Gowfers second top after beating Oakley

Second half goals from Kevin Cumming and Ralph Brand saw Carnoustie Panmure come from behind to record a narrow 2-1 home victory over Oakley United at Laing Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was the Gowfers' sixth successive league win and has taken Ian Flaherty's men second top of the Whyte and Mackay East Super League.

Carnoustie's starting line-up showed two changes from the side beaten the previous week by Dundonald Bluebell in the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup. James Collier and Ralph Brand were both promoted from the bench replacing Aaron Conway and James Russell, who were named as substitutes on this occasion along with Robert Hendry, Euan Hall and Gary Bollan.

Oakley got the game under way and won an early corner on the left, but C. Morrice's cross was easily cleared away by Wilkie.

As the visitors continued to dominate the opening stages, a Lammie snap shot from 25 yards was saved by Whyte at the second attempt, the 'keeper first palming the ball down before gathering it safely.

Carnoustie at last began to come more into the game and almost opened the scoring from their first venture into opposition territory.

A deep cross from the left by Cumming was knocked back to Morrison, whose fierce drive was touched over by Maitland. Smith took the resultant corner, but Wilkie's header was too direct and posed no problems for the Oakley 'keeper.

Back at the other end, however, the Gowfers should have gone behind with just nine minutes played. Baird made a mazy run into the home box where he was tripped by Wilkie, and a penalty awarded. Newbigging stepped forward, but smashed the spot kick wide of Whyte's right-hand post and the scores remained level.

In 15 minutes, Newbigging was booked for a foul on Cumming.

Collier was then fouled by Duffin 35 yards out. Smith got the free kick over the defensive wall, but his shot was wide of the mark, curling past Maitland's right-hand post.

Oakley pushed forward once more and were unlucky not to take the lead when C. Morrice fired a long-range drive only inches wide of Whyte's right-hand post with the 'keeper scrambling across his goal in a bid to get to the ball.

Carnoustie may have survived that scare, but were caught napping in 29 minutes when Baird followed a fine solo run up the left with a good cross into the six yard box where LAMMIE beat Whyte with a downward header to put Oakley ahead.

United now went in search of further goals and won a corner when a Newbigging 40 yard free kick was deflected behind by Smith. C. Morrice's flag kick from the left, however, was headed clear by Wilkie.

Moments later, Wilkie was again in the thick of the action, this time at the other end, getting his head to an Abbot free kick, but the ball was punched away by 'keeper Maitland.

Right on the half-time whistle, Carnoustie survived another scare when a through ball from David Murray was chased by Ewing, but the advancing Whyte dived bravely at the feet of the inrushing player and managed to hold the ball safely before the visiting striker could get in a shot.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Oakley United 1.

Early in the second half, a Craig free kick from the left put the Oakley defence under pressure. Wilkie headed the ball down for Cumming, who had a clear shot at goal, but blasted over from eight yards.

United pushed forward in response and from an L. Morrice corner on the right, Duffin headed narrowly past Whyte's right-hand post.

Lammie then picked up a loose ball in midfield and unleashed a fierce 35 yard drive just wide of the 'keeper's left-hand upright.

In 53 minutes, Buist was booked for a foul on Cumming 40 yards out. Smith's free kick from the left was met by CUMMING, who beat Maitland with a fine header and the Gowfers were back on level terms.

Lammie became the third Oakley player to see yellow when he was cautioned for dissent in 57 minutes.

A minute later and just five minutes after equalising, Carnoustie took the lead. BRAND worked his way across the box from the left and fired a low drive under 'keeper Maitland to make the score 2-1.

In 61 minutes, Smith was going through on his own for Carnoustie when he was fouled by Lammie, who had already been booked. The Oakley man was shown a second yellow card, quickly followed by the red, and the visitors were down to 10 men.

The referee produced his yellow card again in 62 minutes, the recipient this time being Brand for a foul on Duffin.

Carnoustie came close to increasing their lead after Abbot was fouled on the right by L. Morrice. Smith took the free kick short to Abbot, who squandered the opportunity by firing high over the bar.

Despite being a man short, Oakley kept plugging away and forced a corner on the right. Buist got his head to C. Morrice's cross, but put the ball over the top.

Moments later, a Lister low drive from the right-hand corner of the box was well held by Whyte.

In 76 minutes, Miller was booked for a foul on Smart.

Russell replaced Brand in 80 minutes and just three minutes later was yellow-carded for encroaching at an Oakley free kick.

Oakley were unlucky not to snatch a late equaliser in 87 minutes when only a last gasp goal-line clearance by Abbot kept the Gowfers ahead after C. Morrice had got on the end of a Baird corner for the visitors.

Two minutes into stoppage time, C. Morrice was cautioned for dissent, picking up Oakley's fifth yellow card of the match in the process.

Oakley had one last chance to take something from the game after winning a corner on the left. Murray got his head to C. Morrice's cross, but his effort was wide of the target and all three points remained at Laing Park.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Miller, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Smith (Hendry 72), Collier (Hall 92), Brand (Russell 80), Cumming. Substitutes, not used - Conway, Bollan.

Oakley United : Maitland, Buist, L. Morrice, Newbigging, Duffin, Lammie, Smart, David Murray, Ewing (Lister 45), C. Morrice, Baird (Workman 89). Substitutes, not used - Derek Murray, Stewart, Pakyn (gk).

Referee, N. Watters, Montrose.