Shippy sunk by two late goals
Two goals in the last seven minutes ended the Shipyard’s unbeaten start to East of Scotland football but to be fair, Duns deserved their win after missing a few chances, particularly in the first half. Again the team was changed as injury and unavailability curtailed the manager’s options as he strives to find his preferred starting eleven. Having enjoyed the surroundings of Meadowbank Stadium on Wednesday night it was quite a contrast as the teams lined up on the wide open spaces of Berwickshire High School playing fields.
Duns started brightly and Andy Martin had to pull off a good save in the first minute and when the ball came back in Lackenby headed over. The Shipyard hit back in the third minute and Brown’s cross caused a bit of panic in the Duns defence before being cleared. From the corner Robertson’s shot hit his own team mate and spun wide. In an all action start Martin saved a close range shot that was cleared for a corner. Robertson shot just wide for Duns before the Shipyard shocked their hosts in the 13th minute and took the lead. Stuart Gray rose to powerfully head home Wilson’s corner. This seemed to spur Duns on and the Shipyard defence did well to scramble the ball away for a corner, then a shot from the edge of the area rose over the bar. Duns equalised in the 26th minute when Bruce Chisholm expertly volleyed home a cross at the back post. Duns got their noses in front from the penalty spot after Robertson was brought down by Martin in the box for a clear penalty. Conor Devaney converted the kick. Within four minutes the Shipyard were level courtesy of another spot kick. This time Michael Brown was fouled in the box and Mark Brough scored the penalty. Martin then had to stick out a boot to block another Duns attempt at goal.
The Shipyard started better in the second half and Wilson saw his drive held. In the 57th minute Martin had to come out from goal to clear the danger and two minutes later McAndrew saw his shot deflected wide. Sub Hamilton then had his header from the corner held by Lumsden. Duns had a huge let off in the 61st minute when Gray saw has free-kick blocked. The ball fell to Hamilton who crossed into the middle only for another Shipyard attempt to be blocked. The ball broke kindly for Johnston who nodded the ball towards goal. With the Shipyard acclaiming the goal a defender acrobatically cleared the ball, though the Shipyard players felt the ball was over the line, the referee thought otherwise and waved play on. The Shipyard were having the better of things now and Lumsden saved well from Robertson and then from Wilson. Duns then hit back in the 76th minute when they broke down the right hand side and were disappointed when the cut back was hit wildly over the bar. Martin then blocked with his legs and then gathered the loose ball as it spun up in the air. Duns took the lead with seven minutes remaining in strange fashion. Martin dived at the ball and in doing so caught a boot to the head. The ball broke to Des Chisholm whose shot was blocked on the line by Whyte. However, the ball hit team mate Robertson and ended up in the net. Martin had to receive a fair bit of treatment before he was able to continue. With the Shipyard pushing for a leveller, Duns broke away deep into added time and when a cross from the right came in, Conor Devaney was on hand to knock the ball home at the back post. Billy Whitehead Snr said after the game “I thought we were a bit tired after Wednesday night and missed a few boys today. Although perhaps fortunate to be level at half-time, a couple of decisions did not go our way in the second half and that ultimately beat us”.
Teams: Duns: Lumsden; Stewart; A. Renton; Burns; G. Renton; Devaney; Waddell; D. Chisholm; B. Chisholm; Robertson; Lackenby. Subs: Brydon; Lauder; Lee.
Burntisland Shipyard: Martin; McAndrew; Brough; Gray; Whyte; Brown; Robertson; Lamont (Hamilton); Johnston (Drury); Wilson; Dow. Unused Sub: Cook.
Referee: E. Cairns