J. Hardie; Lister; Hay; N. Harvey; S. Harvey; Child; Wotherspoon; P. Thomson. Subs: Cochrane; Sutherland; Stenhouse; Young; MacKenzie.
Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; Whyte; Cook; Grieve (Drummond); Ferguson (Bell); Tasker; Hamilton; Johnston; McNeill (Williams); McCue. Unused Subs: Henderson; Houston.
Referee: D. Campbell.