Win over Bo'ness takes Gowfers to third place

A home victory over Bo'ness United at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon has taken Carnoustie Panmure third top of the Whyte and Mackay East Super League, just three points behind leaders Linlithgow Rose with a match in hand.

For the visit of the West Lothian men, Gowfers' manager Ian Flaherty was forced to make one change to the side that had triumphed 1-0 over Tayport the previous week. Steven Narey was unavailable due to having a hamstring injury and his place at right-back was taken by Grant Miller.

Bench spots went to Ralph Brand, Robert Hendry, Gary Bollan, Euan Hall and James Collier.

Carnoustie had a strong wind at their backs in the first half and got off to the best possible start with just four minutes gone. Craig sent in a deep cross to ABBOT, who controlled the ball on his chest before slamming it past 'keeper Connelly from six yards to open the scoring.

In nine minutes, the Gowfers won the first corner of the match when Cumming tried to find J. Russell, but G. Russel got back to knock the ball behind. J. Russell took the kick himself, but his cross was thumped clear by Hunter.

After a slow start, Bo'ness began to come more into the game and in 15 minutes Sinclair sent a cross right into the home goalmouth, but Whyte got up to punch the ball away, under pressure from Docherty.

A minute later, the referee spotted some shirt-pulling and awarded the visitors a free kick right in front of goal 23 yards out. MORTIMER stepped up and fired the ball through the defensive wall and straight past Whyte into the net to level the score.

In 21 minutes, Hunter made a good run through the middle, but was brought to a halt by Morrison, who put in a great tackle. The ball then spun away to Ogilvie, who completed the clearance.

As play surged to the other end, Conway won a corner on the right off Gray. Conway took the kick himself and found Wilkie, whose strong header looked netbound all the way, but at the last minute Connelly got up to make a great save, tipping the ball over the top.

The second corner was taken by J. Russell, but Connelly got up to punch the ball away and Mauchline completed the clearance.

At this point, the Gowfers were doing most of the attacking and Morrison sent a good ball through for Cumming, but he misjudged his run and was caught offside.

Moments later, Cumming took a pass from Abbot and tried a shot, which Connelly pushed round his right-hand post. Russell again took the flag kick, but Connelly got up to clutch it safely.

From the 'keeper's clearance, Sinclair fed a pass through to Docherty, who sent in a good cross, but Whyte came smartly off his line to make the save.

In 31 minutes, Carnoustie regained the lead when a Cumming cross from the left was only partially cleared away and fell to SMITH, who volleyed a great shot into the net, giving Connelly no chance.

From the centre, Bo'ness pushed forward and Sinclair won a corner when Whyte touched his shot past.

Gallacher crossed the ball in low and hard, but Wilkie was on hand to block it away.

At the other end, a Cumming cross was knocked behind by Mauchline. Conway's flag kick picked out Wilkie at the edge of the box, but he swung rather wildly at it and sent the ball high over the top.

In 37 minutes, Mortimer became the first player to be shown the yellow card after he chopped down Cumming out on the left. Conway took the resultant free kick, but Connelly got up well and punched the ball away before J. Russell could get his head to it.

In the latter stages of the first half, Bo'ness seldom threatened the home goal, but Donnelly attempted a long-range snap shot, trying to catch Whyte unawares, but the 'keeper was alert to the danger and had no trouble making the save.

On the stroke of half-time, J. Russell made a fine solo run through the middle before drilling in a shot, but pulled the ball just wide of Connelly's left-hand upright.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 2, Bo'ness United 1.

Bo'ness got the second half under way, but it was Carnoustie who were first to show when Abbot took the ball up the right and sent in a good cross looking for Conway, but Gray just got to it first and knocked the ball behind for a corner. Conway crossed the ball low and hard, but Cumming just failed to get a touch and the chance was lost.

The visitors then pushed forward in response and G. Russel found McGlynchey, who tried a rather weak shot and Wilkie had no trouble clearing the ball away.

Back came the Gowfers and Craig got his head to a Miller cross, but his effort lacked power and Connelly saved easily.

From the 'keeper's kick-out, Gallacher worked a quick one-two with Docherty before rifling a shot narrowly past Whyte's right-hand post.

In 55 minutes, Carnoustie again came close to increasing their lead when Morrison picked out J. Russell, whose shot was only just off target, going narrowly wide of Connelly's left-hand upright.

It was all Carnoustie at this stage and Miller and J. Russell worked a neat one-two before the latter fired in a shot, but Connelly got down well to make the save.

Shortly afterwards, Conway sent J. Russell away on a run. He took the ball almost to the bye-line then delivered a cross looking for Conway, but Connelly came quickly off his line to take the ball cleanly. Gallacher collected the ball from the 'keeper's clearance and tried a rather hopeful long-range shot, but put the ball well wide of Whyte's left-hand post.

With an hour on the watch, Abbot was tripped by McGlynchey, who was then cautioned for his trouble.

Three minutes later, the Gowfers added to their tally after Abbot made another good run up the right, taking the ball almost to the bye-line. His cross was blocked out to CONWAY, who volleyed a shot past Connelly from 25 yards.

In 66 minutes, Bo'ness came close to reducing the leeway after a Gallacher free kick found Sinclair just three yards out. He did get a foot to the ball in the crowded goalmouth and it bobbled about before Whyte was able to grab it and clear the danger.

Two minutes later, Donnelly became the third Bo'ness player to be booked, this time for tripping Morrison.

Carnoustie made their first change in 72 minutes, Ogilvie limping off to be replaced by recent signing, former Dundee United and Rangers man, Gary Bollan, who was making his first appearance for the club.

The visitors won a free kick just outside the box when Wilkie was adjudged to have fouled Sinclair. Hunter took the kick, but sent the ball high over the bar.

Next minute, Gallacher became the fourth Bo'ness player to see the yellow card after a foul on Miller.

Bo'ness won a free kick 30 yards out when Docherty was tripped by Bollan. Hunter touched the kick sideways to McGlynchey, who fired off a shot, but sent it well wide.

In 81 minutes, Sinclair and Abbot tangled in midfield with the Bo'ness player coming off worst and staying down. After treatment from the physio, he was able to continue, but not before being shown the yellow card for aiming a sly kick at Abbot after the pair had clashed.

Deep into stoppage time, the Gowfers came close to adding a fourth counter after substitute Brand collected a ball out on the left and fired in a great shot. Connelly just got a hand to the ball and pushed it around his left-hand post for a corner. Smith took the flag kick, but when the ball was crossed in, Hunter was able to thump it away.

As the ball dropped into the Carnoustie half, the referee brought the game to a close and with another three points safely in the bag, the Gowfers are now up to third in the league.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Miller, Craig, Ogilvie (Bollan 72), Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, D. Smith, J. Russell (Brand 86), Conway (Collier 84), Cumming. Substitutes, not used - Hendry, Hall.

Bo'ness United : Connelly, Mauchline, G. Russel, Gray, Mortimer, Hunter, McGlynchey, Donnelly, Docherty, Sinclair, Gallacher. Substitutes, not used - Ferguson, Brown, McKinlay, Martin, E. Smith.

Referee, J. Banks, Perth.