Gowfers hot in Currie Cup!

A goal from veteran striker Ralph Brand late in the first half earned Carnoustie Panmure a narrow 1-0 victory over near neighbours Broughty Athletic in a Currie Cup second round tie at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon.

Gowfers' boss Ian Flaherty made two changes from the previous week's away victory at Whitburn. Steven Narey came in for wedding guest Stuart Abbot, and with Gary Bollan given a first start at left-back, Dougie Craig dropped to the bench where he was joined by Aaron Conway, James Collier and spare goalkeeper Jim Butter.

Also on the home bench was new signing Kevin Steele, who was latterly with Highland League side Cove Rangers and before that had spells with Arbroath and Elgin City.

Carnoustie kicked-off, but early Broughty pressure forced a corner on the right. O'Leary's cross was cleared away by Wilkie, but in the ensuing scramble just inside the box, McKenna took a leg knock and limped off behind the goal for treatment.

The ball went out for a second flag kick, again taken by O'Leary and this time cleared away by Smith.

With just three minutes gone, the injured McKenna indicated he was unable to continue and was replaced by ex-Gowfer Ross Kiddie.

Broughty had been doing most of the early attacking, but Carnoustie eventually got themselves up the park and came close to opening the scoring when a Russell cross from the right was headed only partially clear by Kirk. The ball dropped out to Hendry, who quickly fired it back in from just outside the box, but 'keeper Anderson did well to touch the shot on to the crossbar from where it rebounded clear.

After that lucky escape, Broughty pushed forward once more and Traynor rounded-off a fine solo run up the left by shooting narrowly past Whyte's left-hand upright.

As the first half went on, however, Carnoustie began to come more into the game and a deep cross from Bollan put the visitors' goal under pressure. Kirk's attempted clearance fell to Miller, whose fierce 25 yard drive flashed just wide of Anderson's right-hand post.

Narey then put in a good cross from the right, but Russell's back post header lacked power and was easy meat for the Fed 'keeper.

Moments later, a Miller free kick from halfway was headed on by Wilkie, but Russell squandered the opportunity by shooting straight at the 'keeper, who had no trouble making the stop.

Carnoustie were now well on top and were rewarded with the opening goal in 38 minutes. Hall took a quick free kick 25 yards out and found BRAND, who cut across the edge of the box before dispatching a low drive into Anderson's bottom right-hand corner to put the Gowfers ahead.

Broughty had an early chance to get back on level terms as a Traynor cross from the left was headed behind for a corner by Wilkie, but Whyte got up well to clutch O'Leary's flag kick.

Bollan then got Carnoustie back on the attack and put in a deep cross from the left, but Smith's header was blocked for a corner on the left. Smith took the kick himself, but Anderson gathered the ball safely.

Right on the half-time whistle, the Gowfers again came close, but Hall's snap shot from 25 yards was just too high and went over the bar.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 1, Broughty Athletic 0.

On the restart, Broughty were again first to show, but an O'Leary corner was well held by Whyte, under pressure from Macleod.

Carnoustie's response saw Russell drive forward into the visitors' box, but his shot was blocked away by 'keeper Anderson. Hendry was first to the loose ball, but Kirk got his body in the way of the shot and the ball rebounded clear.

In 51 minutes, Bollan was booked for dissent.

Kiddie got up the right for Broughty and put in a cross, which Narey headed behind for a corner. O'Leary again took the flag kick and this time found Pylon, whose shot was cleared off the line by Hall, back helping his defence.

A foul by Farnan on Russell gave Carnoustie a free kick out on the right touchline. Smith took the kick and picked out Wilkie, who was allowed a free header 10 yards out, but put the ball straight to Anderson, who saved easily.

As the Gowfers began to take control of the game once more, Brand burst through the middle on his own, but his shot was blocked by Kirk, who sustained a knock in the process and left the field briefly for treatment. Moments later, Brand was again in the thick of the action, this time getting on the end of a Miller free kick, but his snap shot from the edge of the box was just too high.

That was to be Brand's last contribution to the play as he was replaced by Conway in 64 minutes.

Carnoustie continued to press and Russell set up another scoring opportunity with a low cross into the box, but Anderson got down well to save from Hendry.

The 'keeper's clearance kick was returned quickly by Hendry from the halfway line, but Russell shot narrowly past from the edge of the box.

Hendry then had another go, this time from 30 yards out, but his effort was too direct and went straight to the 'keeper.

It was all Carnoustie at this stage and a through ball from Wilkie put Russell in the clear, but he hesitated too long and Anderson came off his line to save at the striker's feet.

In the Gowfers' next attack, a deep cross from Narey almost caught Anderson out, but the 'keeper managed to touch the ball over the bar. Conway took a short corner to Hendry and from the return pass picked out Ogilvie, who headed over when it seemed easier to find the target.

The second booking of the match followed in 77 minutes when Pylon was yellow-carded for dissent. A minute later, Narey went off and was replaced by Steele.

Against the run of play, Broughty almost equalised from a long clearance kick by 'keeper Anderson. Macleod headed the ball on and with the home defence caught square Evans burst through on goal, but with only Whyte to beat, shot wide from 15 yards.

Back came Carnoustie with Conway and Steele combining well up the right, but the latter's cross was just too strong for Russell, coming in at the back post.

Just before the end, Steele put in another fine cross from the right, but Smith's header went straight to Anderson and despite dominating most of the play, the Gowfers had to settle for the narrowest of wins.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Miller, Bollan, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Hendry, Narey (Steele 78), Smith, Russell, Brand (Conway 64), Hall. Substitutes, not used - Craig, Collier, Butter (gk).

Broughty Athletic : Anderson, Pylon, Proudfoot, Raffell, Kirk, Evans, Traynor, Farnan (Forbes 75), O'Leary (Ferrie 68), McKenna (Kiddie 3), Macleod. Substitutes, not used - Morrison, Mullen.

Referee, S. Stevenson, Dundee.