Quality finishing makes the difference
Two fine finishes from Darren Riddick were the differences between the teams, with a third goal deep in injury time rubbing salt into the Shipyard’s wounds. Both teams tried to play football in what was an entertaining and hard-fought match. Manager Whitehead again used trialists to cover for his injured and unavailable players, though Craig Russell did return to the fold.
The first chance of the match fell to the Shipyard in the 7th minute when McCue was through on goal, but his right foot shot was held by veteran Seath in the Eastvale goal. Eastvale were passing the ball around well and created a couple of openings, however, Chalmers in the Shipyard goal was never tested. In the 23rd minute a deep cross from Paul almost caught out Seath but, the ball drifted over the bar. Eastvale took the lead in the 26th minute when the ball skimmed off a Shipyard head and dropped to the unmarked Riddick who lashed the ball into the net. Vale could have doubled their lead two minutes later when confusion between Chalmers and Whyte gave ex-shipyard player McMahon a shooting opportunity, however, he could not get his shot on target and the danger was averted.
An ambitious attempt from wide on the left by Eastvale was not too far away in the 53rd minute, then it was the Shipyard’s turn to have an attempt, but McCue’s effort was straight at Seath. Eastvale scored on the break in the 61st minute when the ball was played across the box, Riddick’s run was not matched and he again produced a fine finish. A minute later McAndrew forced Seath into a fine save with his powerful shot from around 16 yards. T. Williams went close with a header from a McCue corner as Eastvale continued to threaten on the counter attack, with T. Williams producing some fine tackles and he also cleared off the line when the ball spun towards goal after a good save from Chalmers. Cook could have reduced the deficit but he headed wide from a Dow corner, it was Eastvale who had the last word when the ball broke to Westwood on the edge off the box and his low drive found the corner of the net. Billy Whitehead was angry after the game and said “For the first two goals no-one picked the scorer at the first and he should never have been allowed to run onto the ball across the face of the goal for the second. We missed some decent chances and were shown how to finish”.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; Paul (Dow); Whyte; T. Williams; Smart; McAndrew; Hamilton; Cook; Russell (Wilson); McCue (Brough); J. Williams. Unused Subs: Tasker; Martin.
Eastvale: Seath; Grubb; Westwood; Cunningham; Herd; Anderson; Riddick; Craigie; Ramsey; Hatton; McMahon. Subs: Moir; Bell; Towell; Laing; Simpson.
Referee: D. Campbell.