Stalemate at Warout.

The Shipyard gained a valuable point after drawing 0-0, for the second time this season, with Glenrothes at Warout Stadium on Tuesday night, however, with Coldstream grabbing a late winner against Preston Athletic there is now no margin for error with only four games remaining. With both Coldstream and Lochore still to be faced all is far from lost but these games are now very much in the must win category. With Scott Costello serving a suspension following his controversial red card on Saturday Mikey Couser took over between the sticks, meanwhile Ben Anthony was unavailable but Mark James and Ryan O’Donnell came back into the team with Sandy Strang dropping to the bench. The pitch was not in the greatest condition for the match with the ball bobbling about and taking some strange bounces. Hence the reason the ball was in the air so much.

A long thrown in was met by the head of Conor Schiavone but the striker couldn’t get his attempt on target. A few corners and crosses were thrown into the Shippy box but Couser was not unduly troubled by anything that came his way. Reece Brown drove at the Shipyard defence but his powerful strike sailed over Couser’s bar. A long ball saw Darrell Anthony challenge keeper Brandon Connor at the edge of the area with the loose ball falling for Jack Wilson but the big striker couldn’t get his attempt on target. In first half added time a Chris Gay free kick was held by Couser and at the other end Shaun Keatings curled an effort wide.

There was not much action at the start of the second period, however, the match was lit up on the hour mark as Couser produced an excellent save as he tipped over from Dylan Honeyman’s close range effort. The introduction of Rhys Wardlaw lifted the Shipyard though it was a mistake from the Glens keeper that almost gifted the Shippy the lead. Connor misjudged a long ball as it bounced over his head but Wilson did not anticipate the mistake and the keeper was able to scramble back and flop on the ball. Couser held a low shot from Lea Schiavone and at the other end Wardlaw drove forward and got a shot away which was gathered by Connor. The game drifted towards what was now an inevitable 0-0 draw with only a red card following a second yellow for Shipyard captain Sam Glancy being worthy of note.

Manager Dave Costello said after the match “I was happy with the point, however, the news that Coldstream had won was disappointing. We defended well and Mikey only had one save of note, albeit it was fantastic one. We didn’t create enough going forward so to take a point was okay.”

On Saturday we welcome Luncarty to Recreation Park for another vital game and another big crowd would be most welcome. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Glenrothes: B. Connor; C. Lumsden; C. Wallace; L. Grierson; B. Smart; C. Denton; L. Schiavone; C. Gay (R. McInnes); C. Schiavone (I. McManus); D. Honeyman (J. Martin); R. Brown. Unused Subs: A. Shaw; C. Thompson; D. Blyth; A. McCallion.

Burntisland Shipyard: M. Couser; R. O’Donnell; D. Thomson; L. Ross; M. James; C. Watt; S. Keatings; D. Anthony (R. Crichton); J. Wilson (S. Strang); S. Glancy; J. Galloway (R. Wardlaw). Unused Subs: R. Connor; C. Lewis; S. Orrock; R. Watt.

Referee: A. Budd.