Gowfers lose out in League Cup thriller

After three successive league victories, Carnoustie Panmure's recent unbeaten run was halted by an odd-goal-in-five defeat from Lochee Harp in the quarter-finals of the D.J. Laing League Cup at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon.

In the absence of new boss, Ian Flaherty, on business, team selection was entrusted to his assistant, George O'Boyle, who fielded the same starting eleven as had faced Bathgate Thistle the previous week.

Daryn Smith was available once more and replaced Garry Warren on the bench where he was joined by Kevin Cumming, James Russell, Aaron Conway and spare goalkeeper Jim Butter.

Harp, with local lad, Alan McSkimming, in their line-up, got the match under way in bright sunshine and immediately went on the attack. Scott made a good run up the left and forced a corner off Ogilvie. Kelly's cross came off Narey and went out behind for a second corner. This time, Kelly's cross was intercepted and cleared by Abbot, easing the pressure on the Gowfers' goal.

However, it was not long before Harp were again pushing forward and another fine solo run by Scott, this time up the right, saw Carnoustie once more on the back foot. His deep cross was met by Kelly, who should have done better, but shot weakly into the side-netting.

Gradually, Carnoustie began to come more into the game and almost opened the scoring from a Miller free kick out on the left. Wilkie got in a header, but put the ball straight to 'keeper Fotheringham, who had no trouble making the save.

Moments later, the Gowfers again came close when a Narey cross picked out Brand, who shot over from 10 yards.

In 16 minutes, D. Taylor was injured in a collision with Morrison and required treatment before continuing.

Hall put Carnoustie under pressure after fouling Craik 25 yards out, but Allan's free kick was blocked away by the defensive wall.

Harp continued to press and a Kelly cross from the left was well held by Whyte, with Craik in close attendance.

Back at the other end, Hall fed a pass through to Abbot, whose low shot was parried by the 'keeper and Dailly completed the clearance.

Carnoustie kept plugging away and a Brand lay-off at the edge of the box set up another scoring opportunity, but Hall ballooned his shot high over the bar.

Brand then tried his luck from distance, but his effort slipped just wide of Fotheringham's right-hand post.

Harp danger man Kelly was causing problems up the left and after another fine solo run, his cross found Scott, who should have given the visitors the lead but he shot past Whyte's left-hand post from a good position.

Further chances were squandered at both ends before Harp took the lead in 42 minutes. Whyte failed to cut out a Kelly cross from the left and this allowed SCOTT, at the far post, to knock the ball home from close-in to open the scoring.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Lochee Harp 1.

On the restart, Carnoustie had an early chance to get back on level terms, but Miller's backpost header from a Narey cross was well saved by M. Fotheringham.

In 51 minutes, Cairney was booked for a foul on Collier 35 yards out. Craig took the resultant free kick, but put the ball wide of Fotheringham's left-hand upright.

Play was a bit scrappy at this stage and two minutes later Harp right-back Johnston saw yellow for deliberate hand ball.

Scott threatened to double the visitors' lead when he broke clear on the left, but his low drive from the edge of the box was well saved by Whyte at the base of the near post.

After surviving that slight scare, Carnoustie pushed forward in response and equalised in 60 minutes.

Substitute CUMMING, who had replaced Miller only five minutes earlier, cut in from the left and fired a low right-foot shot under the 'keeper and into the net.

In the Gowfers' next attack, Collier was fouled by Cairney on the left, but Abbot's free kick sailed high over the bar.

However, just when Carnoustie appeared to be taking control of the game, Harp regained the lead in 71 minutes. A through ball from McSkimming was laid-off by Boyle to SCOTT, who fired low past Whyte at his left-hand post.

In 72 minutes, Narey was booked for a foul on Allan. Taking the free kick himself, Allan picked out Cairney, who headed narrowly past the right-hand post.

With time running out, Carnoustie forced a corner on the right. Abbot took a short one to Hall, who was unlucky to see his fierce drive deflected into Fotheringham's arms.

As the home side continued to press, Collier was fouled 30 yards out, but substitute Conway's well-struck free kick was turned past by Fotheringham with a fine one-handed save.

In 81 minutes, Carnoustie's hopes of getting back on level terms were dealt a fatal blow when Wilkie was adjudged to have fouled Scott inside the box and CRAIK dispatched the resultant spot kick low into the left-hand corner of the net, putting Harp two ahead.

Undaunted, however, the Gowfers threw everything into attack in the closing stages and pulled a goal back in 85 minutes. Wilkie latched on to a Conway cross and unleashed a shot which was blocked by Fotheringham, but OGILVIE, following up, knocked the loose ball home from six yards to give the homesters a chink of light.

Harp picked up their third yellow card of the match when Craik was booked for encroaching in 90 minutes.

Carnoustie kept battling away, but to no avail, and eventually deep into stoppage time, the referee signalled the end of the match and the Gowfers' exit from the competition.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Narey, Craig (Conway 78), Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Hall, Collier, Brand (Russell 65), Miller (Cumming 55). Substitutes, not used - Smith, Butter (gk).

Lochee Harp : M. Fotheringham, Johnston, Allan, Cairney (S. Fotheringham 86), Dailly, McSkimming, D. Taylor, Boyle (Innes 79), Scott (Barrie 93), Craik, Kelly. Substitutes, not used - G. Taylor, Conway.

Referee, G. Bowman, Dundee.