Carnoustie's first half show seals Westview victory

Carnoustie Panmure completed their D.J. Laing League Cup Section 2 programme with a 4-2 away victory over Kirrie Thistle on Saturday afternoon.

Having already won through to the quarter-finals, this was something of a nothing game for the Gowfers.

Perhaps just as well as manager Jake Ferrier had to make the trip to Westview Park with a very depleted squad.

Wayne Morrison and Gary Ogilvie were both still out injured and Iain Wilkie was also sidelined having pulled a hamstring against Arbroath Vics the previous week. Other absentees included Kevin Cumming, who was serving a one-match suspension, and Ralph Brand and Garry Warren, who were at weddings.

Martin Webster found a seat on the bench where he was joined by assistant manager Ian Flaherty and one-time Westfield favourite Scott Kopel.

Carnoustie kicked-off playing up a slight slope and with a light drizzle making the surface a bit greasy.

With two minutes gone, the Gowfers had their first half-chance after a Conway cross was headed only partially clear by Orr. The ball dropped out to Buick, who fired it narrowly over the top.

The visitors were not to be denied and just two minutes later their early pressure was rewarded with the opening goal. Cargill, who had come rushing from his line, fumbled a Narey cross, then recovered to gather it at the second attempt, but his momentum carried him over his 18 yard line and the referee awarded Carnoustie a free kick.

Conway tried to take the kick quickly, but the referee made him take it again. This time, CONWAY lifted the ball over the defensive wall and past the 'keeper into the net.

From the centre, Kirrie pushed forward and won a corner when a Kettles shot was turned behind by D. Smith. Morrice took the kick, but Butter rose well to make the catch.

In seven minutes, the Gowfers doubled their lead when a Narey cross was head-flicked on by Collier at the near post and D. SMITH ghosted in at the back to fire home.

Moments later, Conway almost made it three when he took a pass from Hendry and tried a shot, which skidded off the outside of Cargill's left-hand post and went behind.

From the resultant goal kick, G. Smith played the ball through to Massie, who rather snatched at his shot and it flew well wide, without troubling Butter.

In 16 minutes, Carnoustie had what appeared a "stonewall" penalty claim turned down by the referee. J. Russell attempted to get on the end of a Conway free kick, but was held back by S. Russell tugging his shirt. The match official, however, saw nothing wrong and waved play on, much to the annoyance of the Gowfers' camp.

At this stage, it was virtually all Carnoustie and after taking a pass from Hendry, J. Russell fired in a shot, which was blocked away by Massie. Hendry was first to the loose ball and sent it back in, but this time Berry was on hand to clear.

As play then swept to the other end, Kirrie came close to pulling a goal back after Massie found Godfrey on the edge of the six yard box, but Butter put in a great block and the ball spun out behind for a corner. Morrice again took the kick, but when the ball came over Butter had no trouble making the save.

Kirrie were then awarded a rather soft free kick after Narey was adjudged to have fouled Kettles out on the left. Morrice crossed the ball in to the back post where G. Smith blasted it high over the top.

In 28 minutes, Morrice played a neat back-heel to Berry, whose curling shot was touched over the bar by Butter for a corner to the homesters. Godfrey's cross, however, was headed clear by D. Smith before any of the Thistle players could get a touch.

Hendry then linked with D. Smith, who sent a great crossfield pass out to J. Russell wide on the left. He took the ball forward before firing it across the face of the goal trying to find Collier, but Cargill got down well to intercept and the chance was lost.

Next minute, Conway forced a corner off Paterson jnr on the right. J. Russell took the kick and found Craig all on his own, but he headed it high over the top.

In 33 minutes, Narey made a great run forward and picked out Collier about 12 yards out, with his back to goal. He turned and drilled in a shot, which slipped just wide of Cargill's left-hand upright.

Two minutes later, the Gowfers did at last notch a third counter. HENDRY took a pass from Hall and spotting Cargill coming off his line chipped the ball over the 'keeper's head and into the net.

Kirrie won a free kick in 38 minutes after the ball struck Craig on the hand just outside the right-hand corner of the visitors' box. Scott touched the ball to Morrice, who blasted it into the defensive wall and out for a corner.

Craig's attempt to head clear from Morrice's flag kick dropped out to Scott, whose first-time shot flew well wide of Butter's left-hand post.

With just a minute to the break, the Gowfers increased their tally when Collier side-stepped his marker, then slipped the ball through to J. RUSSELL, who took a couple of steps before firing it home, giving the 'keeper no chance.

Half-time: Kirrie Thistle 0, Carnoustie Panmure 4.

Although it was the home side who got the second half under way, Carnoustie were first to show and came close to increasing their lead when Conway cut inside S. Russell and fired in a low drive, but Cargill got down well to save at the base of his right-hand post.

Moments later, the Gowfers won a corner on the right after a Hall shot was deflected behind by Orr. J. Russell's cross found Collier, who headed just wide.

Kirrie were seldom seen as an attacking force, but managed to reduce the leeway in 53 minutes.

Miller, in attempting to clear a ball played into the Gowfers' box, was adjudged to have fouled Massie and the referee ran forward pointing to the spot. SCOTT took the spot kick and made no mistake, hammering the ball past Butter into the back of the net.

This goal appeared to give the home side some heart and as they pushed forward in search of a second, a Berry cross was knocked behind by D. Smith for a corner. Morrice's cross found the unmarked Kettles, who headed high over the bar.

In 58 minutes, Carnoustie should have restored their four-goal advantage when a long ball forward from Hendry beat the advancing 'keeper.

J. Russell ran past Cargill and tried to direct the ball into the empty net, but it just out-ran him and went out behind for a goal kick.

Moments later, Collier curled a shot over the 'keeper's head, but it also cleared the crossbar and dropped out behind.

In 63 minutes, Carnoustie had yet another half-chance after D. Smith made a great run up the left and picked out Hall, whose header was just too high and went narrowly over.

Craig and D. Smith then linked well to create an opening for Hall, whose long-range shot whizzed just wide of Cargill's right-hand post.

With 74 minutes on the watch, the Gowfers, who are trying to get spare goalkeeper Whyte back to full fitness, decided to give him a run and put him on in place of Butter.

However, just a minute after going on, the substitute 'keeper was unlucky to lose a goal. S. Russell headed a Morrice cross down to G. Smith, who tried a shot.

Whyte got down well to save, but failed to hold the shot and G. SMITH followed up to knock the loose ball into the net from two yards.

In 82 minutes, Buick tried to catch Cargill off guard with a 40 yard shot, but was just off target with the ball going narrowly past.

Three minutes later, Hendry was brought down by Godfrey just inside the Kirrie half. Craig took the free kick, but on its way through the ball struck Godfrey, which took the sting out of it and Cargill had no trouble making the save.

With just two minutes to go, it seemed certain Carnoustie would notch a fifth counter from a ball played deep into the home box.

J. Russell, Collier, Hall and Hendry all tried to stab the ball home, but all their efforts either struck an opposition player or were blocked before Cargill was able to grab it and relieve the pressure on his defence.

Shortly afterwards, the referee brought proceedings to a close, signalling the end of what should have been a much more emphatic victory for the Gowfers.

Line-Ups:

Kirrie Thistle : Cargill, S. Russell, Morrice, Orr (Paterson snr 73), Massie, Paterson jnr, Godfrey, Berry, Scott, G. Smith, Kettles. Substitutes, not used - Nisbet, Mann, Mackie, Dyce (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter (Whyte 74), Narey, D. Smith, Miller, Craig, Hendry, Buick, Hall, Collier, J. Russell, Conway (Webster 69). Substitutes, not used - Flaherty, Kopel.

Referee, M. McIlvenny, Dundee.