Shipyard edged out in five goal thriller.

It was scant consolation to the Shipyard that this was a fantastic game and a great advert for the East of Scotland League, as the Shippy left Riccarton with nothing to show for their efforts as Heriot Watt came from behind to take the three points. It was an end to end match with both sides enjoying periods of domination though both management teams would be disappointed with the amount of chances their teams passed up. The hosts would have been unhappy at going in all square at the interval given their possession and chances they had. That being said, the roles were reversed in the second half and it was the Shippy’s turn to create and miss several decent chances, especially when leading 2-1.
Shippy keeper Sean Malpas held a long range shot in the 7th minute and Craig Anderson cut out a dangerous cross as the students started on the front foot. The hosts remained on top as a shot was blocked at the expense of a corner, a Scott Powrie tackle saved a certain goal and a headed effort from the resultant corner hit the base of the post. Brian Breen missed the visitors first clear cut chance in the 17th minute when he knocked the ball over after getting on the end of Brodie Hamilton’s cross. Breen then headed over from a Callum McAulay cross as the Shippy started to impose themselves on the game. Sandy Strang came to the Shipyard’s rescue in the 23rd minute when he raced back to clear the ball off his own line when Malpas was beaten after racing from his line. Heriot Watt took the lead just shy of the half hour mark and the Shippy manager was furious at the manner in which the goal was conceded. A corner from the right found it’s way to the back post and Adam Woolven was able to volley the ball into the net from around six yards. Breen headed a Powrie cross wide but the Shipyard were living dangerously on occasions but with half-time approaching the Shippy drew level when Sam Glancy lashed the ball home after Keeper Callum Reid flapped at a cross.

Sam Glancy scored his first goal for the Shippy

Whatever was said in the dressing room at the interval made an impact as a different Shipyard come out for the second half and within a couple of minutes Reid did well to block Glancy’s drive. Then Breen curled his free-kick just wide of the target but after Anton Dowds went close for Heriot Watt the big man was not to be denied as he drove his powerful shot low into the corner after engineering the opportunity himself. Malpas gathered a high ball at the second attempt before Breen went close again, this time shooting over from 18 yards. Heriot Watt had a huge let off in the 61st minute when McAulay drove a free-kick into the six yard box and they were mightily relieved when the ball ricocheted into keeper Reid’s arms. Ten minutes later the Shippy survived a scare when a driven shot beat Malpas but came back off the post and the Heriot Watt player following up lacked the composure to knock the ball home. The students drew level with eight minutes remaining when Ronnie Napier turned in the loose ball after Malpas had saved bravely at the feet of Dowds. The Shipyard were reduced to ten men when the trialist substitute reacted angrily to having his shirt pulled and left the referee with no option but to show him the red card. Being a player down did stop the Shipyard attacks and Reid had to be on his toes to touch over McAulay’s wicked free-kick and Breen once again went close but failed to hit the target with his powerful strike. Heriot Watt broke quickly with three minutes remaining and sucker punched the Shippy when Mark McGovern turned in a low cross from the right. The Shippy almost got a leveller deep in added time when a Pete Bell cross cum shot crashed back off the bar and the Shipyard contingent had their heads in their hands when Powrie agonisingly headed the loose ball wide.
Next Saturday (7th October) sees the first ever Fife derby in the East of Scotland League when Kelty Hearts visit Recreation Park to face the Shipyard. Kick off is 2.30pm.
Heriot Watt University : C. Reid, A. Snoddy, S. Munro ( C. Smith), N. Laurenson, A. Woolven, F. Watt, C. Macher, C. Lane, R. Napier, A. Dowds, G. MacDonald ( A. Breen).
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Malpas, S. Powrie, P. Bell, S. Strang, C. Anderson, S. Glancy, R. Kinnaird ( O. Ferry), C. McAulay, B. Hamilton (A. Trialist),T. Graham (M. Black) B. Breen.
Referee: J. Stewart.