Shipbuilders Launch More Attacks

East Craigie 3 Carnoustie Panmure 1

Carnoustie were the first to show, Conway playing a good ball through to Steele, who cut in from the right before firing a shot narrowly over.

Carnoustie continued to do most of the early pressing, but could have easily have gone behind courtesy of a fumble by keeper Whyte. The loose ball broke to Oldershaw, who chipped it goalwards, but luckily for the Gowfers it struck the top of the crossbar and bounced behind.

In nine minutes, East Craigie were not so fortunate when Morris came off his line, trying to get to a Conway cross. The keeper misjudged his attempt and paid the penalty when KELLY knocked the ball home from six yards.

Five minutes later the Gowfers came close to doubling their lead when Kelly got on the end of a Scott free kick, but Morris got up to make a great save, touching the ball over the top. Conway's flag kick was turned behind by McCrae for a second corner, but this time Collier was deemed to have fouled the keeper and a free kick was awarded to the Shipbuilders.

Carnoustie continued to go in search of a second counter and in 16 minutes Kelly controlled a long through ball, beat his marker then fired in a shot, but put the ball narrowly past Morris's right-hand post.

With 20 minutes on the watch, East Craigie drew level albeit slightly against the run of play. MULLEN ran on to a long ball over the top and, after getting the better of both Wilkie and Narey, drilled a shot past the advancing Whyte.

Two minutes later, Carnoustie almost regained the lead after Hall was fouled by Benvie 30 yards out, but Conway's free kick was well saved by Morris, who got across to palm the ball round the post at the expense of a corner. Conway again took the kick, but Davidson got up to head clear.

East Craigie shocked the Gowfers by going ahead in 32 minutes. Wilkie rose to head clear, but put the ball straight to LOW, who spotted Whyte well off his line and chipped it over the keepers head into the empty net.

Next minute, Carnoustie were forced to make a change when Kelly came off feeling a tightness in his Achilles tendon and Voigt went on in his place.

The substitute was quickly in the thick of the action, playing a good ball through to Steele, then continued his run to take the return, but headed narrowly past.

In 40 minutes, the Gowfers almost conceded a third after a poor headed clearance by Cook fell to Low, who tried a low drive, but Whyte got down well to save.

Right on the half-time whistle, only the woodwork denied Carnoustie a deserved equaliser. Abbot played a good ball through to Steele, whose fierce shot struck the outside of the keeper's left-hand upright and went behind.

East Craigie 2 Carnoustie Panmure 1

Carnoustie resumed with McCafferty between the sticks in place of Whyte.

Within barley a minute of the restart, the Gowfers conceded a third counter, again due to a defensive blunder. Narey attempted to head clear, but his header fellow to an East Craigie player who slid the ball wide to MULLEN who drilled a low shot passed McCafferty.

In 49 minutes, a Voigt shot was deflected behind by Finnie. Steele's corner from the right picked out Abbot, who sent in a shot, but McCrae got up to head the ball out for a throw-in.

At this stage, it was nearly all Carnoustie and they again came close when Steele and Wilkie both had shots blocked in quick succession before the ball fell to Hendry, but he scooped it over the bar and the chance was lost.

Play then moved back to the other end and the Shipbuilders won a corner when an attempted cross by Low was knocked behind by Narey. Low took the kick and the homesters almost got a fourth counter when the ball deflected off Wilkie, but fortunately for McCafferty came to the rescue.

The keepers long clearance kick was touched on by Conway to Collier, who tried a shot, but found only the side netting with Mitchell beaten.

In 64 minutes, Carnoustie made a further change with Hall being replaced by Suttie.

Five minutes later, Conway went off with Abbot going back on.

Craigie really should have netted a fourth in 72 minutes, but Oldershaw completely miskicked in front of goal putting the ball past McCafferty's right hand post when it had seemed he must score.

Back at the other end, a Scott shot was blocked by Davidson and rebounded to Abbot, who drilled the ball narrowly past.

In 77 minutes, Cook got on the end of a through ball from Suttie, but accidentally caught Duncan full on the face and the Craigie man required treatment before continuing.

Carnoustie kept plugging away and in 82 minutes came close to pulling a goal back when Hendry took a pass from Cook and played the ball to Scott, whose shot whistled narrowly over the top.

With the watch showing almost a minute of stoppage time, the Gowfers had one last chance when Voigt took a pass from Steele, then turned and fired in a shot, but saw his effort go just wide.

Moments later, the referee blew for full-time ending what had been a miserable afternoon for Carnoustie, who were fortunate this was only a friendly and not a match that mattered.

Line-Ups:

East Craigie : Morris (Mitchell 46), Finnie (McGrath 76), McCrae (Duncan 65), Ferrie, Davidson, Chalmers, Watt, Benvie, Oldershaw (L.Gray 82), Mullen, Low (B.Gray 81)

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte (McCafferty 46), Cook, Scott, Narey, Wilkie, Hall (Suttie 64), Steele, Abbot (Hendry 46), Kelly (Voigt 33), Collier, Conway (Abbot 69)

Referee : I.Buick, Dundee

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper (Friday 10th August 2007)