Gowfers break their Tayport duck

James Russell scored the only goal of the match on Saturday to give Carnoustie Panmure their first ever away league victory over old rivals Tayport at the Canniepairt.

Manager Ian Flaherty made a couple of changes to the Gowfers' side that had knocked Bathgate Thistle out of the 'Scottish' the previous week.

James Collier was unavailable and his place was taken by James Russell, who had notched a hat-trick in a friendly against Coupar Angus earlier in the week.

Aaron Conway was also on from the start, replacing Ralph Brand, who was carrying a slight knock and dropped to the bench where he was joined by Robert Hendry, Gary Bollan, Grant Miller and Euan Hall.

No fewer than four of Tayport's starting line-up, Chris Webster, Alan Ramsay, Bryan Duell and Ronnie Kenneth, had all worn Carnoustie colours in the past and a further two ex-Gowfers, Murray McDowell and Gus Malone, were on the home bench.

Prior to the start, a minute silence was observed in memory of Broughty Athletic secretary and former East Region president Lyall Murdoch, who died suddenly last Wednesday.

Carnoustie kicked-off facing a strong sun on a surface that was fairly wet and had just been cut immediately before the match.

With seven minutes gone, Tayport had a half-chance to go in front. Kenneth played a good ball down the line to Duell, who took it forward before firing in a low shot, but this went right across the face of the visitors' goal and out behind.

At the other end, Conway picked up a pass from Cumming and made a good run across the face of the Tayport box, but before he could get off a shot Paterson stepped in to clear.

Carnoustie continued to press and shocked the home side by going ahead in 11 minutes. Cumming was sent clear on the left by Smith and after taking the ball almost to the bye-line delivered a great cross to the far post. RUSSELL met it first-time and volleyed an unstoppable shot past Fitzpatrick into the back of the net.

Just a minute later, Webster had a chance to level the score, but shot wide, under pressure from Wilkie.

The Gowfers pushed forward once more and won a free kick when Urquhart pulled down Russell 25 yards out. Russell took the kick himself and sent in a low hard shot, but Fitzpatrick got down well to make a fine save at the base of his right-hand post.

In 17 minutes, Webster fired in a low cross meant for Duell, who missed the ball completely and Craig got back to knock it behind for a corner to Tayport. Webster's cross from out on the right picked out Livie, who headed just wide, under pressure from Ogilvie.

Back at the other end, Carnoustie came close to doubling their lead when Conway knocked the ball goalwards from a Narey throw-in. At first, Fitzpatrick and Wemyss left it to each other and the 'Port support held their breath before the 'keeper managed to grab the ball and prevent what would have been a rather embarrassing goal.

The home defence remained under pressure and in 21 minutes an attempted clearance by Livie dropped out to Smith, whose shot was just off target, going inches wide of Fitzpatrick's left-hand upright.

Five minutes later, the Gowfers had another chance to go further ahead after Paterson fouled Abbot out on the right. Paterson attempted to head clear from Smith's free kick, but the ball fell to Cumming, who unfortunately squandered the opportunity by sending his first-time shot high over the top.

In 29 minutes, Wemyss was cautioned after chopping down Cumming in the middle of a run. Craig's free kick found Morrison, but Wemyss stepped in to clear the ball away.

Tayport had a chance to open their account when a Webster cross was headed on by Kenneth towards Duell, but Ogilvie got in a foot and knocked the ball behind for a corner.

Webster took the kick, but when the ball came over, Whyte got up well to make the save, under pressure from Duell.

In 33 minutes, it was the Gowfers' turn to again come close when Conway jinked his way past three men and drilled in a low shot, but Fitzpatrick brought off another fine save.

From the 'keeper's clearance, Gunnion fed Kenneth, who burst through the Carnoustie defence, but Whyte brought off a great save and Smith was on hand to complete the clearance.

In 40 minutes, Carnoustie came the closest yet to adding to their tally. Conway, Cumming, Abbot and Russell all combined in a great four-man move, which ended with the ball being blocked behind by Morris.

Russell's flag kick found Wilkie, who powered in a header, but Fitzpatrick managed to block the ball away. It came back out to Wilkie, but this time he headed over the top.

Abbot was then brought down by Gunnion and from Ogilvie's free kick, Conway laid the ball off to Smith, but Fitzpatrick again got down well to make the stop.

On the stroke of half-time, Smith was injured as he went up for a high ball with Urquhart. After some treatment from the sponge man, he was able to continue, but had first to leave the field as per the current rule.

Smith then came back on, but the referee showed him the yellow card for "re-entering the field of play without permission, although he claimed he thought the referee had waved him on. Smith then had to go off again until the referee did wave him on after play had restarted.

Half-time: Tayport 0, Carnoustie Panmure 1.

Early in the second half, Carnoustie won a free kick midway into the home half after Conway was brought down by Livie. Ogilvie picked out Conway, who tried a shot, but failed to get enough power behind it and Fitzpatrick had no trouble making the save.

Next minute, Narey fed a good pass through to Conway, who easily beat Livie, then drilled in a shot, but put the ball straight to the 'keeper.

In 56 minutes, Wemyss sent a free kick deep into the Gowfers' box and as Ogilvie went up to head clear there were loud appeals from the home support for a penalty, but the referee saw nothing wrong and waved play on. Urquhart was then booked for comments made to the match official.

Tayport were now pushing hard for an equaliser and came close to levelling the score in 62 minutes after Morris played a long ball through to Kenneth, but Whyte spotted the danger and rushed from his line to clear it away before the former Gowfer could get off a shot.

A minute later, the home support had a slight scare after Fitzpatrick made a hash of a passback from Livie, slicing the ball out towards Conway, but he failed to control it on the greasy surface and Paterson was able to come to the rescue and clear it away.

In 66 minutes, Abbot played the ball through to Conway, who was then challenged by Paterson. However, the Carnoustie man was adjudged to have fouled the Tayport defender and Abbot found himself cautioned for his comments to the referee.

From Webster's free kick, Duell won a corner after his shot was deflected behind by Ogilvie. Webster crossed the flag kick right into the goalmouth, but after a scramble it was cleared away by Craig and the sizeable Gowfers' support were able to breathe again.

A great three-man Carnoustie move ended with Cumming being brought down by Webster, who was then shown the yellow card for his trouble.

Moments later, Morris was mext to be yellow-carded, this for a foul on Abbot.

Inn 77 minutes, the referee stopped the game and went over to the Tayport dug-out to have words with the home manager.

Play then resumed and next minute Cumming was booked for a foul on Urquhart as they both challenged for a loose ball.

Gunnion sent Henderson on a run up the home left and he took the ball forward before chipping it over to Webster, who had his back to goal. Bringing the ball down neatly, he then turned and fired a shot high over the bar.

In 86 minutes, a Webster free kick picked out Wemyss, whose effort also sailed high over the top.

Whyte's goal kick was long and carried deep into the Tayport half where it was collected by Russell, who was then shown the yellow card after he clashed with Paterson.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Urquhart was adjudged to have been fouled by Conway, who was then booked for not retreating the necessary 10 yards.

When the free kick was eventually taken, Livie sent the ball into the Carnoustie box, but Morrison got up to head clear.

With the Gowfers' support shouting at the referee to blow the final whistle, Tayport made another push forward, Paterson playing a long ball through to Webster, who fired off a shot, but Whyte brought off a fine save.

As the 'keeper cleared the ball away downfield, the referee at last brought proceedings to a close with almost seven minutes of stoppage time on the watch.

Line-Ups:

Tayport : - Fitzpatrick, Morris, Paterson, Webster, Wemyss, Gunnion, Ramsay (McDowell 60), Duell (McNaughton 79), Kenneth (Henderson 70), Livie, Urquhart. Substitutes, not used - Malone, Bruce (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Narey, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Smith, Russell (Hendry 91), Conway, Cumming. Substitutes, not used - Brand, Bollan, Miller, Hall.

Referee, C. Duncan, Dundee.