Gowfers Pluck Harp's Strings At Beechwood

For their fifth and last pre-season friendly, Carnoustie Panmure made the relatively short journey to Beechwood Park to face Lochee Harp on Saturday afternoon.

With barely a minute on the watch, Carnoustie won a free kick when Russell was brought down by Craik. Conway sent the ball deep to the back post, looking for Russell, but Taylor got to it and booted it clear.

As play then surged to the other end, Boyle was fouled by Wilkie. Cairney's free kick found Boyle, whose header was thumped away by Ogilvie.

In five minutes, Conway sent in a good cross, which was just a shade too high for Collier. Although unlucky on that occasion, Carnoustie continued to press and opened the scoring two minutes later.

Allan's attempted clearance from a Hall shot was a poor one and dropped out to BRAND, who sent a low drive past M.Fotheringham into the bottom corner of the net from fully 25 yards.

In 11 minutes, the Gowfers had a half-chance to double their lead after Conway was fouled by Allan wide on the left.

Hall took the kick quickly and touched the ball to Conway, who curled a shot right into the goalmouth, but M.Fotheringham got up well to take it cleanly.

Carnoustie again came close in 17 minutes after a Conway corner was only partially headed clear by S.Fotheringham.

Ogilvie was first to the loose ball and sent it back in to Conway, who cut inside Allan and unleashed a rocket shot, which skimmed the top of the crossbar with the 'keeper beaten.

Shortly afterwards, Hall was fouled by Craik just outside the Harp box. From the resultant free kick, Russell sent in a good cross to Collier, whose shot whizzed narrowly past the 'keeper's left-hand upright.

In 26 minutes, Harp mounted a promising attack, with Boyle playing the ball through to Scott, but Butter came smartly off his line to smother it before the striker could get off a shot.

Two minutes later, Boyle again linked well with Scott, who drilled in a rather weak shot and Butter had no trouble in making the save.

A great four-man move involving Conway, Brand, Warren and Hall gave the Gowfers a chance to increase their lead on the half-hour mark, but Hall's 25 yard drive was too direct and 'keeper Fotheringham got down to make the stop.

Back at the other end, Harp came close to drawing level in 33 minutes when an Allan free kick picked out S.Fotheringham, whose powerful header was palmed away by Butter. Taylor got a touch to the loose ball, which then rolled along the goal-line before being cleared away by Ogilvie.

After surviving that scare, Carnoustie stepped up a gear and in 41 minutes Russell rounded-off a great inter-passing move with Conway and Hall by firing off a shot, which M.Fotheringham did well to touch behind. Conway's cross to the back post found Warren, who forced Cairney to concede another corner. Conway again took the kick, but this time his cross was headed clear by S.Fotheringham.

With the whistle about to signal the end of the first half, Ogilvie took a quick free kick to Hall, whose low drive was spilled by the Harp keeper, but as Collier nipped in to get the rebound, he was pulled up for being offside.

Half-time: Lochee Harp 0 Carnoustie Panmure 1

Two minutes into the second half, Carnoustie came close to going further ahead when Russell slipped a pass through to Collier, who took a couple of steps, then fired in a fierce drive, only to see M.Fotheringham bring off a great save, touching the ball out behind for a corner. Russell's flag kick was dropped by the big keeper, who then recovered quickly to gather the ball at the second attempt before any of the visiting players could get the necessary touch.

The Gowfers continued to press and had the ball in the net in 52 minutes, Craig, who had replaced Graham at the interval, firing home after a good three-man move out on the left. However, the referee adjudged McSkimming had fouled Collier on the edge of the box before Craig had 'scored' and the 'goal' was disallowed.

Russell took the resultant free kick, but blasted the ball into the wall and it rebounded off McSkimming and spun behind for what proved to be a fruitless corner.

As play swept to the other end, Craik picked out Boyle, who put his header straight to Butter, who had no trouble making the stop.

In 59 minutes, Carnoustie at last notched a second counter when Hall fed COLLIER, who fired past M.Fotheringham into the back of the net.

Next minute it was almost three, Russell picking out Warren, whose first-time shot produced another brilliant save from S.Fotheringham.

Carnoustie were not to be denied, however, and in 63 minutes when the Harp 'keeper failed to hold a Conway low drive, the ball rebounded out to COLLIER, who made no mistake from eight yards.

Conway was then replaced by Webster, who wasted no time in getting involved in the thick of the action. The substitute took a pass from Warren and curled in a great shot, which slid just wide of Fortheringham's right-hand post.

In 70 minutes, Russell tried a rocket shot from all of 40 yards, but was just off target with the ball flashing inches wide of the 'keepers left-hand upright.

Next minute, Warren linked with Hall, who then fed the ball through to substitute Buick. With his back to goal, he turned and fired off a shot, which S.Fotheringham popped up to block on the line, with his brother, the goalkeeper, nowhere.

Although the Gowfers remained well on top, Harp almost pulled a goal back in 80 minutes when Scott took a pass from Boyle and drove the ball in low and hard, but Butter got down well to keep his charge intact.

Line-Ups:

Lochee Harp : M.Fotheringham, Baxter (F.Conway 45), Allan, Cairney, S.Fotheringham (Kelly 80), McSkimming, Taylor, Barrie, Scott, Craik, Boyle

Substitute Not Used - Milne

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey (Miller 45), Graham (Craig 45), Ogilvie, Wilkie, Brand (Buick 45), Russell, Hall (Johnston 73), Collier, Warren, A.Conway (Webster 63)

Referee, J.Lyons, Dundee