Shippy pay the price for poor second half.
The Shipyard slumped to a 4-1 defeat against West Calder United at a rain lashed Hermand Park on Saturday afternoon. Shippy were masters of their own downfall as some poor finishing and equally bad defending allowed the hosts to complete a league double over Shipyard and consolidate their position in second place. A win for Shipyard would have seen the visitors take that second place, therefore, it was a very disappointing result indeed. Daniel Brockie, Ethan Bauld and Darrell Anthony all returned to the starting eleven having been unavailable last week replacing Iain Millar, Jordan Galloway and the suspended Matty Robertson.
Shippy created the first opportunity of the match when Kris Murphy headed a Stuart Forster corner off target. Ryan Couser saved well from close range before West Calder were awarded a penalty in the 7th minute following a foul by Dan McBay in the penalty area. Andrew Jackson stepped up and sent Couser the wrong way to give his side an early lead. Couser then saved smartly with his legs to thwart the West Calder forward. Forster then broke away for Shippy but despite getting into the area he couldn’t get his shot away. Shipyard were enjoying a spell of pressure with Anthony shooting straight at the keeper. In the 19th minute McBay drove inches wide from the edge of the box. A long throw from Brockie caused panic in the West Calder box and Forster missed a chance to bring Shipyard level. Couser saved an effort that was straight at him in the 29th minute as the game swung from end to end. The big keeper’s tremendous distribution then sent Mikey Gibb away, however, Gibby shot was blocked by the home defence. Gary Fallon headed over following a short corner for the hosts, while at the other end good work from Forster set up a chance for Murphy but the big striker’s shot was held by United keeper Ryan MacIndoe. Shippy got the equaliser they deserved on the stroke of half-time when a Forster cross was knocked home at the back post by Anthony.
A great flowing move in the 53rd minute almost gave the visitors the lead as Tony McAndrew and Gibb combined to cross for Murphy, however, his effort whistled just passed the post. Shipyard were made to pay for their misses when West Calder regained the lead. The defence couldn’t clear the danger and when the ball broke to Scott Hay, he volleyed the ball beyond Couser and into the roof of the net. Gibby shot wide in the 59th minute before the play quickly switched to the other end where Steven Jackson drove wide and seconds later Couser pulled off a great save from Jamie McAllister. West Calder were dominating proceedings now as Couser denied Hay and only some last ditch defending kept the score at 2-1. Shipyard conceded a poor third goal as possession was given up all to easily and McAllister drove forward and fired the ball into the corner of the net as the game entered the final fifteen minutes. Shipyard could have pulled a goal back a minute later when a corner was flicked on to Murphy at the back post, however, the big man failed to find the target. Another long ball caught out the Shippy defence and McAllister grabbed his second and, in the process, secured the three points for his team with eleven minutes remaining. Having used all their substitutes Shipyard were forced to finish the match with ten men after Anthony had to be helped off following a challenge in the centre circle.
Manager Lee Richardson didn’t mince his words after the match when he said “We were really poor today, particularly in the second half. Defensively we were all at sea and had Ryan to thank on several occasions. At the other end I thought we were good in that we created a lot of chances; however, our finishing was not up to standard as we lacked composure and never troubled their keeper often enough as too many attempts off target.”
Next week we are on the road again with Edinburgh College the opposition in the league. Kick off at the Oriam is 3.00pm.
West Calder United: R. MacIndoe; S. Jackson; G. Fallon; J. Pow (D. Robertson 54’); J. McCullagh (K. Ross 54’); S. Hay (A. Morgan 80’); J. Gregory; J. McAllister; H. Maguire (M. Wilkins 54’); A. Arthur; A. Jackson (K. Sweeney 80’). Unused Subs: M. Zata & J. Laing.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie (O. Farley 78’); E. McQuade (Trialist 46’); E. Bauld; K. Crielly (B. Kerr 63’); D. Anthony; A. McAndrew; D. McBay (S. Strang 63’); K. Murphy; S. Forster (k. Ritchie 63’); M. Gibb. Unused Subs: E. Jowitt & R. MacDougall.
Referee: S. Gilchrist.