Scottish Brewers Cup Semi Final.

Cupar Hearts. 2 Burntisland Shipyard. 1

The Shipyard were edged out of the cup on a bright and blustery day at Duffus Park, Cupar. The home side probably deserved their victory but, a number of refereeing decisions upset the Shipyard, although ironically the most controversial decision did result in a goal for the Shipyard.

With the strong wind behind them Cupar made the early running and took the lead in the 8th minute, when after some poor defending the ball was knocked in at the near post. The Shipyard went close after 13 minutes when Cook headed wide from a Brown corner. Brown himself had a header at the back post which the keeper Sibanda gathered at the second attempt. Cupar twice went close to extending their lead just before half-time when Chalmers held a powerful shot and then a shot across the keeper went narrowly wide.

In the second half the Shipyard had the wind behind them now but it was Cupar who went close again in the 51st minute, when after some confusion in the Shipyard defence Chalmers was forced to punch clear. From the resultant corner Cupar scored again, when the corner was not properly cleared a cross to the near post was headed in. A minute later the Shipyard were almost back in it but Brown’s shot was blocked for a corner. Hardie also had an effort from long range which the keeper held. In the 76th minute the Shipyard were reduced to 10 men when Hamilton was sent off for his second yellow card, one of seven the referee dished out to the Shipyard, whilst none to Cupar. With 4 minutes to go the Shipyard were awarded a goal when after Cupar failed to clear, Neil Johnston hooked in a shot that although Cupar cleared it, the referee deemed that the ball had crossed the line. The Shipyard pushed for an equaliser but never created another chance so it is Cupar who will play Leven in the final.

Teams: Cupar Hearts: Sibanda; Kinhart; Gilfillan; Anderson; McInroy; Smith; G Reilly; Johnstone; Halley; M Reilly; Pryde. Subs: Hutcheon; Tulleth; Sharp; McLean; Michie.

Burntisland Shipyard: Chalmers; Hardie; Ferguson; Muirhead; Cook; O’Hanlon(Forrest); Brown; Millar(Reid); Johnston; Hamilton; Lamont. Subs: Morris; Huskie; Wilson.

Referee: D Stevenson.