Shippy hit five in comfortable win.
The Shipyard got back to winning ways in the league following an emphatic 5-1 win over Ormiston Primrose at Recreation Park on Saturday. Although the deadlock wasn’t broken until the 44th minute the Shippy had created a few good chances prior to the opener and were on top, however, a three-goal burst in the opening minutes of the second half had the Shippy cruising and ensured the three points stayed in Burntisland. Shaun Keatings, Robbie MacAulay and Lewis Ross were all unavailable and coupled with the departures of Aedan Brown and Declan Pierce during the week, meantp9iu that the squad that was available to face Ormiston was somewhat depleted to the one that faced Thornton last week.
Mark James, Ben Anthony, CJ Thomson and Ryan Watt all spurned chances in the first half but it was an incident at the other end that created the biggest talking point as the visitors were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after a challenge in the box. The Shipyard took the lead in the 44th minute following a free kick played deep into the box and big Iain Millar got on the end of it though who got the final touch is open to debate as Primrose defender Josh Winnik was credited with an own goal in some quarters.
The second half got off to a sensational start as the Shippy scored barely 20 seconds into it. Anthony showed interest in a flighted ball through the middle and although he was second favourite to get the ball, Ormiston keeper Reece Pollock failed to catch the ball at the edge of his area allowing Benji to walk the ball into the net and double the lead. It was 3-0 five minutes later as James headed home a Harris Kay free kick at the back post. Jamesy got his second a few minutes later as he rose higher than Pollock to nod in another Kay free kick. The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the match as Winnik was denied twice in quick succession. Firstly, Scott Costello produced a great save to deny the big defender and then from the resultant corner CJ Thomson was on hand to head the ball clear at the expense of another set piece, which was eventually cleared. James almost got a hat trick of headers but unfortunately for him this one was just off target and then Craig Watt was not too far away either as his shot cleared the bar. Ormiston pulled a goal back as the game entered added time and Costello would be disappointed that he failed to collect substitute Zac Scally’s low shot. The Shippy restored their four-goal lead in the closing seconds as substitute Billy Murray’s shot went in off the underside of the bar. Manager Lee Richardson was happy after the match when he said “We needed that and hopefully it will restore confidence ahead of next week’s Scottish Cup match. We created plenty of chances and once the first goal went in it settled us down.”
Next Saturday we travel to Beechwood Park to face Sauchie in the Scottish Cup with the match kicking off at 3.00pm. The Club is running a bus to the match which will leave the ground at 12.30pm. Prices are £15 for adults and £7 for children. Please check with the Club for seat availability.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; M. Gibb; R. O’Donnell; H. Milne; I. Millar 9A. Trialist); C. Watt; M. James; H. Kay; B. Anthony (B. Murray); R. Watt (C. Lewis); CJ. Thomson (D. Thomson).
Ormiston Primrose: R. Pollock; K. Korpalski; B. Maxwell; J. Winnik; Danny Worobec; C. Hogg; R. Fleming; C. Howden; S. Moffat; P. Adrian; B. Tracy. Subs: K. Beveridge; S. Hunter; Z. Scally; A. Courtney; D. Anderson; D. Nichol.
Referee: J. Fairley