Napier nips in to seal win.
Brendan Napier scores winner v Heriot Watt University
The Shipyard kept their decent run of form going with a 1-0 win over Heriot Watt University at Recreation Park with a Brendan Napier strike in the first minute the difference between the teams. Kick off was delayed for an hour as the University encountered huge traffic problems on the approach to the Forth Road Bridge as did the referee and other teams travelling to Fife. Manager Alex Lowe made one change from the last outing with Napier coming in for Kevin Masson.
The Shippy got off to a whirlwind start scoring in the first thirty seconds as Napier took advantage of a loose ball, drove forward only to see his initial attempt blocked by Craig Saunders, however, the ball broke back to Napier and he made no mistake this time from around ten yards out. The conditions were playing a part in proceedings as the home team dominated the early exchanges with the strong easterly wind behind them. In the 17th minute Dale Robertson showed good control at the edge of the box as he gathered a pass, turned quickly but shot wide. Blair Smart had Saunders at full stretch as he tipped over his headed attempt having got on the end of a Ewan Henderson flick on. Another headed effort, this time from Robertson, was not too far off target as the Shippy looked to extend their lead. The home team were dealt a blow in the 39th minute when Pete Bell had to leave the field due to injury and was replaced by Masson. The sub almost made a quick impact when he received a pass from Ethan Anderson but Masson’s drive was high and wide. Heriot Watt had struggled to make headway during the first half but with the conditions behind them in the second half they would be able to cause the Shipyard defence more problems.
Jordan Mushet made a great save in the 49th minute when a free-kick from wide on the left was missed by everyone and he reacted quickly to push the ball round the post. Mushet made another save in the 53rd minute but when the Shippy defence failed to clear the ball Elliot Sutherland fired the loose ball over. Smart drove forward in the 57th minute but his good work was undone when his shot was somewhat wayward. A mistake in the Shipyard defence presented a chance for Cameron Stevenson who’s shot drifted narrowly wide of the post. Chances for both teams throughout the match had been rare with substitute Adam Doig shooting wide from 16yards in the 73rd minute. A couple of minutes later Stevenson had another chance for the visitors but his left foot strike from the edge of the box was wide. Despite pressure from Heriot Watt the Shippy defence saw the game out without any major scares.
Alex was very happy after the match as he praised his team when he said “I am absolutely delighted with the result and display against Heriot Watt who are the best football playing team in the league. We pressed high from the starting whistle with the wind at our back and created a number of chances and were unlucky not to score more goals in the first half. In the second half we defended well and limited Heriot Watt to very few chances. It was a terrific team performance from all the boys and hopefully this will continue in our final three games”.
Next week the Shipyard are on their travels again with a trip to Warner Park to face Eyemouth United.
Burntisland Shipyard: J. Mushet; T. Arthur; C. Lowe; G. Haywood; B. Smart; S. Keatings; E. Anderson (R. Kelly); P. Bell (K. Masson); B. Napier (A. Doig); D. Robertson; E. Henderson. Unused Sub: J. Bouhaddou.
Heriot Watt University: C. Saunders; A. Kerlin (A. Scott); J. Daniel; D. Kerr (A. Forbes); A. Woolven; S. Muhsin; C. Stevenson; J. Hume; S. Davies; E. Sutherland; N. Laurenson. Unused Subs: C. Sellar & C. Smith.
Referee: P. Hanlon.