Meadow prove to strong for Shippy.
“We simply never turned up” That’s how manager Lee Richardson summed things up when he spoke after the match. He went on to add “There were too many players not at it today and when you concede goals like we did in the first half, then you are up against it. Gibby’s goal got us back into it but to concede again so soon after finished it.” Lee then spoke about a lack of threat in front of goal when he said “We did not create near enough chances today and my choices were limited with Kris and Liam unavailable to me. They would have offered something different, Kris with his height and strength and Liam with his pace.”
Michael Gibb and Kierren Ritchie replaced the aforementioned Kris Murphy and Tony McAndrew in the starting eleven following last week’s win at Harthill as the Shippy looked to progress to the second round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup for the first time in a while.
A crowd of over 250 were inside Recreation Park for the match with a healthy contingent from Irvine amongst the number enjoying the autumn sunshine. A free kick from Meadow captain David Anderson whistled just wide of the target in the seventh minute while at the other end Ben Anthony saw his left foot effort go over the bar following a good turn at the edge of the box. The visitors took the lead in the 25th through a highly avoidable goal when an Anderson corner was volleyed home at the back post by the unmarked Jack McDowall. Dean Currie then scored a similar goal from another Anderson corner in the 39th minute leaving Shippy with an uphill struggle. It would have been three but for the bravery of Shipyard keeper Ryan Couser who took a venomous close range drive square on the nose. Thankfully, the big keeper recovered after a couple of minutes of treatment. Shipyard were dealt a blow at the interval though with captain Iain Millar unable to resume following an injury to his shoulder he picked up during the first half.
Shipyard pulled a goal back in the 66th minute when Gibb chased a long ball and beat the retreating defender and keeper Jamie Barclay to the ball, and he headed it into the empty net from around the edge of the area. Unfortunately, Shippy couldn’t build on the chance to get back into the match and conceded a third goal in the 72nd minute when substitute Greg Cree was allowed to cut in from the left and he drilled the ball home. Shipyard created an opening in the 87th minute and amid a bit of a scramble Meadow cleared the ball off the line and averted the danger. Couser made a good save in the 88th minute, however, he was beaten for a fourth time when Cree scored his second goal deep into added time. At the end of the day, it was a deserved win for Irvine Meadow XI, but the Shipyard players can be proud of their efforts in the cup this season having beaten a good Dunipace side to reach this stage only to lose out to their West of Scotland League opponents.
It’s back to league action next Saturday as we welcome Peebles Rovers to Recreation Park. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; K. Crielly (E. Jowitt 46’); M. James; I. Millar (E. Bauld 46’); D. Anthony (M. Robertson 51’); D. McBay; B. Kerr (A. McAndrew 46’); K. Ritchie (J. Galloway 46’); B. Anthony; M. Gibb. Unused Subs: C. McBay & E. McQuade.
Irvine Meadow XI: J. Barclay; G. Sewell; S. Gallacher; L. Kennedy (E. O’Hare 71’); D. Currie; D. Anderson; T. Cruden (G. Cree 61’); J. McDowall (S. McBryde 84’); L. Neilson (E. Baird 61’); H. Gilmour; J. Gallacher. Unused Subs: S. Davidson; B. Sharpe; J. Lynn.
Referee: C. Fordyce.