Third Successive League Defeat Leaves Gowfers Two Points Above The Drop

Glenrothes 3 Carnoustie Panmure 1

Glenrothes kicked-off on a pitch made fairly heavy by recent rain and had a stiff westerly wind in their faces.

Craig put the Carnoustie defence under some early pressure when he was dispossessed by McBride. The ball was then played forward to Gartshore, who tried a shot from 30 yards but sent it well wide of McCafferty's right-hand post.

In seven minutes, Abbot was fouled by Fortune 40 yards out. Craig sent the free kick deep into the Glens' box, looking for Voigt or Collier, but Gibson got to it first and thumped the ball away before either could get a touch.

Glenrothes came close to taking the lead after Farrell was adjudged to have fouled Fortune just outside the box. Duffy's free kick was knocked down by Andrew to Nicoll, who did get a touch, but McCafferty managed to grab the ball before it crossed the line.

As the Gowfers pushed forward in response, a long through ball was headed behind by Mackay. Muhsin's free kick found Farrell, who shot narrowly past Guppy's left-hand upright.

Back at the other end, Duffy pounced on a poor clearance by Craig and pushed the ball through to Andrew, who fired in a shot, but McCafferty had no trouble making the save.

In 20 minutes, Gartshore made a run through the middle and was tackled by Campbell, who appeared to win the ball cleanly. The referee, however, saw things differently and awarded a free kick to the Glens, much to the annoyance of the visiting support and bench alike. Gartshore took the kick himself and although he got the ball up and over the defensive wall, it also cleared the crossbar and went out behind for a goal kick.

In another promising home attack, Andrew put in a good cross from the right, which McCafferty did well to palm away, under pressure from Seeley, with Hendry completing the clearance.

Shortly afterwards, Fortune sent in a cross, trying to link with Nicoll, but Campbell got up well to head the ball out behind. Duffy played the corner short to Andrew, who sent in a deep cross, but the ball landed on the roof of the net, although McCafferty did appear to have it covered.

In 34 minutes, Carnoustie had a half-chance when Muhsin played a long ball forward for Collier to chase, but Guppy spotted the danger and rushed from his line to boot it clear just before the Gowfers' striker could get a touch.

Back upfield, the Glens won a free kick 30 yards out when Seeley was fouled by Voigt. Andrew took the kick, but put the ball straight through to McCafferty, who had no trouble making the stop.

Carnoustie pushed forward once more and in 38 minutes should have gone ahead. Collier got on the end of a Muhsin cross and laid the ball off to Voigt, whose low drive flashed just wide of Guppy's left-hand post.

Right on the half-time whistle, Smith made a good run up the right before laying the ball back to Muhsin, whose shot was blocked away by Buist and the first half ended goal-less.

Half Time : Glenrothes 0 Carnoustie Panmure 0

Within two minutes of the restart, Carnoustie were in front. VOIGT went past the full-back and cut along the bye-line before knocking the ball home between Guppy and his near post.

In 49 minutes, Abbot was shown the yellow card after having words with Gartshore.

Next minute, the referee brought further shouts of protest from the Gowfers' support after Collier appeared to be fouled by Buist, but the official saw things differently and awarded a free kick to Glenrothes.

Carnoustie made their first change in 53 minutes, Scott going on to replace the not fully fit Smith.

Two minutes later, the Glens had a half-chance to level matters when Gartshore sent the ball across the face of the goal looking for Andrew, but Craig just got to it first and headed it behind for a corner. Hendry's attempt to head clear from Gartshore's flag kick fell to Mackay, whose first-time shot was high, wide and not very handsome.

The referee produced his yellow card again in 59 minutes. This time the player cautioned was Gibson for a foul on Voigt.

In 63 minutes, the Glens made a double change with Mackay and Nicoll being replaced by Hunter and King.

Next minute, the home side had a half-chance when Andrew picked up a loose ball and laid it back to substitute King, who rather rushed his shot and sent it well wide of McCafferty's left-hand post.

In 66 minutes, Duffy sent a long throw right into the Gowfers' goalmouth. Hunter head-flicked the ball on to ANDREW, who bundled it over the line, amid protests that he had used his hand to do so. Indeed, Scott voiced his opinion so strongly that he was shown the yellow card.

Just a minute later, Campbell became the third Carnoustie player to be booked after he was adjudged to have fouled Hunter.

Glenrothes now had their tails up and took the lead in 69 minutes. Andrew took a pass from Seeley and laid the ball off to KING, who turned and gave McCafferty no chance from 12 yards.

In 73 minutes, the Gowfers made another change, replacing Collier with Steele. As the Glens went in search of a third counter, Duffy fired in a low drive, but McCafferty brought off a fine save.

Just a minute later, however, Glenrothes did increase their lead. Slack play by the Gowfers' defence was punished when FORTUNE nipped in and fired an unsavable shot past McCafferty from all of 30 yards.

Before play restarted, Carnoustie made a third and final change with O'Boyle replacing Farrell, who was struggling with a knock picked up earlier.

In 84 minutes, the Gowfers were almost caught out again by another Duffy long throw, but this time McCafferty got up to punch the ball away and Hendry completed the clearance.

Two minutes later, Glenrothes also used their third substitute with Mills going on in place of Duffy.

Carnoustie should have pulled a goal back in 88 minutes when Voigt was brought down by Guppy and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After the 'keeper had been shown the yellow card, Voigt stepped up to take the kick, but although he struck it well, it was just at the right height for Guppy, who threw himself to his right and pushed the ball away to safety.

Shortly afterwards, the referee brought to an end what had been another sorry afternoon for the Gowfers.

Line-Ups:

Glenrothes : Guppy, Mackay (Hunter 63), McBride, Buist, Gibson, Fortune, Duffy (Mills 85), Gartshore, Seeley, Nicoll (King 63), Andrew.

Substitute Not Used : Fyfe, Kerr.

Carnoustie Panmure : McCafferty, Narey, Craig, Hendry, Campbell, Farrell (O'Boyle 77), Muhsin, Abbot, Voigt, Collier (Steele 73), Smith (Scott 53).

Substitute Not Used : Robertson, Whyte (gk).

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper