Gowfers maintain new manager's 100% record

Ian Flaherty's 100 per cent record as Carnoustie Panmure manager continued on Saturday afternoon when goals from Dougie Craig and Aaron Conway gave the Gowfers a 2-0 home league victory over their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup opponents, Bathgate Thistle.

Grant Miller and Ralph Brand started the game in place of Daryn Smith and James Russell, the latter dropping to the bench where he was joined by Kevin Cumming, Garry Warren, Aaron Conway and spare goalkeeper, Jim Butter, still nursing an ankle injury.

Making a bright start, Carnoustie had an early chance to take the lead when Ogilvie played a long ball forward into the visitors' box, but Collier was flagged offside before he could get in a shot.

As the Gowfers continued to press, a great through ball from Narey released Collier, who beat G. Love on the run in, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Abbot's cross from the right picked out Wilkie, who headed narrowly past.

Bathgate then pushed forward in response to this early home pressure and forced a corner on the left. Ogilvie attempted to head clear from Nicholson's flag kick, but Wilson fired the ball back in from the edge of the box and was unlucky to see his shot rebound from the crossbar, with Whyte beaten.

Although the visitors were starting to come more into the game, it was Carnoustie who opened the scoring in 10 minutes. A great lay-off by Abbot across the park from right to left found CRAIG, who unleashed a fierce first-time effort from all of 40 yards. Godfrey, at full-stretch, got a hand to the ball, but only succeeded in helping it into the top right-hand corner of the net and the Gowfers were ahead.

In 13 minutes, Abbot was booked after fouling Tully on the halfway line. Docherty's free kick was headed clear by goalscorer, Craig, who had quickly reverted to his more customary role as a defender.

Shortly afterwards, Bathgate won another free kick, this time 40 yards out, but Neill's shot was well saved by Whyte, under pressure from Annand.

Bathgate again came close to getting back on level terms when a deep cross from Tully was headed on by Annand, but Whyte was out quickly and beat Docherty to the ball.

Moments later, a Whitelaw cross was headed back across the face of the goal by Wilson and, from only eight yards out, Annand ballooned a shot high over the bar.

After being out of things for a time, Carnoustie were unlucky not to double their lead after winning a free kick from which Narey picked out Wilkie, whose header from eight yards was cleared off the line by Neill.

In 35 minutes, Tully was booked for a foul on Morrison, then just a minute later his team-mate Annand also saw yellow, this for a foul on Craig as he made his way up the line.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 1, Bathgate Thistle 0.

Early in the second half, Carnoustie had a lucky escape when a Whitelaw header from an F. Love cross struck the crossbar and spun high in the air. As the ball came down, Whyte touched it over for a corner, taken by Nicholson. Whitelaw again got in a header, but this time put the ball wide of the target.

Bathgate continued to press and a Smith cross to the far corner of the box set up Wilson, whose low drive was well saved by Whyte.

Eventually, Carnoustie managed to work their way up the park and won a corner on the left. Abbot's cross, however, was too near the goal and bounced off the top of the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

Narey then fired a high ball through to Brand, whose shot appeared to strike Neill on the hand inside the box, but no penalty was awarded.

After that slight scare, Bathgate pushed forward once more and a Whitelaw cross was palmed away by Whyte. The ball dropped out to Annand, whose shot from an acute angle on the left flashed narrowly past, much to the Gowfers relief.

Back at the other end, Carnoustie won a free kick when Collier was fouled by Neill just outside the box. Craig lifted the ball over the defensive wall, but Godfrey brought off a fine save.

In 63 minutes, Collier was injured in a clash with Smith, but was able to continue after treatment.

The visitors were still doing most of the pressing and came close to equalising when a Wilson cross from the right fell to Nicholson, who hooked the ball over his shoulder from the edge of the box, but just wide of the post.

In 71 minutes, Docherty picked up Bathgate's third yellow card of the match when he was booked for dissent.

Carnoustie almost doubled their lead in 88 minutes, but substitute Warren just failed to get his head to an Abbot cross and the ball went out behind.

However, three minutes into stoppage time, the Gowfers did seal their victory with a second counter. From inside his own half, Hall threaded a pass through to substitute CONWAY, who ran from the halfway line, leaving Neill trailing in his wake, and shot low into the net, giving Godfrey no chance.

Before play restarted, Nicholson was red-carded for foul and abusive language, reducing Bathgate to 10 men for the remaining few seconds of the match, which saw no further goalmouth action.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Narey, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Hall, Collier (Warren 80), Brand (Cumming 75), Miller (Conway 82). Substitutes, not used - Russell, Butter (gk).

Bathgate : Godfrey, Wilson, Smith, Tully, Neill, G. Love, Docherty, F. Love, Annand (Harty 76), Boyack (Whitelaw 22), Nicholson. Substitutes, not used - Burns, Maxwell, Balfour (gk).

Referee, G. Bowman, Dundee.