Honours even in six goal thriller.
The Shipyard showed remarkable fighting spirit to twice come from behind to earn a deserved point in a six-goal thriller against Preston Athletic at Recreation Park on Wednesday night. It was a match that swung one way then the other as both teams’ lead at one point but eventually they had to settle for a point apiece. Once again it was a depleted squad that Costy had to pick from though Craig Watt, Ryan O’Donnell and Ryan Connor returned to the fold. However, that was offset by the Loss of the unavailable Nathan Feeley and Scott Orrock who pulled out injured during the warm up. Once again those who came into the team did not let their manager down as he intimated after the match when saying “I’m really pleased with the performance as everyone did well, especially young Cammy and Scott. Cammy took a lot of punishment out there but he kept at it and got his deserved reward with that late equaliser.” He went on to say “I knew that the first two games were going to be very difficult given the number of boys that were going to be missing. That being said, I now have a selection problem for Saturday as all the suspended players will be available again hoping to get a start.”
Preston had the first strike at goal but Scott Costello was equal to it and saved well. The visitors were awarded a penalty when Jonny Grotlin was fouled in the box but once again Costello was on his toes as he dived to his left to save the spot kick. Good play created a chance for Ben Anthony but his lobbed effort dropped agonisingly over the bar having beaten Robbie Stirling in the Preston goal. The Shippy were awarded a penalty in the sixteenth minute when Cammy Lewis was brought down from behind as he burst into the box. Should it have been a red card? Probably! Anyway, when the dust had settled Benji scored despite Stirling getting a good hand to the ball. In the 21st minute Jack Wilson powered in a free-kick that Stirling parried out and although O’Donnell got his head on the loose ball, he couldn’t quite direct it on target. At the other end a Preston free-kick went very close at the ball scraped the outside of the post with some of the visiting contingent thinking it was in. Preston were awarded another penalty in the 43rd minute, this time for handball, though it looked harsh as O’Donnell seemed to be pushed into the ball. Mikey Hamilton converted the kick to make it 1-1. The Shipyard were shocked when they fell behind on the stroke of half-time as Cami Laidlaw gave Preston the lead.
Neither team created much in the way of chances in the early stages of the second half but the game sparked into life in the final quarter of the match. Lewis had his shot blocked and at the other end Steven McCole went close for the visitors. The Shippy drew level in the 71st minute when Wilson burst clear and he kept his composure to roll the ball under the keeper and into the net.
Preston came back strongly and Costello blocked bravely at the edge of his six yard box and he was then happy to see a shot drift wide. Preston regained the lead with five minutes remaining when a deep cross was headed in at the back post by Kyle Baker, though the Shippy were rightly aggrieved that a free-kick was not given in the build-up. The Shippy boys did not let their heads go down and put pressure on the Preston defence, and that pressure paid off as the ball broke to Lewis in the box and he fired it home much to the delight of his teammates and the spectators with 93 minutes on the clock.
We are on the road on Saturday as we visit New Victoria Park to face Newtongrange Star. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; R. Crichton; L. Bell; R. O’Donnell; C. Watt; A. Trialist; D. Thomson (J. Galloway); C. Lewis; B. Anthony; J. Wilson; S. Strang. Unused Subs: S. Orrock. B. Trialist; C. Trialist; R. Connor (gk).
Preston Athletic: R. Stirling; K. Idas; C. Innes; J. Murray; M. Forsyth; P. Currie; K. Jack; R. Walker; M. Hamilton; J. Grotlin; C. Laidlaw. Subs: S. Ward; E. Donaldson; S. McCole; K. Baker; C. Pitt; C. McCona.
Referee: R. Bowie.