Unusual red card proves costly.
Despite taking the lead for the second game in a row the Shipyard couldn’t build on or maintain their advantage and again fell to a 3-1 defeat, this time at the hands of Preston Athletic who prior to kick off were probably on the periphery of the relegation zone. With games running out the Shippy need to start winning again soon or the trapdoor will open and relegation will be inevitable. Both Shaun Keatings and Ben Anthony recovered from the knocks they picked up in midweek and Craig Watt returned from suspension and all three started the match.
The hosts started the match well and created an opening in the first minute but Cameron Laidlaw dragged his shot wide. Laidlaw had another attempt in the 11th minute; however, Scott Costello was able to tip his strike away. From a corner Costello held a Paul Currie header and he then saved low down from Mikey Hamilton. The Shippy were awarded a free kick in the 25th minute and it was perhaps no surprise that the wall blocked Sam Glancy’s attempt given it was no more than five yards away. The referee did order a retake and at least this time the wall was about eight yards away and again stopped the attempt. The ball broke to Darrell Anthony but the Shippy No 8 couldn’t direct his shot on target. A quick counter from Preston saw a dangerous ball played across the face of goal and it took a vital interception from Jack Wilson to clear the danger. The Shipyard stunned the hosts by taking the lead in the 31st minute and again it was Keatings with the goal. Following his midweek strike, he again produced a sublime finish, this time it was a free kick some 22 yards out that gave Preston keeper Robbie Stirling no chance. Unfortunately for the Shippy that lead only lasted seven minutes as trialist Brandon Archibald, despite looking offside, delicately lobbed the ball over Costello and into the net. Preston now had their tails up and Byron Archibald might have done better than shoot straight at the keeper. The Shipyard were under intense pressure and conceded a second as the game moved into added time. Possession was conceded deep inside their own half and Preston capitalised when Hamilton netted. Laidlaw shot wide just before the referee blew for half time.
As the players left the field there was a bit of jostling and Costello reacted to something a spectator said and was given a red card for apparent gesture to the crowd. A very harsh decision given what the referee seen or should have seen as the players left the field. Ultimately, with the Shippy shooting down hill in the second half it turned into an uphill struggle with only ten men and striker Ben Anthony taking over in goals.
There was not a lot of goalmouth action at either end and Benji was not unduly troubled, albeit he made a couple of unorthodox saves with his feet and he got down low at his post once to push an attempt away. Indeed, the only time he was beaten was by his own man when Sandy Strang swung at a ball played into the box and his sclaffed attempted clearance looped over Benji and dropped into the net. Preston could have added a fourth late on but substitute Aaron Faulds missed an absolute sitter as he missed the target when it was easier to score.
On Tuesday night we make the short journey to Warout Stadium to face Glenrothes with the kick off being at the earlier time of 7.15pm.
Preston Athletic: R. Stirling; B. Reilly; C. Innes; P. Currie; K. Jack (A. Subasic); K. Somers; M. Hamilton (N. Muir); C. Laidlaw (A. Faulds); J. Keenan; By. Archibald; Br. Archibald (S. McCole). Unused Subs: S. Gray; A. Imlah; B. Ritchie.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; D. Thomson (A. Brown); J. Wilson; L. Ross; S. Strang; C. Watt (R. Crichton); S. Keatings (C. Lewis); D. Anthony (R. MacAuley); B. Anthony; S. Glancy; S. Orrock (R. Wardlaw). Unused Sub: R. Watt.
Referee: S. Duff.