The Shipyard got their league campaign off to a flying start with an emphatic 4-0 win over Stirling University at Recreation Park on Friday night. Goals from Liam Taylor, Michael Gibb, Kris Murphy and Darrell Anthony had manager Lee Richardson in a joyous mood, and when he spoke after the match he said “That was night and day from Saturday’s performance at Livingston. Tonight, the boys played to a system they were asked to and as everyone could see, it worked. My three strikers all scored and I thought that we scored some fantastic goals.” He went on to say “I have to praise my defence too as they also did what was asked of them. Stirling posed us problems but we defended well and Ryan Couser was impressive in keeping a clean sheet.” Murphy, Blair Kerr and Club captain Iain Millar returned to the starting eleven with Ellis McQuade, Jordan Galloway and Cammy Lewis dropping out. Lewis was able to take a place on the bench as he had recovered from the injury he picked up last Saturday.
Shippy players celebrate 4th goal. Pic courtesy of J. Brown.
The match kicked off in front of a healthy crowd of 142, with several well-known ground hopper in attendance, looking to enjoy their fill of Friday night football. It didn’t take long for them to see some goal action as the Shippy took the lead in the 7th minute. Taylor received the ball just outside the box and he worked his way into the area then picked his spot with a composed finish from around sixteen yards. Gibb doubled the lead in the 19th minute when he gathered the ball eighteen yards out and smashed it into the bottom corner. The visitors were never out of it and Couser was forced into a couple of decent saves as the students got forward at every opportunity to try and get back into the match.
The second half started with the lights on amid the gathering gloom and it was the visitors who started the better though Couser was not overly stretched. The Shipyard increased their lead to three in the 61st minute when Murphy headed home from a corner. Despite the best efforts of the Stirling defence the big striker’s effort found its way over the line. The Shippy kept searching for more goals and a fourth arrived in the 87th minute. This time it was Anthony who scored as he drove in a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
There is midweek action on Wednesday as we travel Creamery Park to face Bathgate Thistle in league action. Kick-off for this one is at 7.15pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; M. Robertson (K. Crielly); E. Bauld; I. Millar; D. Anthony; T. McAndrew (D. McBay); B. Kerr (J. Galloway); K. Murphy (K. Ritchie); M. Gibb; L. Taylor (C. Lewis). Unused Subs: M. Moodie & F. Russell.
Stirling University: S. McDermott; L. Stewart; J. Farrell; O. Hunter; A. Penman; B. Craig-Hislop; D. Mason Bone; R. Lennon; L. Danquah; C. Myles; J. Elliott. Subs: L. Dobson; B. Moule; C. Doan; C. Shiels.
In a dramatic finale Livingston United scored a one hundred and first minute penalty to knock nine man Shippy out and secured their place in the next round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Although there were two penalties awarded and two red cards shown, it wasn’t a match that was full of incident with neither team ever gaining control of the match. There were competitive debuts for Daniel Brockie, Tony McAndrew, Liam Taylor and Kieran Crielly. Ryan Couser and Darrell Anthony made returning debuts as both have had previous spells with the Shipyard. One thing that did remain constant was the usual array of players missing for one reason or another.
The new season kicked off in warm and sunny conditions at Station Park, how long will that last everyone will ask, with the Shipyard creating the first opportunity in the 2nd minute when Taylor’s pass found Michael Gibb inside the box but Gibby couldn’t get his shot on target. At the other end Couser saved from Livi’s Conlon Burchill. Ethan Bauld headed a Jordan Galloway corner wide and at the other end Daniel Duncan drove wide. Couser saved a low drive from Zac Avinou before the Shippy spurned a golden chance to take the lead in the 29th minute. Taylor was tripped in the box and the youngster dusted himself down to take the kick, however, Dominic Duffy saved well as he dived low to his right to stop the shot. This turned out to be a double whammy for the Shippy as the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later when Lee Kelly fired the ball home from fifteen yards out. Good work from Cammy Lewis set up a chance for Taylor but he stabbed the ball wide.
Liam Taylor’s penalty is saved (Picture Ian Cunningham)
Matty Robertson replaced the injured Mark James for the second half and he would not have been expecting to be involved in two major incidents later in the game. A forceful run from Taylor set up a chance for Gibb but the shot was blocked. Couser misjudged a cross into the box but Livingston could not put the loose ball on target as the ball flew over the bar. There were loud claims from the home team for a penalty in the 54th minute but the referee saw nothing untoward in the handball appeal. The Shipyard lost another player to injury as Lewis left the field with a cut to the back of his head following a challenge just outside the area. Kieran Crielly was his replacement. Following a long delay Anthony headed Galloway’s free kick off target. The Shippy drew level after another Galloway free kick in the 76th minute. The set piece was only partially cleared and Gibb’s strike deflected off Robertson on its way into the net. Burchill saw an attempt come off the junction of the post and bar as both teams sought a winner. The Shippy’s hopes were dealt a blow when Taylor received a second yellow card as he tracked back and his rash challenge merited a caution. Kai Beard came on for McAndrew as the midfielder was sailing close to the wind should he have committed another foul. Nine minutes into added time it looked like the Shippy might seal the win as Gibb broke through the middle of the Livi defence but agonisingly for the Shipyard his lob landed on the top of the net. Then came the decisive moment a few seconds later as Livingston were awarded a penalty. Robertson tangled with the Livi forward at the corner of the six yard box and grabbed the player’s leg. It was also a second yellow for him which meant that the Shipyard were down to nine men. Matty spoke after the game and he said “I have apologised to the boys in the dressing room. As we were on the ground it felt like the boy dug his nails into my hand and in a rush of blood to the head, I grabbed his leg and brought him down right in front of the referee. Apparently, there was only five seconds remaining.” When the dust had settled in the 11th minute of added time Dan Duncan tucked away the spot kick to earn his side the win.
Livingston United: D. Duffy; R. Allan; L. Kelly; D. Lennie; D. Duncan; E. Arthur (R. Guy); J. McKnight; Z. Avinou; C. Burchill; J. Barclay (K Whyte); M. Sampson. Unused Subs: E. Quinn; J. Gilchrist; C. Bryans; B. Chetowski.
Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; E. McQuade; E. Bauld; M. James (M. Robertson); D. Anthony; A. McAndrew (K. Beard); J. Galloway; C. Lewis (K. Crielly); M. Gibb; L. Taylor. Unused Sub: C. McBay.
The Shippy will kick off the new season on Saturday 27th July with an East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tie against Livingston United at Station Park, kick off 2.30pm. Our first home fixture is a league match against Stirling University EOS on Friday 2nd August with the match kicking off at 7.30pm. We then have two trips to West Lothian to face Bathgate Thistle at Creamery Park on Tuesday 7th August (kick off 7.15pm) before travelling to Volunteer Park to meet Armadale Thistle on Saturday 10th August with kick off being at 2.30pm. If successful against Livingston we will be on the road again to face Vale of Leithen in the 2nd round of the EoSQC. Oakley United are the visitors to Recreation Park on Saturday 24th August before the month ends with a yet to be drawn Scottish Cup tie. All the season’s fixtures can be found on the East of Scotland League website with some undoubtedly subject to change.
The club was saddened to learn of the passing of ex Club Secretary Jim Anderson. Jim passed away recently, just two days after his 94th birthday.
Jim was the last true link between the Shipyard football team and the Burntisland Shipbuilding Company. Jim still worked in the Time Office of the Company at the time that he took on the job of the Football Club Secretary and laterally Treasurer – a role that he worked tirelessly in for a period of 46 years between 1954 and 2000. Jim represented the club at the Fife Football Association and ultimately was to become the Fife Football Association representative to the Scottish Football Association. Jim was an active member of the S.F.A. Disciplinary Appeals Committee for several years and was awarded with Life Membership of the S.F.A. for his services when he retired in the year 2000. He was also made a life member of the Fife Amateur Football Association.
Our thoughts are with his wife Mary and his family at this sad time.
Jim’s funeral will take place at Kirkcaldy crematorium on Friday 21st June at 12.45pm.
The curtain finally came down on what can only be described as an extremely disappointing season for the Shipyard. A fourth bottom finish in the second division was not what everyone expected at the start of the campaign, especially given how well pre-season had been. In what was an unprecedented year for long term injuries to many players, which contrived to make consistent team selection well-nigh impossible. Mikey Couser, Scott Costello, Kearyn Hicks, Iain Millar, Cammy Lewis and Ben Anthony were all missing for months during the season while others were out for a few weeks. Player availability also played a major role in putting a team on the park. In fact, on only one occasion was the same team fielded in successive matches. With Armadale still chasing a promotion spot it came as no surprise that they ran out 3-0 winners, however, the result was in vain as Edinburgh South won their match against Kennoway Star Hearts to secure the third promotion place.
Shipyard award winners Ethan Bauld, Mark James and Shaun Keatings with their trophies.
Goals in the 17th, 45th and 53rd minutes eased Armadale to victory with keeper Cole Miller also producing a couple of very good saves to keep the score down. At the other end Armadale keeper Andrew Murphy was also in impressive form as he saved well from Michael Gibb and Shaun Keatings.
Once again there was a three figure crowd inside recreation park and the Club would like to thank all the locals for their unwavering support throughout what was a difficult season.
Burntisland Shipyard: C. Miller; E. Bauld; M. Moodie; M. Robertson; M. James; H. Kay; K. Beard; CJ. Thomson; M. Gibb; D. Perrie; S. Keatings. Subs: K. Murphy; R. MacAulay; C. Lewis; E. McQuade; E. Bell; I. Millar.
Armadale Thistle: A. Murphy; G. Hamilton; T. Murphy; J. Fairley; E. Herriot; D. Kane; S. McLeod; J. Abubakar; C. Baillie; J. Gillespie; D. Wood. Subs: J. Tapping; C. Nelson; K. Kelly; A. Ramage; K. Jackson; C. Strickland; A. Uphill.
This was a typical end of season affair that lacked any real urgency and quality and probably the only surprise was that we did get a goal, one that ultimately separated the sides. With both teams having little to play for and missing key players from their squads neither side looked like they were familiar with each other as many players were playing out of position.
It took until the 24th minute for an attempt on goal and that came from the Shippy’s Dan Thomson whose shot was well saved by keeper Matt Hall. A minute later Hall saved again from Mikey Gibb though this time it was a whole lot easier. The best chance of the half fell to Mikey Moodie but when clean through his shot was too close to Hall and the keeper was able to block the left footed strike. Coldstream’s only attempt on target in the first half was from Regan Graham and although his strike beat Cole Miller, Gibb was on hand to head the ball clear.
Coldstream broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when a ball played towards the back post was gathered by the unmarked Drew Cummings who had time to control the ball before lashing it into the net. The Shipyard rarely looked like troubling the visitors defence other than when Ethan Bauld was forward for a set piece but the Coldstream defence closed him down and his effort was blocked. The final chance fell to Coldstream in the 86th minute but the headed effort flew well over the bar. Coldstream did have to play out the last few minutes with only ten men after Bailey Paterson was shown a red card after receiving a second caution.
The Shipyard play their final game of the season against Armadale Thistle at Recreation Park on Saturday (18/05/2024) with the match kicking off at 2.30pm.
Burntisland Shipyard: C. Miller; R. O’Donnell; E. McQuade; E. Bauld; M. Robertson; H. Kay; CJ. Thomson (K. Beard); H. Milne (R. Glendinning); M. Gibb; D. Thomson; M. Moodie (R. MacAulay). Unused Subs: C. Lewis; G. Burke; T. Lynch; M. Couser.
Coldstream: M. Hall; K. Ingram; K. Bullen; D. Cummings; R. Graham; M. Johnston; K. Wood; B. Paterson; J. Storm; J. Cummings; T. Hume. Sub: K. Ross.
