Glendale Plastics League

Strathmiglo United. 2 Burntisland Shipyard. 1

The Shipyard were decimated by call off’s for this match with no fewer than 12 players being unavailable for one reason or another, even a guy just watching the game was asked to take a sub shirt. The match was played on a very poor surface, on a cold but bright night.

The Shipyard were first to show and after 2 minutes Millar shot just wide after a lay off from Johnston. In 9 minutes the Shipyard took the lead when Hamilton crossed for Kevin Huskie to score, with a well placed header. The Shipyard went close again when O’Hanlon crossed but Johnston could not get a touch on the ball. Strath’s first chance arrived when McCreadie burst through, although he looked offside, Chalmers blocked his effort. The Shipyard were dealt a blow when Muirhead was forced off injured, he was replaced by McCrindle making his Shipyard debut. In the 19th minute McCreadie headed over from a good position but, two minutes later it was the Shipyard back on the attack. Millar was fouled on the edge of the box and McCue’s powerful free- kick was headed over for a corner, with the keeper looking beaten. In 37 minutes Anderson hit a free-kick for Strath that Chalmers saved comfortably. In the Shipyard’s next attack Johnston showed great skill to bring the ball down on his chest and then produce an overhead kick that Sampson saved. Back came Strath and McCreadie shot wide from 20 yards. In 44 minutes Strath broke down the right and when Cook failed to clear, McCreadie got a touch on the ball but Chalmers was there to smother it. This was to be Cook’s last involvement as he injured himself in trying to clear. His replacement was the mercurial Robertson or Nappy to his friends. The Shipyard had the last effort of the first half but, O’Hanlon’s lobbed shot was well over the bar.

The second half started with the Shipyard now without two of their starting back four. It was the Shipyard who went close in 47 minutes when the ball broke to O’Hanlon and from a tight angle he blasted an effort just wide of the near post. O’Leary of Strath then drove in a shot that Chalmers held. In 54 minutes McCreadie again had a chance which was saved, though the Shipyard defence were justified in claiming for a blatant push. Johnston then gathered the ball midway in the Strath half, held off a challenge but shot over. Johnston was involved again, this time linking with McCue to set up Millar, who had his shot charged down. In 71 minutes McCue then put in a great cross from the left but, there were no taker’s. Strath equalised when the Shipyard were down to ten men with McCrindle off receiving treatment. O’Leary was afforded space in the box and struck a fine left foot shot into the net. McCrindle could not continue and Whitehead had to come on to replace him. Strath then scored what turned out to be the winner with 4 minutes to go when a ball in from the right was swept into the net from around 10 yards. The Shipyard could count themselves unlucky after putting in a good show, especially with so many missing, in a game well handled  by referee Martin.

Teams: Strathmiglo United: Sampson; O’Leary; Slaven; Duncan; Ritchie; Nicoll; Anderson; McKie; McCreadie; Ford; McLaughlin. Subs: Patrick; Calder.

Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; Brown; Muirhead(McCrindle) (Whitehead); Allan; Cook(Robertson); Huskie; Hamilton; Millar; Johnston; O’Hanlon; McCue.

Referee: N. Martin.