Don’t you know it pump it up, the Shippy are going up!
Well then!!! We got there in the end, securing a top seven finish and a place in the new first division for next season. The 1-0 victory over Kinnoull sealed the deal and it sent the vast majority of the 197 in attendance at Recreation Park home in a jubilant mood. Although it was a narrow win the Shippy were well worth the three points as they had several excellent chances to score more goals and also kept the visitors to very few sights of goal. Manager Dave Costello said after the game “I’m absolutely delighted for everyone. We had to be at a good level today as Kinnoull came here to give us a game, however, we were up for it and I thought we were dominant for much of the game. I would have been happier if we had converted a couple more of the chances that came our way as it’s always a bit tense with only a one goal lead in the closing minutes.” He went on to add “I am very proud of my players today. They did everything I asked of them and to a man they gave their all. I must give a special mention to big Jack who moved into defence today and kept their top scorer Rhys Davies quiet.”
Costy had his usual selection headaches with regulars Mark James and Craig Watt suspended so he decided to go with Jack Wilson partnering big Millzy in the centre of defence.
The Shipyard started the game on the front foot and put some pressure on the visitor’s defence and they had a Darrell Anthony “goal” correctly disallowed for handball. Kinnoull’s first opportunity arrived in the 17th minute but Davies’ effort was never going to trouble Scott Costello in the Shipyard goals. The Shippy missed a great chance in the 31st minute when D. Anthony got his head to a wicked Shaun Keatings free-kick delivery but the midfielder could not keep his attempt on target. His brother Ben then saw his header saved by Kinnoull keeper Lukasz Osinski.
Kinnoull missed their best chance of the match in the 48th minute when indecision in the Shippy defence allowed Davies a chance but the striker could not put his lobbed effort on target. The Shipyard were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute when the referee adjudged that Keatings’ drive from outside the area was handled in the box. Despite vociferous complaints from the Kinnoull players the ref was not going to change his mind and once the dust had settled Benji tucked the spot kick away to give his side a precious lead. News was filtering through that Heriot Watt University were surprisingly winning easily and scoring at will against Luncarty so the Shippy new that only a win would do. The Shipyard were awarded another penalty in the 62nd minute and the only argument this time was about the lack of punishment administered to the defender who brought down Dan Thomson as he bore down on the keeper. Most in attendance thought a red card was inevitable and they were astonished when not even a yellow was flashed. Osinski saved Benji’s kick this time and although Benji got to the rebound first perhaps brother Darrell was in a better position to knock the ball home instead of Osinski saving again. Costello saved an Anthony Holt free-kick before the Shippy were given a boost when Mark Smith received a second yellow card reducing Kinnoull to ten men. The Shipyard should have sewn the game up two minutes later when Benji burst clear but with only Osinski to beat the big keeper got the better of him again blocking his shot. To rub salt into the Shippy striker’s wounds Osinski saved the follow up too. Darrell almost sealed it with five minutes remaining but his angled drive swerved away from the far post. The Shippy were able to see out the remaining five minutes plus the four added without any problems and the final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes amongst the players and spectators.
C’MON THE SHIPPY!!!
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; M. Miller; R. O’Donnell; J. Wilson; I. Millar; S. Orrock; S. Keatings (S. Strang); D. Anthony; B. Anthony; S. Glancy (R. Crichton); D. Thomson (J. Galloway). Unused Subs: L. Ross; S. Walton; R. Connor.
Kinnoull: L. Osinski; K. Woolley; C. Scott (F. Wilson); P. Anderson; L. Woolley; P. Brown; A. Philips (C. Robertson); A. Holt; R. Davies; M. Smith; B. Ragan. Unused Subs: J. Chisholm; T. McCluskey; R. Kinnaird; J. MacKenzie; J. Duncan.
Referee: A. Simmonds.