Athletic too strong for understrength Shipyard.
It was always going to be a tough ask to beat the league leaders on their own patch and so it proved to be with Shipyard losing 5-1, however, a resilient Shippy defence stood firm for 50 minutes, allowing their team to lead 1-0 at the interval. Even although Athletic equalised five minutes into the second half it wasn’t until the 71st minute that the hosts were able to breakdown the Shipyard defence again. The Shippy felt that goals number two and four were offside, the other two were from penalties, however, there was no argument about these awards, especially the latter with Sandy Strang’s tackle more akin to Murrayfield than Newtown Park. Obviously, it was backs to the wall for much of the match with chances limited at the other end of the pitch. With the squad still beset by injury, illness and unavailability there was a start for youngster Campbell Szmitz and he can be very proud of his performance against a very good and experienced opponent.
Bo’ness were on the attack from the outset and Strang had to be on his toes to block a cross at the expense of a corner. A rare error from Cole Miller culminated with the hosts hitting the outside of the post. Both Christopher Ogilvie and Sandy Cunningham went close before the Shippy stunned Bo’ness with their first attempt at goal in the 23rd minute. A Harris Kay free kick found Strang who headed back across goal and Ethan Bauld was on hand to force the ball home. Callum MacDonald, Sean Heaver and Cunningham twice again, all missed chances to draw level before the break. Bauld also produced a vital block to deny the hosts as they threatened once more.
Bo’ness equalised five minutes after half time when Heaver cut in from the left to fire a right foot shot beyond Miller and into the corner of the net. The Shippy continued to thwart the Bo’ness attack until the game moved into the final twenty minutes when the pressure finally told. Ogilvie broke forward and when he passed to Cunningham the centre forward looked to be ahead of the ball and offside as he was played in, but he knocked the ball beyond Miller leaving any decision to the referee. It was soon 3-1 when the Shipyard were penalised for handball. With the ball on the ground the Shippy player clearly touched the ball with his hand leaving the referee with no alternative other than to point to the spot. Cunningham confidently converted the spot kick. The Shippy had a great chanced to pull a goal back when CJ Thomson drove forward to the edge of the box and although he would have hoped to hit the ball cleaner keeper Kyle Wilson didn’t hold his strike. Robbie MacAulay followed up but his shot was blocked by the retreating defence. Cunningham completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute with even the home contingent admitting he was well offside, however, the man in the middle didn’t see it. The 5th goal and Cunningham’s 4th came from the penalty spot in the 94th minute and again there was no disputing this one as Strang more or less rugby tackled Godwin Kangni-Soukpe just inside the area to concede the spot kick.
After the match manager Lee Richardson said “All the boys gave me everything and they can be pleased with their performances. Once again, I had to rely on some sixteen year olds and with the desire, attitude and ability they showed they will have good careers in the game. To come up against such an experienced and quality side will stand them in good stead.”
We return to Recreation Park for our final three games of the season starting with the visit of Edinburgh South on Wednesday night (08/05/2024) with kick off at 7.30pm.
Bo’ness Athletic: K. Wilson; J. Mitchell; R. Shanks; W. Patterson; B. Woodburn; S. Cameron; C. Ogilvie; C. Snedden; S. Cunningham; C. MacDonald; S. Heaver. Subs: J. Mackay; M. Weir; K. Connolly; G. Kangni-Soukpe; J. Sneddon.
Burntisland Shipyard: C. Miller; E. Bauld; M. Moodie (O. Wardrop); S. Strang; M. Robertson; H. Kay; C. Szmitz (L. Malone); D. Thomson; M. Gibb; C. Lewis (R. MacAulay); CJ. Thomson.
Referee: J. Fairley.