Forfar West End hold Gowfers

Carnoustie Panmure finally got down to the serious business of competitive action on Saturday afternoon when Forfar West End visited Laing Park in the opening fixture of D.J. Laing League Cup Section 2.

Three of the Gowfers' new signings, Euan Hall, Aaron Conway and Kevin Cumming, were on from the start.

A fourth, James Russell, was on holiday and missed the game, but two others, Robert Hendry and Garry Warren, were on the bench where they were joined by Grant Miller, Garry Buick and trialist Martin Webster.

West End, with a strong wind at their backs, got the new season under way and immediately put the home goal under pressure from the kick-off.

McConnachie was fouled by Hall just outside the box, but Logan took the resultant free kick too quickly and with his forwards not ready, the ball went through to 'keeper Butter without anyone else getting a touch.

Shortly afterwards, Gibb tried a long-range effort, which sailed high over the Gowfers' crossbar.

Allardyce kept the pressure on the Carnoustie goal when he punted a free kick deep into the home box, but Wilkie got up well to head clear.

A good lay-off by McConnachie 25 yards out set up a chance for McKenzie, whose rasping drive had Butter scrambling across his goal and the 'keeper was relieved to see the ball go wide of his right-hand post.

After a slow start, Carnoustie eventually began to come more into the game and won a free kick when Collier was fouled by Scott out near the right touchline.

Ogilvie sent the ball deep into the West End box, but Allardyce had all the time in the world to head clear and a possible goal-scoring opportunity had been squandered by the Gowfers.

Back at the other end, Carnoustie had a lucky escape when a Craig passback caught Butter in two minds. After a moment's hesitation, the 'keeper's attempt to kick clear rebounded off the inrushing Valentine and ricocheted wide of the empty goal for a goal kick.

As the Gowfers pushed forward in response, a Cumming cross was knocked out for a corner by Allardyce. Conway took the resultant flag kick, but his cross was a poor one and went out behind without reaching the goal.

Vanderdeyl's long clearance kick carried deep into the Carnoustie half where it came off Wilkie's head and broke kindly for the visitors. Logan was first to the loose ball, but his shot from the right angle of the box flashed narrowly past.

Wilkie then fouled McConnachie 35 yards out, but Black's free kick was headed clear by Craig.

Shortly afterwards, Scott committed a bad foul on Collier and was shown the first yellow card of the game. West End were still doing most of the pressing and should have gone ahead when Logan got up the right and sent over a great cross into the box.

Slack marking by the Gowfers' defence allowed Valentine a free header 10 yards out, but he put the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Just on half-time, referee Watters went over to the West End dug-out and had words with visitors' manager Jim Finlayson, who was eventually ordered from the ground by the match official, bringing the first half to a rather controversial end.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Forfar West End 0.

On the restart, the wind was now in Carnoustie's favour, although it appeared to have dropped slightly. Cumming came close to giving the Gowfers an early second half lead after beating Black to a long through ball from Craig, but his shot from the angle flashed across the face of the goal and wide of the far post. West End also had an early chance from a McConnachie cross. McKenzie climed high above Ogilvie, but headed over from 12 yards. A long kick-out by Butter was headed on by Collier, triggering another promising home attack. Cumming again got round Black, but failed to get any real power behind his shot, which was held easily by Vanderdeyl.

Shortly afterwards, Collier was booked for a foul on Black midway inside the Forfar half.

Narey's attempted clearance from the resultant free kick was sliced high in the air. As the ball came down, it was palmed away by Butter and dropped out to Duncan, whose 12 yard shot was cleared off the line by Wilkie, easing the pressure on the Gowfers' goal.

At the other end, Smith set up a chance for Carnoustie when he cut the ball back along the six yard line, but Vanderdeyl did well to spread himself and block Collier's close-in strike.

Gowfers' free kick specialist Conway had a go from 25 yards after a foul by Gibb, but his well struck shot was just too high and cleared the crossbar as well as the defensive wall.

Carnoustie continued to press and again came close after a long through ball from Ogilvie was head-flicked on by Brand. Collier managed to get a shot in, but it lacked power and Vanderdeyl again had no trouble making the save.

Valentine was then fouled 30 yards out on the right. Allardyce took the kick and Butter did well to hold the ball under his crossbar.

Substitute Hendry, who had replaced Brand in 70 minutes, came close to breaking the deadlock when he ran on to a great through pass from Smith, but Vanderdeyl again spread himself well and made a superb block to prevent Carnoustie going ahead.

Wilkie was then shown the yellow card after conceding a foul just outside the box, but Black's free kick was blocked by the defensive wall and cleared away by Hall. Despite appearing well offside, Valentine was allowed to get in a shot for West End, but Butter kept his charge intact with a fine save.

In the dying seconds, substitute Cannon made a fine solo run through the middle and almost snatched a late winner for West End.

Butter, however, came smartly off his line and managed to parry the ball away, with Narey completing the clearance to ensure the match ended goal-less.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Smith, Hall, Brand (Hendry 70), Conway, Collier (Warren 84), Cumming. Substitutes not used - Miller, Buick, Webster.

Forfar west End: Vanderdeyl, Allardyce, Scott, Brown, Black, Gibb, Logan )G. Stevenson 82), McKenzie, McConnachie (Cannon 78), Valentine (C. Stevenson 86), Duncan. Substitutes not used - Mudie, Sime.