Defensive woes continue
A much improved performance but still the same result was the outcome against Leith Athletic at Meadowbank 3G on Tuesday night as the Shipyard went down by 5-1. Although it was a slightly heavier defeat than Saturday Leith was a far superior side to Heriot Watt University. That old chestnut of injury and unavailability reared its ugly head as no fewer than seven players were missing, indeed Myles had Jason were the only substitutes available.
The Shipyard actually started the match very well and had a free-kick opportunity in the first minute when Brendan Napier was cynically fouled as he burst through the Leith defence. Napier took the kick himself but did not trouble the home keeper Ian Gordon. Adam Doig blasted over and Dale Robertson presented a chance to Renato Sartarello before the Shipyard took the lead in the 10th minute. A Napier corner from the right was headed home at the near post by central defender Craig McKay. The visitors had no time to settle on their lead as from a Leith corner the ball wasn’t cleared and Robbie Mason had time and space round Jordan Mushet and fire the ball into the net for the equaliser. The home team started to dominate the match and Mushet had to be quick off his line to head clear. He then held a low shot from Euan Campbell. Athletic took the lead in the 28th minute when Mason was on hand again at the edge of the box to coolly finish after the ball was cut back to him. McKay was forward again and stabbed the ball narrowly passed the post after a loose ball fell to him in the Leith area a couple of minutes before the interval.
Mushet pulled off a good save in the early stages of the second half before Leith missed a good chance from a corner. Robertson cut in from the left and got a shot away as the Shipyard looked for an equaliser but the visitors were undone when Darren Smith who looked yards offside was allowed to continue and easily scored. Pete Bell was yellow carded for questioning the decision. This seemed to deflate the Shipyard players and Campbell added to Athletics’ lead when he was allowed to stride forward unchallenged and lash an unstoppable shot into the net. A third goal in the space of six minutes ended the game as a contest as a through ball was not cut out by the Shipyard defence and Lewis Tracey planted the ball beyond Mushet. Offside decisions continued to frustrate all associated with the visitors as Robertson had seemed what looked like a good goal. Referee Cooper then gave the Shipyard a free kick after he overruled another offside call when no advantage was gained. With nine minutes remaining Pete Bell was somewhat harshly show a second yellow card for a fifty/fifty challenge in the middle of the park.
Teams: Leith Athletic: Gordon; Simpson; Hall; Black; Jack; Burns; Smith; Mason; Wright; Campbell; Conaghan. Subs: Barrie; Boggie; Mein; Tracey; Thom.
Burntisland Shipyard: Mushet; Morrison; Bell; Lowe; McKay; Blake; Doig; Robertson; Sartarello; Napier; Fotheringham. Subs: Allan; McCrindle.
Referee: B. Cooper