Opening day league defeat for Gowfers

Carnoustie Panmure suffered a disappointing 3-0 home defeat from Linlithgow Rose in their opening Whyte and Mackay East Super League fixture at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a match for which the Gowfers were again considerably under strength. James Collier and Daryn Smith were both unavailable, but Ewan Graham and Iain Wilkie were welcomed back to the home starting line-up.

Bench spots went to Ralph Brand, Garry Warren, Dougie Craig, assistant manager Ian Flaherty and spare goalkeeper Michael Whyte.

Carnoustie kicked-off, but soon found themselves under pressure when a slip by Wilkie in midfield allowed Herd to break clear and only a timely interception by Narey prevented the Rose striker from getting in a shot.

At the other end, a Conway cross was handled by Gallagher, but the incident went unseen by the referee and the Gowfers were denied a possible scoring opportunity.

Shortly afterwards, a Buick free kick from midway inside the visitors' half was headed on by Russell, and fell to Hendry, whose shot was blocked away by Hogg.

Linlithgow pushed forward after this and a mistake by Conway let Herd through into a shooting position, but his attempt to lob the advancing Butter was too strong and fell the wrong side of the crossbar.

Cumming had a chance to put the Gowfers ahead when he got on the end of a long clearance by the home defence, but Hogg made a fine saving tackle on the edge of the box.

Back at the other end, Linlithgow won a corner on the right off Graham. Herd got his head to Bradley's cross, but the ball was well smothered by Butter on the six yard line.

Graham's clearance set Russell free for Carnoustie. He went past Donnelly and attempted to lob 'keeper Pinkowski, but the ball dropped wide of the left-hand post.

In 20 minutes, Bradley put Linlithgow back on the attack with a fine through ball to Herd, whose shot was turned on to the crossbar by Butter. MCARTHUR, following up, was first to the rebound and headed the ball into the empty net to give Rose the lead.

Carnoustie immediately went in search of an equaliser and won a free kick when Russell was fouled 25 yards out. Conway curled the ball over the defensive wall, but his shot was well held by Pinkowski.

McArthur then worked his way up the visitors' left and put in a good cross from which Carrigan glanced a header just wide of the far post.

A great through ball by Dick gave Rose another scoring opportunity, but Butter pulled off a tremendous save from Herd's 15 yard shot.

It was all Linlithgow at this stage and Bradley, on the right, fired in a low cross to Dick, whose shot from 10 yards was blocked behind by Graham for a corner.

Hogg got his head to Bradley's cross, but Butter turned the ball over the bar for a second flag kick, which was easily cleared by the Gowfers' defence.

Carnoustie should have equalised when Cumming got right through into the box, but drove the ball against the 'keeper's legs.

Then, as luck would have it, the ball was quickly punted up the park and from Carrigan's cross MCARTHUR blasted home from 15 yards to put Rose two ahead with 35 minutes gone.

As the first half drew to a close, Carnoustie were fortunate not to go even further behind when a Gallagher long-range strike whistled narrowly over the bar.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Linlithgow Rose 2.

On the restart, Linlithgow were again first to show. Carrigan got down the right and put in a good deep cross, which Butter did well to hold just under his crossbar.

In a rare Carnoustie attack, Cumming came close with a header from a Conway cross, but his effort was too direct and went straight to Pinkowski, who saved easily.

A push by McArthur on Russell just outside the box gave the Gowfers another scoring opportunity. Russell took the kick himself, but his shot struck the defensive wall and went behind for a corner. Wilkie rose well to meet the flag kick, but his header was touched over the bar by Pinkowski for a second corner, which was squandered by the homesters.

Linlithgow came close to increasing their lead when a Carrigan effort from just outside the home box curled narrowly over.

Back came the Gowfers and a Hendry shot from the edge of the box was just wide of Pinkowski's left-hand upright.

The first booking of the match occurred in 73 minutes when Dick was cautioned for encroaching at a free kick.

Referee Duncan produced the yellow card again in 79 minutes when substitute Allison, who had replaced Herd only four minutes earlier, was booked for kicking the ball away.

Carnoustie came close to pulling a goal back when a Russell free kick was dropped by Pinkowski. Hendry was first to the loose ball and fired in a shot, which was blocked away by one of the numerous bodies on the Linlithgow line.

Hendry then had another go from 15 yards, but the ball took a deflection in the crowded goalmouth and ended up safely in Pinkowski's arms.

As Linlithgow pushed forward again in the closing stages, McArthur put in a good cross to substitute McFadyen, but luckily for the Gowfers his header rebounded off the bar and was cleared away by Miller.

Rose were not to be denied, however, and in 85 minutes, a great four-man move was rounded-off by MCARTHUR, who blasted home from 10 yards to complete his second hat-trick in successive weeks.

Right on the final whistle, Hendry was booked for a foul on Mitchell.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey, Graham, Miller, Wilkie, Hendry, Buick, Hall, Cumming (Brand 74), Russell, Conway (Warren 69). Substitutes, not used - Craig, Flaherty, Whyte (gk).

Linlithgow Rose : Pinkowski, Gallagher, McDermott, Hogg, Donnelly, Bradley, Smith, Dick (Mitchell 80), Herd (Allison 75), Carrigan (McFadyen 75), McArthur. Substitutes, not used - Byle, Oliver (gk).

Referee, C. Duncan, Dundee.