Shippy edged out in five goal thriller.
The Bell and the Shippy served up a five-goal thriller at Moorside Park with the home team edging it 3-2. The Shippy were two nil down midway through the second half, however, two goals in a minute from Reece Brown brought the scores level before Calum Smith scored what turned out to be the winner with ten minutes remaining. The Shipyard made one enforced change from last week’s Scottish Cup win with Ross Lennie replacing the injured Rab Kinnaird.
Bluebell created an opening in the 4th minute and after the Shipyard defence blocked the ball it fell for Smith but he drove his shot off target. Good build up between Pete Bell and Johnny Galloway set up a chance for brother Jordan but he miscontrolled the ball as he found space in the box. The Shippy passed up a glorious chance to take the lead in the 8th minute as Jordan Galloway saw his close-range effort saved by keeper James Lennox. Brown tested Lennox again in the 16th minute with the keeper happy to touch his powerful strike over. Smith shot wide again for the home team before the Shippy had to change keepers with Macaulay Jarrett picking up an injury and he was replaced by Ryan Adamson. The sub keeper was in the thick of the action within a minute of his introduction as he saved well low to his left before Bell completed the clearance. The resultant corner was headed wide from inside the six-yard box. Adamson saved confidently from Barry Sibanda and the Shipyard went straight up the other end and missed another gilt-edged chance. Callum McAulay broke clear and bore down on goal but he could only direct his shot into the side netting much to the frustration of the Shipyard contingent. As the half drew to a conclusion Dundonald went ahead in controversial circumstances. They were awarded a penalty when their forward went down in the box and there could only have been minimal contact if any at all but the award was given and Archie Campbell made no mistake from 12 yards.
Reece Brown nets his first goal.
The Shipyard suddenly found themselves up against it as the Bluebell raced into a two-goal lead three minutes into the second period as Smith headed home a cross from the right-hand side. The Shippy had a great chance to get back into the game within a minute but when Jordan Galloway burst into the box his effort was neither a cross or a shot and Lennox gathered easily. Most of Dundonald’s chances were falling to Smith and again Adamson was able to save his headed effort. Jason Penman saw his driven effort flash narrowly wide in the 65th minute and remarkably instead of it possibly being 3-0 to the home team within 90 seconds it was 2-2. Twice within the space of a minute McAulay fed Brown with delightful crosses and the young striker made no mistake on both occasions as he confidently stroked the ball home. The Bluebell now realised they had a game on their hands and they set about trying to regain the lead. Adamson saved another headed attempt and he looked on as a powerful strike from Scott Durie was deflected wide for a corner. Dundonald went ahead with ten minutes remaining with a quick break following a Shipyard attack. Smith gathered the ball in the middle of the box, stepped inside his marker and fired the ball beyond Adamson. The Shipyard pushed on looking for another equaliser and their case wasn’t helped when McAulay saw red after receiving a second yellow for dissent. Given what the referee had ignored throughout the match McAulay could consider himself a touch unlucky. Dundonald were now happy to wind down the clock and see out the game and pick up the three points. The Shipyard players can be pleased with their performance against one of the more fancied teams to win the conference, indeed on another day they would have taken a least a point from this game.
Jordan Galloway goes close.
Dundonald Bluebell: J. Lennox, M. Forbes (S. Walton), S. Durie, C. Wedderburn, S. O’Neil, D. Wallace, B. Sibanda (L. McKenzie), C. Smith, A. Campbell, M. Ness. Unused Subs: M. Dunlop, C. Wilson, B. Rogerson, J. Russell.
Burntisland Shipyard: M. Jarrett (R. Adamson), R. Lennie, P. Bell, R. O’Donnell, D. Anderson, S. Strang, C. Simpson (A. Trialist), Jon. Galloway, R. Brown, C. McAulay, Jor. Galloway (S. Powrie). Unused Sub: R. Bernard.
Referee: T. Ormiston.