Shippy back to winning ways
The Shipyard recorded a stuttering 3 – 1 win against Kettle United at Recreation Park tonight. After dominating the first half and only scoring two goals, Kettle came back into the game in the second half and had a lot more of the play and created a few chances. Kettle scored midway through the half and it was not until the 89th minute that Tom Williams’ free kick goal settled the match. The Shipyard team showed one change from Saturday with Mark Brough replacing the unavailable Steven McAndrew. Before the match Owen McCue was presented with his Kingdom Caledonian Player of the Year Trophy for 2010/2011.
McCue had the first attempt for the Shipyard when he stepped inside the defender, but his effort was off target. Kettle responded in the 9th minute with a header that went over the bar. The Shipyard took the lead in the 11th minute when Craig Russell gathered the ball on the 18 yard line and fired a powerful left-foot shot low into the corner of the net. The Shipyard scored again in the 13th minute when a McCue free-kick from wide on the right was brilliantly headed home by Blair Smart from around 8 yards. The Shipyard were in full flow and J. Williams was next to have a go, but he saw his shot well saved by Rankin in the Kettle goal. On twenty minutes McCue was put clean through and when he rounded the keeper he looked certain to score, however, a defender got back to clear the ball as it headed for the goal. Kettle were trying hard to get back into the match, though Chalmers was not tested much apart for a couple of shots from distance. McCue had another effort on goal in the 37th minute and this time his shot was turned round the post for a corner.
The Shipyard’s first chance of the second half came in the 58th minute when the ball fell to McCue in the box, however, the ball was taken off his toe as he was about to shoot. The Kettle keeper then done well to block the ball as it flew towards him. Kettle were giving as good as they got in the second half and were starting to push the Shipyard back as they sought a way back into the game. Brough and Russell had attempts at goal for the Shipyard without causing Rankin too much trouble. The goal that Kettle threatened came in the 66th minute when the ball broke to the Kettle player at the angle of the box and his shot seemed to take a deflection is it beat Chalmers. McCue had a shot on target in the 79th minute and again Rankin was equal to the task gathering the ball low down. The Shipyard defence managed to keep the Kettle attacks at bay and any nerves were settled in the 89th minute when Tam Williams made it 3 – 1. After being awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box Williams drilled a low shot into the corner of the net to seal the victory.
Billy Whitehead was pleased after the game and said “It was good to bounce back after Saturday’s disappointing display. We are still missing important players through injury, but the guys that were playing did not let me down. The first half was a fine performance and we might have been out of sight by half-time but for a couple of very good saves”.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; Grieve (Dow); Whyte; T. Williams; Smart; Brough; Hamilton; Cook; Russell (Tasker); McCue; J.Williams. Unused Subs: Haywood; Martin.
Kettle United: Rankin; Black; Easthaugh; Curnyn; Anderson; Skene; Laurie; Main; Ferrier; Blackwood; Lister. Subs: Irving; Turnbull; Wilson; Muffit; Grieve.
Referee: S.Rosner.