Gowfers are joint league leaders!

On Saturday, Carnoustie Panmure travelled to Central Park to face Whitburn in the Whyte and Mackay East Super League hoping to avenge a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Lothian club just 11 weeks earlier.

With Wayne Morrison suffering from a ligament injury and James Collier with a broken toe, Gowfers' manager Ian Flaherty was forced to make two changes to the side that triumphed over Oakley the previous week. Robert Hendry and James Russell were both on from the start and bench spots were taken by Euan Hall, Aaron Conway, Gary Bollan, Steven Narey and spare goalkeeper Jim Butter.

Carnoustie got the game under way on a pitch that was very wet, very muddy and which neither manager believed playable, but the referee thought differently and the match went ahead.

In four minutes, Russell was fouled by Mooney just inside the Whitburn half and from the resultant free kick Miller launched the ball deep into the home box. Maley's attempt to head clear dropped out to Smith, who tried a shot, but put the ball straight to 'keeper Walker, who had no trouble making the save.

Two minutes later, McNellis made a good run up the home left and taking the ball almost to the bye-line won a corner off Miller, but Hannah's cross was taken cleanly by Whyte.

Cumming picked up a loose ball in midfield and released Abbot on the right with a great crossfield ball. From almost at the corner flag, he crossed the ball low and hard to SMITH, who thumped it home to put the Gowfers ahead with just nine minutes played.

In 14 minutes, Carnoustie had a half-chance to double their advantage when Hendry linked with Smith, who sent in a good cross meant for Brand, but Walker spotted the danger and rushed out to grab the ball before the striker could get off a shot.

Russell then won a corner off Rixon and this was quickly followed by a second flag kick before the pressure on the home goal was eased by a headed clearance.

In 18 minutes, the Gowfers again came close to adding to their tally after Brand pounced on a poor clearance by Maley and fed Wilkie, who took a couple of steps and fired in a low drive, but Walker got down to save well at the base of his right-hand post.

After being on the receiving end for a spell, Whitburn pushed forward once more themselves and in 25 minutes thought they should have had a penalty when Strickland worked a quick one-two with Hannah, then went down under a tackle from Abbot. The referee, however, saw nothing wrong and waved play on.

Just a minute later, Whitburn came close to levelling the score, but Murphy's fierce drive was beaten away by Whyte with Wilkie completing the clearance.

On the half-hour mark, Brand was caught pulling Mooney's shirt. Flanagan's free kick to the back post was headed across the face of the goal by Strickland to Hannah, whose shot was weak and Whyte saved easily.

The home side again came close to getting back on level terms when a Mooney free kic was laid-off by McNellis to Murphy about 15 yards out. He unleashed a fierce shot, but Whyte brought off a great save to keep his charge intact.

A minute from half-time, Russell attempted to make his way through a ruck of players and went down injured after taking an accidental arm in the face. One of the home players knocked the ball out of play, and Russell was able to continue after a moment or two to recover.

Half-time: Whitburn 0, Carnoustie Panmure 1.

Whitburn started the second half in determined fashion and squandered a couple of early chances. Firstly, Flanagan linked with McNellis, whose shot was blocked out for a throw-in by Cumming, then seconds later Flanagan himself tried a shot, which Whyte did well to scoop away from under the crossbar.

In 51 minutes, the home side again came close to levelling matters when Flanagan cut inside Craig at the edge of the box and fired the ball across the face of the goal, but with no-one up in support, it went out behind for a goal kick.

Five minutes later, Whitburn passed-up yet another good chance when the unmarked McNellis headed just wide from a Carson cross.

As the home side continued to press, Carson again picked out McNellis, this time with a looping cross, but his header lacked any real power and Whyte was able to make the save.

In 64 minutes, Carnoustie made their first change, Hall going on for Cumming, who had been struggling with a rib injury.

At this stage, Whitburn were still doing most of the pressing, but a major turning point in the game occurred in 71 minutes. Murphy went down inside the crowded Carnoustie box and to a man the home players threw up their arms claiming a penalty. However, the referee, who was handily placed, saw nothing wrong and waved play on, only to be immediately surrounded by several Whitburn players all voicing their opinion.

The official produced his yellow card and cautioned three players, Murphy, Roberts and McNellis, in as many seconds. He then went to the bye-line and booked substitute Taylor, who had also given his opinion while warming up behind the goal.

The referee was not finished yet, however, as after dealing with these four players, he went over to the home dug-out and cautioned the Whitburn manager.

As the ball had ended up behind Whyte's goal, play eventually restarted with a goal kick, which the 'keeper sent long over the halfway line.

Carnoustie now began to come more into the game and in 74 minutes Hall took the ball up the left before sending in a good cross. Maley's attempt to headflick the ball away fell to HENDRY, who from 15 yards hit a great first-time volley past Walker to give the Gowfers that extra cushion.

From the centre, Whitburn surged forward again and Hannah tried a snap shot from 30 yards hoping to catch Whyte unawares, but the 'keeper was alert to the danger and saved easily.

The Gowfers then made a second change with striker Brand being replaced by defender Bollan.

The substitute was quickly in the thick of the action, knocking a Strickland cross out behind at the expense of a corner. Hannah took the kick and found Roberts, who flicked the ball goalwards. Whyte came out and missed it, but Bollan was on hand to clear off the line and the Gowfers could breathe again.

In 80 minutes, Carnoustie increased their lead when Russell crossed to SMITH, who hammered home his second of the game and the Gowfers' third.

Four minutes later, Whitburn pulled a goal back in rather fortuitous circumstances. McNellis fired in a cross which skidded off the unfortunate BOLLAN's head and past Whyte's despairing hand into the net.

As the watch ticked over into stoppage time, McNellis cut the ball back to Ramage, who blasted it high over the top.

From Whyte's goal kick, Hendry sent Conway away on a good run. He took the ball right to the corner flag in an attempt to waste a few more vital seconds before sending in a cross, which Rixon thumped away.

As the ball cleared the halfway line, the referee signalled the end of the match and another three points were safely in the bag, taking the Gowfers joint top of the league with Linlithgow Rose, although with an inferior goal difference.

Line-Ups:

Whitburn : Walker, Carson, Mooney (Ramage 71), Maley (Carswell 86), Rixon, Murphy, Flanagan, Hannah, Roberts, Strickland, McNellis. Substitutes, not used - Taylor, Cantley (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Miller, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Hendry, Abbot, Smith, Russell (Conway 88), Brand (Bollan 76), Cumming (Hall 64). Substitutes, not used - Narey, Butter (gk).

Referee, S. Allan, Polmont.