Gowfers' cup form fails to match League success

For the third successive year, Carnoustie Panmure have been eliminated from the Scottish Junior Cup before Christmas.

The Gowfers' latest early exit from the national competition came at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon in the shape of a narrow 2-1 defeat from their third round opponents, Dundonald Bluebell.

The result was something of a shock as not only was it the first time Dundonald had beaten Carnoustie, but the Fifers currently sit top of the East of Scotland Central League, two divisions below that of their Super League hosts.

Carnoustie kicked-off, but right from the start Dundonald looked hungrier for victory and threw everything at the homesters in the opening stages.

Their pressure was rewarded with two corners in quick succession and from the second of these, Grehan's cross caught the Gowfers' defence napping and the unmarked M. RAMSAY headed home from inside the six yard box to give Bluebell the lead with only two minutes played.

The Fifers continued to have the better of the early play and won another corner on the right, but this time Grehan's cross was cleared to safety by Miller.

Morrison then tried to get Carnoustie going with a long through ball into the visitors' half, but as 'keeper Kenny came off his line, Russell's attempted lob was just too high and fell the wrong side of the crossbar.

Encouraged by that near miss, the Gowfers pushed forward once more and Conway put in a good cross from the right, but Reid just beat Russell to the ball and nicked it off his toes before the home striker could get in a shot.

Russell then forced a corner on the left off Balfour. Conway's cross picked out Smith, whose header was cleared off the line by M. Ramsay, back helping his defence.

Play was halted after Russell and Reid clashed heads in midfield, but both continued after treatment.

Carnoustie won a free kick when Abbot was fouled by M. Ramsay. Johnstone kicked the ball away in protest at the decision and picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon.

Miller took the disputed free kick and found Cumming, who shot past from six yards.

The Gowfers continued to press and shortly afterwards Conway took a short corner on the right to Miller, whose shot was blocked away by Hunter.

Dundonald then quickly switched play to the other end and left-back Johnstone fired over from outside the box.

Back came the homesters and Westwater made a great block in the box to thwart a Conway drive.

In the last action of the first half, Dundonald came dangerously close to increasing their lead, but Johnstone's curling effort from the left was well held by Whyte at the base of his right-hand post.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Dundonald Bluebell 1.

Dundonald were again first to show after the break but, when Grehan got in a header from a Cassells' cross, Whyte brought off a fine save under the crossbar.

A home counterattack forced a corner on the left, but Russell's cross was missed by Wilkie at the back post.

Shortly afterwards, another corner on the Carnoustie left was blocked back out to Russell, who then aimed a chip shot for the far top corner of the net, but the ball carried just too far and curled wide of the post.

As the Gowfers continued to press, a Wilkie header from yet another Russell corner rebounded from the crossbar. Conway was first to the loose ball, but his shot was cleared off the line by Brown.

Carnoustie paid the penalty for these missed chances in 55 minutes when Craig slipped while trying to usher the ball out for a goal kick. Brown reacted quickly and crossed low and hard to MORGAN, who shot home from three yards to put Dundonald two ahead.

Frustration now began to creep into the Gowfers' play and in 58 minutes Craig was booked for dissent.

On the hour mark, Carnoustie had a lucky escape when Grehan was just beaten to a long through ball by Whyte, who had come smartly off his line. The 'keeper's clearance, however, was a poor one and was picked up by Westwater at the edge of the home box. He fired the ball towards the empty goal, but the strengthening wind caught his shot and curled it wide of the target, much to the relief of the home support.

In response, the Gowfers won a corner on the left, but Russell's cross fell to Smith, who shot wide from 10 yards when he should have done better.

Back at the other end, Dundonald again came close to increasing their lead when Grehan, eight yards out, got his head to an M. Ramsay cross, but Whyte brought off a brilliant save to keep the Gowfers in the game.

Substitute Collier, on for Conway, almost halved the deficit with a great turn and shot from 25 yards, which flashed narrowly past 'keeper Kenny's left-hand upright.

Carnoustie kept plugging away and won a corner on the left when a Cumming cross was headed behind by Hunter. Russell's flag kick was met by Cumming, whose fierce drive was just too direct and went straight to the 'keeper, who saved easily.

Smith then had a corner blocked by Cassells at the near post, and moments later the same player was just too high with a long-range effort.

In 76 minutes, Conway was fouled by Balfour at the corner of the visitors' box. Although the infringement appeared to take place inside the box, the referee awarded a free kick just outside the area. It proved as good as a spot kick, however, as SMITH curled the ball over the defensive wall and into the net off the inside of the far post to put the Gowfers right back in the game.

Carnoustie went in search of an equaliser and forced a corner on the right. Smith's cross was headed away by Reid, but fell to Morrison, who shot narrowly past from the edge of the box.

Cumming then made a fine solo run through the middle, but fired over from 25 yards.

Substitute Brand, who had replaced Russell, also tried his luck from 25 yards, but shot wide of the 'keeper's right-hand post.

In 89 minutes, Abbot was booked for dissent.

Carnoustie kept pressing right to the end and should have taken the tie to a replay after being awarded a penalty in the final minute. Wilkie's header from a Miller corner was palmed away off the line by left-back Johnstone, who received a straight red card, reducing Dundonald to 10 men. Unfortunately, Cumming squandered the opportunity by ballooning the spot kick high over the bar, ending Carnoustie's involvement in the national competition for another season.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Miller, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Smith, Conway (Collier 56), Russell (Brand 71), Cumming. Substitutes, not used - Hendry, Bollan, Hall.

Dundonald Bluebell : Kenny, Balfour, Johnstone, Hunter, Reid, Westwater, Brown, Cassells (G. Ramsay 78), Grehan, Morgan, M. Ramsay. Substitutes, not used - W. Campbell, D. Campbell, Kowbell, Harley (gk).

Referee, S. Crighton, Kirkcaldy.