Shippy cruise to comfortable victory.

The Shipyard enjoyed a comfortable victory over Ormiston Primrose at New Recreation Park on Saturday, in no small way thanks to a whirlwind start to the match in which they were 3-0 ahead with only 23 minutes on the clock. For the next thirty minutes the hosts fought to get themselves back into the match as the Shippy seemed to get a touch complacent and sat back on their lead, subsequently, it was no surprise when Ormiston pulled a goal back on 56 minutes. The Shipyard did regain more control of the game, thereafter, scoring another goal and might have had another couple if more composure had been shown. There was mixed news on the injury front with a welcome return for Michael Gibb, however, the good news was tempered with the disappointment that Matty Robertson and Kris Murphy had not recovered from knocks they had picked up in midweek. There was also further injury woe for the Shippy as Kai Beard had to be helped off after picking up an ankle injury following a poor challenge in the middle of the park, that went unpunished by the referee who seemed keen to let the game flow. Beard was replaced by Rian MacDougall.

The Shipyard got off to a perfect start with a goal after only four minutes when Harris Kay played in Gibb and he made no mistake as he placed his shot into the corner of the net. It was 2-0 with 15 minutes gone thanks to some calamitous defending from Ormiston with the defender and the goalkeeper leaving the ball to each other which allowed Dan Thomson to take the ball and virtually walk it into the net. The Shippy got their third goal in the 23^rd minute when D. Thomson played the ball through and Gibb delightfully lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net. A quite sublime finish from the makeshift striker. Ormiston finally put some pressure on the Shipyard defence and Cole Miller showed bravery as he raced from his goal to dive on the ball. Zac Scally hit the outside of the post from a tight angle but it was doubtful if the strike would have beaten Miller who was on his post. Dylan Hamilton headed well over the bar and Scally shot straight at Miller from the edge of the box three minutes before the interval.

Rumours of a bust up in the home dressing room must have galvanised Primrose as they came out all guns blazing and pinned the Shippy back from the resumption. Guy Kerr volleyed a shot just wide and Pol Adrian also went close as he tried to lob the ball into the net. In the 55^th minute there was an almighty scramble in the Shippy area with shots being blocked as the defence put their bodies on the line to keep their goal intact, however, a minute later a deserved goal came for Ormiston. The ball fell to Scally at the edge of the box and he placed his shot just inside the post giving Miller no chance. Trialist Gary Nicholson tried an audacious attempt from the restart and keeper Kieran Beveridge who was well off his line was mightily relieved to see the ball clear the crossbar. Nicholson did get a goal in the 74^th minute when Gibb cut the ball back to him and he netted from around the penalty spot. He had another chance two minutes later when he burst clear, however, he was thwarted by an excellent sliding tackle. Gibb and Nicholson then contrived to make a total hash of a gilt-edged opportunity. The former robbed the Ormiston defender of the ball just inside the home team’s half wide on the right. The two Shippy men only had the keeper to beat and with Gibb on a hat-trick everyone expected a shot on goal, however, he decided to square the ball to his teammate who saw his shot blocked although he was in an offside position anyway. Thankfully, it wasn’t a crucial moment. Miller held a deflected long range shot in the 90^th minute before the Shippy had another great chance when young Ollie Wardrop broke clear. It looked like Ollie saw his name up in lights as he blasted the ball wide with only the keeper to beat.

Manager Lee Richardson was naturally pleased to pick up the three points when he said “We couldn’t have made a better start, getting three goals ahead and being in control of the game. We let them back into it and I have to take some responsibility for it as I made changes to the shape. Nevertheless, once we scored the fourth goal we were back in control and should have had a couple more.” He went on to say “I was delighted with Gary and the three young boys who came on in the second half. It would have been fantastic had Ollie managed to put his chance away.”

Next Saturday (04/05/2024) we travel to Newtown Park to face Bo’ness Athletic. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Ormiston Primrose: K. Beveridge; B. Maxwell; D. Anderson; C. Stenhouse; G. Kerr; C. Hogg; D. Hamilton; S. Bird; S. Moffat; P. Adrian; Z. Scally. Subs: D. Nichol; C. Wilson; R. Aitken; S. Ashraf; K. Marr; J. Crane; C. Hynd.

Burntisland Shipyard: C. Miller; K. Beard (R. MacDougall); E. McQuade; E. Bauld; M. James; H. Kay (L. Malone); D. Thomson; CJ. Thomson; G. Nicholson (O. Wardrop); M. Gibb; C. Lewis (M. Moodie).

Referee: S. Simpson.