More cup woe for Shipyard

Another woeful defensive performance combined with a shot shy attack saw the Shipyard crash out of the Scottish Amateur Cup at Recreation Park on Saturday, against a team that was searching for their first win of the season. Michael Brown returned to the side after suspension and new signing Lee Small found a place on the bench in manager Whitehead’s squad.

The early stages saw Symington have the better of the exchanges with Robb being prominent and almost latching onto a through ball. Chalmers then gathered a powerful shot from McFarlane at the second attempt. After 20 minutes McCue had the Shipyard’s first shot on goal that Burrell held comfortably. The rest of the first half passed without either keeper being called into action.

The Shipyard started the second half well and Brown saw his shot deflected for a corner. In 55mins Williams headed a fine McCue cross just wide but, in the 61st minute Tinto took the lead when Hamilton was allowed a free header at the back post and the ball looped into the net. The Shipyard should have been level 3 minutes later but, after McCue’s shot was cleared off the line, Cook hit his effort wide. McCue then had an effort parried and gathered by the impressive Burrell in the Symington goal. A minute later Brown had a go from distance that Burrell held easily. The Shipyard were dominating at this stage but could not find a way past Burrell as another long range shot from Grieve in the 72 minute was held by the keeper. McAndrew was next to try but, his acrobatic effort from close range was wide of the post. In 84 minutes substitute Small had a shot that was straight at the keeper. Symington then broke up field and Chalmers managed to turn the effort round the post for a corner. However, from the corner Hamilton was unmarked again and headed in from close range to make it 2-0. The Shipyard still kept pressing and Cook, now playing as centre forward, should have pulled a goal back from a quickly taken corner but headed wide. In the final minute Symington broke downfield and with the Shipyard defence out of position they scored a third goal, though Chalmers was unlucky not to keep the shot out.

After the match a bitterly disappointed Billy Whitehead said “to lose the game by 3 goals to nil was somewhat harsh but, if the forwards are not scoring and the defence continue to lose bad goals, these results will continue”.

Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; McAndrew; Whyte; Cook; Grieve; Ferguson; Brown; Hamilton; Williams(McNeill); Johnston(Small); McCue. Unused Subs: Henderson; Houston.

Symington Tinto: Burrell; Gold; Goodwin; Potter; Hamilton; McFarlane; Smith; Anderson; Rodger; McLeod; Robb. Subs: Bell; Prentice; Dunbar.

Referee: R. Smith.