Keirs Park Jinx Strikes Gowfers Again

Hill Of Beath 3 Carnoustie Panmure 1

The Haws kicked-off playing down a slight slope and with a stiff westerly wind at their backs.

With two minutes gone, Carnoustie had a half-chance when Collier was fouled by Duffin, but Hendry's free kick, looking for Voigt, was intercepted and thumped clear by Courts.

Next minute, Muhsin played a good ball through for Voigt to chase, but Graham rushed from his line to kick clear.

In 15 minutes, the Gowfers came close to going in front when a Muhsin cross was headed on by Cook to Steele, who fired in a shot, but at the last second Duffin got back to clear the ball off the line with the 'keeper beaten.

Up to this point, Hill of Beath had never really threatened the Carnoustie goal, but in 17 minutes Wright picked out Thomson at the edge of the box with his back to goal. He spun round and fired off a shot, which flashed narrowly past McCafferty's left-hand post.

Back at the other end, Narey was brought down by Wright 40 yards out and taking the free kick himself sent the ball right into the home goalmouth. Voigt got his head to the ball, but his effort lacked power and Graham had no trouble making the save.

In 25 minutes, Hill of Beath were unlucky not to open the scoring. Hendry attempted to play the ball back towards his 'keeper, but failed to put enough weight behind it. Bathgate nipped in and fired off a rocket shot, but McCafferty got up to make a great save, tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.

Beveridge played the flag kick out to Wright, who drilled in a low drive, but Abbot was able to block the ball away and Stephen completed the clearance.

As play moved back upfield, Muhsin tried a long-range shot from all of 40 yards, but put the ball straight to 'keeper Graham.

In 30 minutes, Collier was again fouled by Duffin 30 yards out. Conway got the free kick up and over the defensive wall, but Graham had no trouble making the save.

Two minutes later, a long throw-in by Conway was flicked on by Collier, but Voigt headed just wide of Graham's left-hand upright.

Carnoustie won another free kick in 41 minutes when Voigt was brought down by Beveridge wide on the left. Conway swung the ball right into the box where it was headed away by Courts. The ball fell back out to Conway, who fired it back in, but this time Graham was able to make the save.

Two minutes later, Voigt was yellow-carded for a foul on Courts.

With the half-time whistle about to sound at any second, Bathgate was adjudged to have been fouled by Cook, who then headed Beveridge's free kick behind for a corner. As the ball came over, the referee blew the whistle and ran forward pointing to the spot, alleging that Bathgate had been sandwiched between Abbot and Stephen. Abbot protested to the official and became the second Carnoustie player to be cautioned.

BEVERIDGE hammered the spot kick low into the net, giving McCafferty no chance and his side an undeserved interval lead.

Half Time : Hill Of Beath 1 Carnoustie Panmure 0

As if losing that late first half goal was not enough, Carnoustie were dealt another blow just two minutes after the restart when Steele tried to send in a cross, but Wright put in a blocking tackle and both players went down with the ball spinning out behind for a corner. While the Haws' player was back on his feet in an instant, Steele remained on the ground and the Gowfers' trainer was summoned. After some minutes of treatment, a stretcher was called for and Steele was carried-off and replaced by Cumming.

Muhsin was then able to take the flag kick and sent the ball right into the goalmouth where it bobbled about with both Voigt and Collier trying to get a touch before 'keeper Graham was able to grab it.

In 54 minutes, Abbot fed a good pass through to Conway, whose 30 yard drive whistled narrowly past Graham's left-hand post.

Three minutes later, the Haws came close to adding to their tally after Arnott won a corner off Stephen. Beveridge's cross picked out Duffin, who sent in a header, but the ball rebounded off the top of the bar and was cleared away.

Just a minute later, however, the homesters did notch a second counter. BATHGATE took a pass from Beveridge and, cutting inside Cook, who had slipped on the greasy surface, drove the ball low into the net, giving McCafferty no chance.

In 61 minutes, the Gowfers were dealt a further blow after Wright fouled Conway, who turned and pushed the Hill of Beath player. Wright fell to the ground and Conway was shown a straight red card, with the Haws man being booked for the initial foul.

Just three minutes later, 10-man Carnoustie fell farther behind when Richardson played a long ball through to ARNOTT, who drove forward unchallenged and beat McCafferty to put the game beyond the Gowfers' reach.

Carnoustie attacked from the restart with Abbot linking with Cumming, who tried a shot, but Graham had no trouble making the save.

In 66 minutes, Narey took a pass from Muhsin and fired in a rocket shot, but Graham got up to make a great save, touching the ball over the top.

Abbot took the resultant flag kick and when the ball came over, STEPHEN rose above everyone else to bullet a header past Graham, giving the Gowfers a consolation counter.

In 70 minutes, Arnott and Cook clashed just in front of the dug-outs. The Haws' player lifted his hands to push Cook away and although he was shown the yellow card, questions were directed at the referee as to why it wasn't red as had been the case with Conway just 10 minutes earlier. The match official, however, totally ignored the protests.

On the 80 minute mark, Muhsin was adjudged to have fouled Bathgate. Courts' free kick picked out Bathgate, but he had misjudged his run and was flagged-up for the first offside decision of the game.

Two minutes later, Stephen was fouled by Courts 35 yards out. Before the free kick was taken, the Gowfers made a double change with Cook and Muhsin making way for Craig and Morrison.

Carnoustie continued to press and in 85 minutes should have reduced the leeway. A poor kick-out by Graham fell to Narey, who played a great ball through to Voigt, but the striker wasted the chance by stroking the ball past the post with only the 'keeper to beat.

Two minutes later, Hill of Beath made their first change with Bissett going on for Arnott.

Abbot and Cumming combined well to set up a late chance for Voigt, but his shot took a deflection off Collier and went out behind for a goal kick.

With 91 minutes on the watch, the Gowfers again came close after Collier laid the ball off to Abbot, whose rocket shot appeared netbound all the way, but Graham got up to make a fantastic save, turning the ball out behind for a corner.

Before the kick could be taken, the Haws made a second change, Noble replacing Beveridge.

Abbot crossed the ball right to the back post, looking for Cumming, and as the ball came in there were loud appeals from the Gowfers' players for 'hand ball' against Dair, but these were ignored by the referee, who waved play on.

Courts was yellow-carded in 95 minutes for a foul on Voigt. Unfortunately, Craig sent the resultant free kick high over the bar and perimeter fence as well.

As Graham's goal kick dropped into the Carnoustie half, the referee brought the game to a close and so end another miserable afternoon for the Gowfers at Keirs Park where they have yet to win a league fixture.

Line-Ups:

Hill Of Beath : Graham, Beveridge (Noble 91), Richardson, Duffin, Dair, Courts, Allan, Arnott (Bissett 87), Thomson, Bathgate, Wright.

Substitute Not Used : Burt, Wotherspoon (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : McCafferty, Narey, Cook (Craig 82), Hendry, Stephen, Muhsin (Morrison 82), Conway, Abbot, Voigt, Collier, Steele (Cumming 47).

Substitute Not Used : Bollan, Whyte (gk)

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper