Shippy keep good run going win another big win.
Big Hendo scored double v Eyemouth
The Shipyard came flying out the traps for the second week running securing an early lead and this time it only took 17 seconds for the same man, Brendan Napier to find the net. Another goal just before half-time gave the Shippy a two goal lead but manager Alex Lowe was far from happy with his team’s performance when he said after the match “Although the boys have put together some great results over the last few weeks anyone watching the first hour of this game would not have predicted a 5-1 scoreline as Eyemouth were probably the better team and we did not play well for most of the first half and all credit to Eyemouth who passed the ball a lot better than us. The first fifteen minutes of the second half followed the same pattern and Eyemouth came into the game with a deserved goal”. The starting eleven showed one change from last week’s win over Heriot Watt with Kevin Masson replacing the injured Pete Bell.
The Shipyard took the lead almost straight from kick off when Ewan Henderson linked with Craig Lowe whose cross was controlled by Napier before he crashed the ball into the net. Napier had another attempt wide of the target before Eyemouth started to impose themselves on the game and they were unlucky not to be level after 15 minutes when Scott Adamson saw his header come back off the post. Jordan Mushet then held from the impressive Keith Lough before he almost had a disaster when his clearance from a poor pass back was blocked but fortunately for the Shippy the ball flew wide. Masson tried an audacious lob from wide on the left hand side that drifted beyond the back post. The visitors doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Henderson nodded home a Dale Robertson cross as he beat keeper Graeme Cain in an aerial challenge. The Shipyard rear-guard were under pressure in the final few minutes of the half as they conceded several corners as they kept United at bay.
Mushet was quickly called into action at the start of the second half as he held a low strike from Sean Campbell, however, two minutes later he was beaten, somewhat fortuitously, as Campbell’s effort took a wicked deflection and wrong footed the Shipyard keeper. Masson got on the end of an Ethan Anderson cross but could not direct his shot on target. That was to be the last action for the veteran Shipyard striker as he failed to shake off a knock and was replaced by Adam Doig. Lough had a go at the other end but could not keep his driven effort down. The Shipyard then put the game out of sight with a devastating three goal burst in six minutes as firstly in the 61st minute Robertson gathered a Shaun Keatings cross and laid the ball off to Henderson who tucked from all of two yards out. Substitute Doig then scored the goal of the match producing a fine finish, blasting the ball past Cain after a great solo run. The fifth goal came from the penalty spot after Napier was brought down in the box and Keatings made no mistake putting the ball low to the keeper’s right. The Shippy then contrived to miss a whole host of chances as Keatings burst through, rounded the keeper but hit the outside of the post from a tight angle. Blair Smart drove wide after a Henderson shot was blocked and fell kindly for him, then Robertson failed to make a good connection with a Henderson cross. Cain produced the save of the match when he brilliantly tipped away a Napier free-kick that looked to be heading for the top corner. Shipyard Substitute Ryan Kelly linked well with Smart and was unlucky to see his shot blocked by Cain, the ball broke back to him but he was not able to hit the target on this occasion. Eyemouth rallied late in the game and ex shipyard man Keith Buckley went close with two attempts as first he headed over from a corner and then Mushet tipped over his second effort. The Shippy keeper then kept out a Lough drive with his legs as Eyemouth failed to get a consolation goal.
Alex was enthusiastic about his team’s attacking display as he said “We got off to an absolute flyer with Brendan scoring after 17 seconds. We scored again late in the half with a good goal from Ewan Henderson and went in at half time with a pretty lucky 2 nil lead. In the last half hour we played some great attacking football with substitute Adam Doig scoring a fantastic solo goal. We should have ended the game with two or three more goals but overall the management team are delighted with the 5-1 result and hopefully our good run will continue in the last two games”. Looking ahead to next season Alex went on to say “The management team would further like to strengthen behind the scenes for next season and are looking for a physio and goalkeeping coach. If anyone would be interested in further improving the backroom team for next season please contact the club via the website or Facebook page”.
This week the Shipyard play their re-arranged match with Hawick at Newbattle Complex, Easthouses on Wednesday evening, kicking off at 7.30pm. The last match of the season takes place at Recreation Park on Saturday against league champions Peebles Rovers with the match starting at 3pm.
Eyemouth United: G. Cain; G. Burrell; P. Tillbrook; S. Ford (M. Scott); G. McInnes; K. Lough; A. Lauder (K. Buckley); S. Williamson; S. Campbell; J. Thomson (T. Ruwona); S. Adamson. Unused Subs: M. Milligan & J. Watt.
Burntisland Shipyard: J. Mushet; C. Lowe; E. Anderson (R. Kelly); G. Haywood; T. Arthur; S. Keatings; D. Robertson; B. Napier; K. Masson (A. Doig); B. Smart; E. Henderson.
Referee: D. Graves.