Ben Anthony double sets up Shippy win.
The Shipyard took full advantage of their second chance in this recast fixture following Heriot Watt University being penalised for breeching a substitution ruling. Despite falling behind, a Ben Anthony double and a first Shipyard goal for Jordan Mackenzie saw the Shippy secure a 3-1 victory at a wet and windy Oriam on Tuesday night. In a keenly fought encounter the quality of the visitors finishing proved to be the difference between the teams. Neither side created an abundance of opportunities in what was nevertheless an entertaining match between two committed teams. The Shipyard starting eleven showed one change from the team that took the field against Bo’ness United on Saturday with Michael Gibb returning in place of Scott Costello.
The Shipyard almost got off to a whirlwind start with barely two minutes on the clock when Uni keeper Callum Reid had to dive full length to prevent one of his defenders heading into his own net following a Jay Bridgeford free-kick. The Shippy suffered a blow in the 4th minute when Shaun Keatings hobbled off with a foot injury and he was replaced by Tyler McKenzie. Gibb showed great reactions to deny Heriot Watt with an instinctive save before booting the ball clear. B. Anthony fired just wide after getting on the end of a Reece Brown cross. After this early action in the first fifteen minutes the game settled down and both defences were coping with what was thrown at them. The hosts had another chance in the 39th minute when a headed effort from a corner bounced over the bar. The deadlock was broken in the 45th minute when the Uni broke down the right-hand side and when the ball was cut back a fine left foot strike found the corner of the net. The Shipyard drew level in added time from the penalty spot. Darrell Anthony was fouled in the box and brother Ben made no mistake from twelve yards to restore parity at the interval.
The Shippy stunned the hosts with an excellent goal in the 47th minute when McKenzie burst down the right and his sublime cross was turned home by B. Anthony at the front post. A venomous drive from D. Anthony had the Shipyard contingent with their hands in the air proclaiming a goal, only to see the ball agonisingly go narrowly wide. Gavin Ross had to make a timely intervention to cut out a dangerous cross at the expense of a corner and a curling effort from the edge of the area was not too far away as the Uni looked to get back on terms. The Shippy took a firm grip of the match with a third goal in the 78th minute. A Heriot Watt player was loose with a pass at the edge of the box and with the Shipyard pressing substitute Jordan Mackenzie latched onto the ball and calmly finished to the delight of Shipyard contingent. Heriot Watt pushed forward, however, the Shippy defence was not unduly troubled other than when McKenzie did well to block the ball.
We are on our travels again on Saturday (28/11/2020) with a trip to Warner Park to face Eyemouth United in league match which will be played behind closed doors. Kick off is at 2pm with updates available on the club Twitter feed.
Heriot Watt University: C. Reid; J. Hogg; D. Potter; J. Wishart; J. Thomson; A. Shrive; A. Gamble; C. Smith; A. Singh; R. Cairns; J. Barker. Subs: A. McMahon; C. Muttitt; C. Donnelly; J. Kennedy; M. Taylor; A. McCreadie; G. Macdonald.
Burntisland Shipyard: M. Gibb; M. Miller; R. Crichton; D. Hunter; G. Ross; S. Strang; S. Keatings (T. McKenzie); D. Anthony; B. Anthony; R. Brown; J. Bridgeford (J. Galloway). Unused Subs: S. Costello; R. O’Donnell; N. Laird.
Referee: K. Lindsay.