Experimental Shippy slump to defeat
Shippy manager Lee Richardson said before the game that he was going to experiment for this match and he made four changes to the starting eleven, a couple of positional changes and went with a different system, at least to start with, in this East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tie. There was also a second half debut for new signing Matty Robertson. Kearyn Hicks and Ryan O’Donnell made their first starts of the season with Billy Murray and CJ Thomson returning to the fold. The outcome probably left more questions than answers for Lee as his side went down 6-2 to a Rosyth side gifted a three goal start in a crazy opening twelve minutes.
The game was not even a minute old when the Shipyard fell behind as indecision inside the six-yard box allowed Darrin Ormiston the chance to stab the ball home. The Shippy were nearly level in the 4th minute but unfortunately Shaun Keatings’ sweetly struck free kick came back off the post. The hosts doubled their lead in the 11th minute when a cross from the right-hand side found Ormiston unmarked in the centre of goal and he knocked the ball home. A minute later it was 3-0 following some horrific defending as the ball was allowed to travel to the back post for Zac Mooney to nod the ball in. The Shippy should have pulled a goal back in the 24th minute, however CJ Thomson could not convert Ben Anthony’s pass. The Shipyard were back in the match a minute later when Murray was played in by Mark James and he smashed the ball home from just inside the box. The Shippy were creating chances with Anthony twice going close and testing Macaulay Jarrett in the Rosyth goal. The big keeper also held a Hicks header as the Shippy pressed for another. Scott Costello probably made his first save of the match a minute into added time when he held an Ormiston shot at his near post.
Sandy Strang and Robertson came on for Dan Thomson and Ryan Watt at the interval as the Shipyard reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. The Shippy were still creating openings and a couple of delightful crosses played into the danger area went abegging. A corner then fell to Hicks but the big centre back couldn’t put his effort on target. Substitute Kieran McMahon headed over shortly after coming on and as the game headed towards the final twenty minutes Rosyth took control of the game as the Shippy defence began to tire. McMahon scored the fourth goal in the 69th minute to effectively put the game beyond doubt and shortly after Lewis Ross was on hand to clear the ball off the line. Substitute Robbie MacAulay saw his low curling effort pushed away for a corner and from the set piece Jarrett saved a headed attempt. Michael Ness shot over for the hosts before some very poor play gifted Rosyth another goal. Trying to play out from the back, under pressure, resulted in the ball landing at Marc Sludden’s feet and he had the simple task of putting the ball in the net. Jack Denham headed home powerfully from a corner to make it six before Macaulay got a consolation for the Shippy when he cheekily flicked the ball home from close range. Richardson was disappointed after the game when he said “It was the same old failings. We are not defending properly and against a good side you will be punished. What was pleasing is we are creating plenty of chances and apart from the opening and closing fifteen minute periods we more than matched them.” He went on to add “The league is more important to us, hence the reason I changed things around tonight. For Saturday I should have Millzy, Hamish, Gibby and Cammy back although Rooney remains sidelined at the moment.”
Stirling University are the opposition on Saturday as we return to league action with the match at Ochilview, Stenhousemuir, being at the slightly later time of 3pm.
Rosyth: M. Jarrett; J. Denham; G. Leighton; J. Penman; A. McAvoy; M. Ness; M. Zata; M. Sludden; Z. Mooney; D. Ormiston; G. Hamilton. Subs: C. Tully; M. Gallacher; M. Wallace; J. Fisher; K. McMahon.
Burntisland Shipyard: S. Costello; R. O’Donnell (D. Pierce); D. Thomson (M. Robertson); L. Ross; K. Hicks; CJ. Thomson; S. Keatings (A. Brown); M. James; B. Anthony; B. Murray (R. MacAulay); R. Watt (S. Strang).
Referee: K. Gibson.