Gowfers rue missed chances at New Dundas

Carnoustie Panmure remain pointless in the Whyte and Mackay East Super League after a second successive defeat on Saturday.

The Gowfers followed up their opening 3-0 home defeat from Linlithgow Rose with a 3-1 reverse away to Bonnyrigg Rose at New Dundas Park.

Included in Jake Ferrier's starting line-up was new signing Stuart Abbot, who was released last month by Dundee United and put pen to paper for the Laing Park club the previous day. Forfar Athletic and Stirling Albion were both keen to enlist the full-back, who played three times for the Tangerines' first team last season, but he opted to join the Gowfers instead.

Dougie Craig was also on from the start in place of Iain Wilkie, who missed the match with a hamstring injury, but when Robert Hendry sufferred a bout of sickness and diarrhoea just prior to the kick-off, he had to be replaced by Garry Buick from the bench.

Other bench spots were taken by Garry Warren, Ralph Brand, Aaron Conway and Martin Webster. Carnoustie kicked-off, but it was Bonnyrigg who were first to threaten. Meikle collected the ball from a Robertson throw-in on the home right and played it long to Grady, who turned and fired in a low shot, but Butter got down to take it easily.

In four minutes, Miller fouled Walker just outside the Gowfers' box. Grady took the free kick and curled a low shot round the defensive wall, but again Butter got down well to save at the base of his left-hand post.

Carnoustie won a free kick after Abbot was fouled by McCaul. Narey sent the ball deep into the home box, but Coyle rushed out to take it before Collier could get a touch.

In 10 minutes, Bonnyrigg took the lead with a goal out of nothing. Walker's deep cross from the left to the far post picked out the unmarked GRADY, who fired home from close-in, giving Butter no chance.

Three minutes later, the homesters doubled their lead after a Robertson throw-in was flicked on by McCaul.

REILLY collected the ball some 30 yards out and after taking a couple of touches, he rifled a fantastic shot high into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Rose were now doing most of the pressing and in 16 minutes had a half-chance to go further ahead. Walker chased a long through ball from Morrice, but Butter rushed from his line to grab it before the home player could get the necessary touch.

Before the 'keeper could clear the ball away, the referee's attention was drawn to Collier lying injured deep in the Bonnyrigg half. However, he was able to continue after some treatment from the Gowfers' sponge-man.

In 20 minutes, it was Carnoustie's turn to have a half-chance after Cumming laid the ball out to Russell wide on the left. He took it down the line and sent in a deep cross looking for Collier, but played it took close to the 'keeper, who took it cleanly.

In 27 minutes, Robertson played a good ball inside to McCaul, who then fed Williamson, but Butter was alert to the danger and rushed from his line to grab it.

As play surged to the other end, an Abbot shot was blocked and partially cleared away. Hall then played the ball through to Russell, whose 25 yard shot was just off target, going narrowly past Coyle's right-hand post.

Carnoustie again came close to opening their account in 32 minutes when Collier fed a great pass through to Russell, but he wasted the opportunity by blasting his shot high over the top.

There was a scare for the Gowfers in 36 minutes when Thomson sent a long ball forward to Walker, who appeared well offside. The referee's assistant, however, kept his flag down and Walker was allowed to run on, but Butter rushed from his line to thump the ball away to safety.

With 40 minutes on the watch, Carnoustie again came close to pulling a goal back. courtesy of a long through ball from Buick. Abbot neatly side-stepped Reid at the edge of the box and curled in a great left-foot shot, which looked goal-bound all the way, but just at the last moment Coyle got up to touch the ball over the top.

Russell's flag kick was knocked back across the face of the goal by Graham to Abbot, whose header again looked a certain score, but this time at the last second Williamson got back to hook the ball off the line with the 'keeper nowhere.

Right on the half-time whistle, Bonnyrigg missed a great chance to go three up after Grady worked his way up the left and sent the ball low across the six yard box. Walker came rushing in, but just failed to connect with his attempted diving header and the ball went out behind for a goal kick.

Half-time: Bonnyrigg Rose 2, Carnoustie Panmure 0

On the restart, Bonnyrigg had an early chance when Walker made a good run through and fired In a low shot, which Butter did well to block away with his feet. The ball then spun out to McCaul, who blasted it high over the top.

Back came Carnoustie with Abbot playing a good ball into the home box. Collier moved to collect it and went down under a challenge from Meikle, but the referee saw nothing wrong and waved play on, amid shouts for a penalty from some of the sizeable Gowfers' support.

At this stage, it was Carnoustie who were doing most of the attacking and in 57 minutes Abbot set up a chance for Collier, who should perhaps have hit it first time, but he dallied too long and stabbed it across the face of the goal and out behind.

Despite being under pressure, Bonnyrigg came close to increasing their lead when Williamson pounced on a loose ball and fed a pass through to Grady, but he snatched at his shot and pulled it well wide of Butter's right-hand post.

Still the Gowfers kept plugging away and again came close when substitute Brand fired off a shot, but Coyle threw himself to his left and made a great save, pushing the ball round the post for a corner.

Narey's flag kick was knocked back across goal by Graham to Abbot, who drilled a shot just wide of Coyle's right-hand upright.

In 72 minutes, Collier played the ball through to Buick, who took a couple of steps before firing-off one of his special rocket shots from 30 yards, but Coyle got up to make a fantastic save.

Any hopes the Gowfers may have had of getting back into the game were finally dashed when Bonnyrigg snatched a third counter in 83 minutes. Brigain cut inside Craig and fired in a shot, which Butter turned round the post for a corner on the right. Thomson played the ball right into the goalmouth and BRIGAIN nipped in to head home from three yards.

However, that was not the end of the scoring as just three minutes later, Carnoustie at last opened their account after Conway was tripped by Robertson just outside the home box. Taking the free kick himself, Conway tried to play the ball sideways to Abbot, but the referee reckoned the defensive wall had not stayed the regulation 10 yards back and ordered a re-take. Again CONWAY took the kick and this time elected to fire it straight in and although Coyle did get a hand to it, he was unable to prevent the ball hitting the back of the net.

Scoring that goal seemed to give the Gowfers new heart and Narey got another attack going with a good ball through to Abbot, who played it on to Conway. His deep cross in, however, meant for Brand, was just too strong and Meikle got there first to clear it away.

With time fast running out, Carnoustie won another free kick when Collier was brought down by Morrice. Conway took the kick and fired in a good shot, but this time Coyle got up to make a fine save.

In stoppage time, the Gowfers won a corner when a Brand shot was knocked behind by Elliot. Conway's cross was turned back in by Warren, but Brand just couldn't get the vital touch and Coyle was able to gather it safely.

As the 'keeper sent the ball deep into the Carnoustie half, the referee brought proceedings to a close, leaving the Gowfers to rue their numerous missed chances.

Line-Ups:

Bonnyrigg Rose : Coyle, Robertson, Thomson, Meikle, Morrice, Reid, Grady, Reilly (Elliot 76), Walker (Brigain 59), Williamson (Parkin 83), McCaul. Substitutes, not used - Killin, Clark (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey, Graham, Miller, Craig, Buick (Warren 76), Abbot, Hall, Cumming (Conway 79), Collier, Russell (Brand 56). Substitute, not used - Webster.

Referee, G. Salmond, North Berwick.