Gowfers go goal crazy after first half stalemate

Carnoustie Panmure bounced back from their midweek defeat with a 5-1 home victory over Arbroath Vics in their latest D.J. Laing League Cup Section 2 fixture at Laing Park on Saturday.

All six goals came in a 27 minute spell during the second half and included a 30 yard wonder strike from Gowfers' new signing Robert Hendry.

Vics kicked-off and had the first shot at goal when a McLaren long-range effort slipped just wide of Butter's right-hand post.

McLaren continued to make his presence felt upfront for the visitors and forced a corner off Smith on the right, but Duncan's cross was headed clear by Smith himself.

A long kick-out by 'keeper Hutchison was chased by McDowell, but Butter came smartly off his line and clutched the ball safely to his chest.

After a slow start, Carnoustie began to come more into the game and a Russell chip shot was just past Hutchison's left-hand upright.

A good cross from the left by Conway was met by Collier, whose shot was blocked behind by Farquharson for a corner. Conway's cross from the left picked out Russell, who shot narrowly over.

In 15 minutes, Dall, who had been limping badly after an earlier clash with Russell, was unable to continue and was replaced by Matthews.

Cumming opened up the Vics' defence with a surging run into the box, but his shot was too high and failed to trouble Hutchison.

Moments later, Farquharson was forced to concede a corner on the left and as the ball bobbled about in the box from Conway's cross, it was knocked home by Collier, but he was deemed offside and the "goal" was disallowed.

In 27 minutes, Vics' players McGinnis and McDowell clashed as they attempted to stop Hendry and both required treatment before continuing.

Vics came close to opening the scoring when a high ball into the home box by Reilly was left by Miller, but with Butter rooted to his line, McLaren shot high over the bar.

Back came the Gowfers and a Conway free kick from 30 yards out curled over the defensive wall, but was well held by Hutchison at his right-hand post.

McDowell then tried a long-range effort for Vics. His shot was powerful enough, but straight at Butter, who saved easily.

Conway put Carnoustie back on the attack with a good run up the left. His cross was met by Hall, whose first-time strike from six yards was brilliantly saved by Hutchison.

Shortly afterwards, the Gowfers passed up another great chance to take the lead when a Hall cross from the left was blocked out to Cumming, but faced with an open goal, he ballooned the ball miles over the bar from only six yards.

Vics pushed forward in response and won a corner on the left. Duncan's cross was headed down by Haldane to McGinnis, who tried an overhead kick, but put the ball over the bar.

As the first half drew to a close, Carnoustie squandered another couple of good chances. Firstly, a Narey cross from the right picked out Collier, whose header was too direct and straight at Hutchison. Then right on the half-time whistle, Conway blasted narrowly past from a Russell corner.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Arbroath Vics 0.

Within a minute of the restart, Carnoustie had a half-chance when Russell chased in after a long through ball from Smith, but Hutchison rushed from his line to claim it before the home player could get a touch.

Moments later, Wilkie tried a long-range strike, which flew well wide of the left-hand post.

The Gowfers were now doing most of the pressing and in 51 minutes Narey sent in a curling shot, which Hutchison rose to take cleanly.

Four minutes later, Conway was adjudged to have fouled McLaren, who took the free kick himself, but put the ball straight to Butter.

From the 'keeper's clearance, Conway worked a quick one-two with Russell, who then tried a shot, but sent the ball high over the top.

In 58 minutes, Carnoustie at last took the lead when RUSSELL ran on to a through pass from Smith and, spotting Hutchison coming off his line, neatly lobbed the ball over the 'keeper's head into the empty net. From the centre, Vics surged forward and McLaren won a corner off Smith. He took the kick himself, but put the ball straight to Butter.

Next minute, Conway made a good run up the Carnoustie left and fired in a low drive, but Hutchison got down to make a fine save.

In 68 minutes, the Gowfers forced two corners in quick succession and from the second of these, Russell picked out WILKIE, who powered a header into the roof of the net off the underside of the bar.

A minute later, Hendry saw yellow after bringing down McGinnis.

Still the Gowfers kept pushing forward and in 70 minutes the ball was played through to RUSSELL, who took a couple of paces before rifling a shot past Hutchison into the back of the net from 18 yards.

Before play restarted, Farquharson was shown the yellow card, presumably for comments made to the referee.

In 72 minutes, Carnoustie came close to going four up after Hendry linked well with Brand, who fired a low shot across the face of the goal. Haldane, rushing back, got a foot to the shot and almost knocked it into his own net, but the ball slid narrowly past the right-hand post, with the 'keeper nowhere.

Carnoustie continued to press and did notch a fourth counter in 80 minutes. Brand took the ball almost to the bye-line and sent in a cross to BUICK, who headed past Hutchison from close-in.

Two minutes later and very much against the run of play, Vics pulled a goal back when Butter failed to get to a MILLER passback and the ball landed in the back of the net.

However, in 85 minutes, the Gowfers restored their four goal advantage with the goal of the game. Hall took a corner on the right and played the ball back to HENDRY, who volleyed a first-time shot into the back of the net from all of 30 yards.

Before play could restart, the Vics trainer was called on to attend to 'keeper Hutchison, who had blood streaming from a cut on his face. Play did restart, but a minute later Hutchison was forced to go off and was replaced by substitute 'keeper Broomhall.

The remainder of the game was played out mainly in midfield before the referee eventually brought proceedings to a close and the Gowfers were through to the quarter-final stage of the competition. Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey, Smith, Miller, Wilkie (Craig 68), Hendry, Cumming (Buick 63), Hall, Collier (Brand 59), Russell, Conway. Substitutes, not used - Warren, Whyte (gk).

Arbroath Vics : Hutchison (Broomhall 86), Reilly, Haldane, Farquharson, Dall (Matthews 15), McDowell, Duncan, Iveson, McGinnis, Thomson, McLaren. Substitute, not used - Guthrie.

Referee, K. Graham, Perth.