No Welfare benefits for the Shippy.
The Shipyard’s relegation worries deepened following another loss to a drop zone rival on Saturday, as this time they went down 3-0 to Whitehill Welfare at Ferguson Park. With the other teams in the dogfight at the bottom of the table picking up valuable points in recent weeks, a gap is now starting to open up and although there are plenty of points still available, the Shippy need wins sooner rather than later.
There was very little action to report in the opening thirty odd minutes other than a succession of yellow cards for Shippy players. In the 35th minute Darrell Anthony ran onto a great through ball as he outstripped the home defence and as he entered the box and shaped to shoot he was pushed to the ground by the last man defender. As everyone waited for the inevitable red card and penalty to be awarded, they were shocked to see the referee wave play on. It really was one of those wow! moments that are inexplicable. Some might say that’s what happens when you are down at the bottom but it was a decision that could have severe ramifications for the Shipyard’s season. Jonathan Devers went close for the hosts twice in quick succession as the half time whistle loomed.
Shaun Keatings shot wide as the Shipyard created the first chance of the second period and at the other end Scott Costello parried and gathered a fiercely driven shot. Whitehill were on top now and Costy held a Steven Thomson free-kick and then Ryan Weir drove into the box but could not put his shot on target. The hosts took the lead in the 56th minute when Adam Zajac flighted a great ball into the box and Tyler O’Neill’s well placed header went in off the post. The Shippy almost replied soon after when a Keatings corner was headed back across goal by Sandy Strang but Jack Wilson could not keep his attempt on target. Whitehill claimed for a penalty when Wilson blocked a strike at goal and this time the referee showed no hesitation in awarding a spot kick despite the Shippy appeals that a Whitehill player had handled in the build-up. Thomson smashed the resultant kick high into the net. The Shipyard should have pulled one back in the 67th minute following a corner but unfortunately Mark James could not prod his effort on target. Whitehill went three up when they were awarded yet another free-kick from another innocuous challenge and obviously yet another yellow card was produced. That being said Bryan Wilson excellently dispatched the set piece giving Costello no chance. A Jordan Galloway free-kick hit the wall and Anthony’s follow up was blocked and an acrobatic Keatings attempt was not too far away. In the closing minutes the Shipyard created another decent chance but Strang headed over from a good position. Manager Dave Costello was brief but to the point with his after-match comments when he said “Everyone seen what happened out there today. I don’t need to say anymore.”
We are back in action on Wednesday night when Kirkcaldy & Dysart visit Recreation Park. Kick off under the lights is at 7.30pm.
Whitehill Welfare: M. McIntosh; K. Austin; A. Zajac; B. Wilson; J. Shyngle; F. Connor; R. Weir; S. Thomson; K. Mitchell; J. Devers; J. Grotlin. Subs: C. McConnachie; R. Dowie; L. Collins; T. O’Neill; D. Garvey; A. McNeil.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; L. Ross (S. Strang); J. Wilson; R. O’Donnell; M. James; C. Watt; S. Keatings (R. MacAuley); D. Anthony (S. Orrock); R. Wardlaw (J. Galloway); S. Glancy; D. Thomson. Unused Sub: A. Brown.
Referee: J. Leslie.