Gowfers clinch first super league points

Despite two orderings-off, Carnoustie Panmure still managed to record their first league win of the season away to Oakley United on Saturday afternoon.

Iain Wilkie and Daryn Smith were the men on target as the Gowfers came from behind to notch a 2-1 victory.

Manager, Jake Ferrier, made two changes in personnel from the side beaten 5-0 by Whitburn the previous week. Wilkie and James Russell both returned to the starting line-up in place of the holidaying Aaron Conway, and Euan Hall, who dropped to the bench where he was joined by Garry Warren, Kevin Cumming, Gary Ogilvie and spare goalkeeper, Michael Whyte.

Oakley got the match under way and came close to opening the scoring when Bannatyne made a good run forward into the Carnoustie box, but squandered the opportunity by firing his shot high over the bar.

With the wind at their backs, the Gowfers launched a quick counter-attack and a Collier fierce drive from the edge of the box was touched over by 'keeper Maitland for a corner, which was easily cleared by the home defence.

Oakley then pushed forward once more and with five minutes gone Lister outstripped Craig on the right and fired a low cross into the six yard box. In attempting to clear his lines, the unfortunate NAREY only succeeded in turning the ball into his own net to give the home side a shock early lead.

Carnoustie had a chance to get back on level terms from a free kick just outside the home box. Russell curled the ball over the defensive wall but his effort was just too high and also cleared the crossbar.

Back at the other end, Oakley came close to doubling their lead when an L. Morrison cross from the left picked out Lister, who glanced a header just wide of Butter's right-hand post.

A long ball forward from Lammie put Smart in the clear, but he shot past from the edge of the box.

In 23 minutes, Lammie was booked for a foul on Narey.

Oakley had been doing most of the pressing for a time, but Graham put Carnoustie back on the attack with a strong run up the left. Russell's header from the cross, however, was rather weak and bounced into the arms of 'keeper Maitland.

In 34 minutes, Abbot was yellow-carded for encroaching, a needless booking he was to regret later in the game.

Smith also saw yellow four minutes later, this for a foul on Bannatyne.

Just when it seemed Oakley would take a slender lead into the interval, Carnoustie equalised a minute from half-time. Smith took a corner on the right and his cross to the far post was met by WILKIE, who headed strongly into the net, giving Maitland no chance.

Half-time: Oakley United 1, Carnoustie Panmure 1.

Shortly after the restart, Murray got down the right for Oakley, but his cross just eluded Smart at the far post. The home side were then awarded a free kick 25 yards out, but Newbigging's shot was blocked away by the Gowfers' defensive wall.

Against the run of play, Carnoustie took the lead in 51 minutes. A foul on Graham gave the Gowfers a free kick from which Wilkie headed the ball back across the face of the goal. Murray then tripped over the ball as he attempted to clear and this allowed SMITH to fire a shot past Maitland from 10 yards.

In 56 minutes, Wilkie was booked for dissent.

Oakley came close to getting back on level terms when Bannatyne headed narrowly past from a Newbigging cross.

Abbot then clashed with Smart in 66 minutes and when the Carnoustie man was shown his second yellow card of the match, followed by the red, the Gowfers were down to 10 men.

The referee produced his yellow card again in 70 minutes, the recipient this time being Graham for a foul on Lister.

A minute later, Ewing was booked for a foul on Russell, who required treatment before continuing.

With the home side now piling on the pressure, Carnoustie had a lucky break in 75 minutes when Lammie latched on to a loose ball 30 yards out and fired in a great shot, which rebounded clear off the post, with Butter beaten.

Although seldom seen as an attacking force in the latter stages, the Gowfers did come close to increasing their lead when Smith took a short corner on the left to Graham, whose cross was just too strong for Warren at the far post.

Carnoustie's ranks were depleted even further in 86 minutes when Hendry received a straight red card for a foul on Smart.

Now two men to the good, Oakley stepped up their pressure still more and were unlucky not to draw level when Baird got on the end of a Murray cross, but saw his header flash just wide of Butter's right-hand post.

As the game moved into stoppage time, the home side's efforts became even more frantic, so much so in fact that in 91 minutes Murray was shown a straight red card after chopping down W. Morrison.

Rushford almost equalised for Oakley with a fierce 15 yard drive, but Butter pulled-off a fine save at the base of his right-hand post.

In 94 minutes, a Duffin free kick resulted in a desperate goalmouth scramble, which was eeventually halted by the award of a free kick to the Gowfers. Before play restarted, Oakley were also reduced to nine men after Lister received his marching orders for allegedly spitting at Graham.

The towsy end to the game continued a minute later when L. Morrison was booked for a foul on W. Morrison.

Shortly afterwards, the referee at last brought proceedings to a close and 9-man Carnoustie were relieved to return home with all three points.

Line-Ups:

Oakley United : Maitland, Buist, L. Morrison, Newbigging (C. Morrison 79), Duffin, Lammie, Smart, Bannatyne (Rushford 74), Ewing (Baird 82), Murray, Lister. Substitutes, not used - Workman, Cameron.

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Narey, Graham, Craig, Wilkie (Ogilvie 69), W. Morrison, Abbot, Hendry, Collier, Russell (Warren 76), Smith. Substitutes, not used - Hall, Cumming, Whyte (gk).

Referee, S. Crighton, Kirkcaldy