Gowfers Trounce Haws In East of Scotland Cup

Carnoustie Panmure 4 Hill Of Beath 1

Carnoustie kicked-off playing towards the town end and with a strong, mainly crossfield wind, slightly in their favour.

In four minutes, the Gowfers came close to opening the scoring when Conway made a great run down the left and cut inside before loosing-off a shot, but pulled it just wide of Graham's right-hand post.

Conway was then fouled by Gray and from the resultant free kick, Craig sent the ball deep into the visitors' half looking for G. McLaughlin, but Duffin got back to thump clear.

In nine minutes, Conway made another great run down the left and sent in a cross to Collier at the back post, but Graham just beat him to the ball and palmed it round the upright for a corner. Muhsin's flag kick found Abbot, who shot narrowly past.

Thomson collected Graham's goal kick and played the ball through to Richardson, who wasted the opportunity by blasting his shot high and wide of the target.

Carnoustie again came close to opening their account in 19 minutes when Abbot and Craig combined to create an opening for Conway, who tried a long-range shot from 30 yards, but sent the ball over the bar.

From the 'keeper's goal kick, Richardson played the ball through to McGuire, who was at least two yards offside, but the referee's assistant wasn't up with play and he was allowed to run on. Fortunately for the Gowfers, however, Smith got back to put in a great tackle and clear the ball away.

Back came Carnoustie and in 24 minutes a long clearance by Whyte was picked up by Collier, who linked with G. McLaughklin, but before he could get off a shot his namesake W. McLaughlin put in a good blocking tackle and got the ball away to safety.

Two minutes later, the Gowfers came even closer after Abbot took a pass from Muhsin and made a great run down the left. He then cut inside Burt before firing in a low drive, which Graham did well to save at the base of his right-hand post.

With 31 minutes on the watch, Carnoustie at last took the lead with a goal out of nothing. CONWAY collected the ball in midfield and, spotting Graham slightly off his line, took a couple of steps before sending the ball over the 'keeper's head and into the top corner of the net from all of 40 yards.

Hill of Beath then pushed forward in response, but Whyte got down well to save from W. McLaughlin at the base of his right-hand post.

In 38 minutes, the Fifers won a corner when a Noble cross was deflected behind by Smith. Richardson's flag kick picked out Thomson, who headed high over the top.

From Whyte's goal kick, the ball came out to Muhsin, who was then fouled by McGuire on the halfway line. Smith sent the free kick deep into the Haws' box to Collier, but his header was too direct and went straight to the 'keeper.

In 42 minutes, a long through ball from Smith was met by Duffin, who very nearly turned it into his own net, but the ball slid past the wrong side of the post for what proved a fruitless corner.

Half Time : Carnoustie Panmure 1 Hill Of Beath 0

As the visitors got the second half under way, the rain, which began falling some 15 minutes before the break, now started to come down in earnest and coupled with the strong wind was making it a thoroughly unpleasant afternoon.

In 48 minutes, Muhsin took a pass from Abbot and fired off a shot, which flashed just wide of Graham's left-hand upright.

W. McLaughlin then launched a Haws' counter-attack by releasing Gray, who took the ball forward to the left-hand edge of the home box, but his low drive was well-saved by Whyte.

In 54 minutes, Robertson became the first player to be booked after he brought down Richardson. Duffin sent the resultant free kick deep into the Carnoustie box, but Narey was on hand to clear.

Next minute, G. McLaughlin was chopped down by Gray and although the offender escaped a caution, Noble was booked for comments made to the referee.

Play was now becoming a bit tousy and in 58 minutes Duffin brought down Morrison, earning himself the visitors' second yellow card of the match.

Carnoustie continued to press and doubled their lead in 60 minutes when a Craig cross from the left found ROBERTSON, who wheeled round and hooked the ball past Graham off the inside of his right-hand post.

Two minutes later, the Gowfers were forced to make a change with Conway limping off and Steele coming on in his place.

The change possibly unsettled the homesters, but in 63 minutes Hill of Beath pulled a goal back. Richardson sent in a cross to the near post and with the Gowfers' defence slow to react, BATHGATE stepped in to thump the ball into the net.

Before play restarted, Carnoustie made a second substitution with Voigt replacing G. McLaughlin.

Just four minutes after coming on, Voigt became the second Gowfers' player to be cautioned, this for a foul on Burt.

In 69 minutes, Steele went down injured in a tackle by Adair. He appeared in serious trouble and the trainer was waved on to attend to him. After a fair bit of treatment, he was helped off to the side of the goal and the match continued with the Gowfers down to 10 men. After a further spell of treatment, there was relief all round when Steele signalled he was ready to resume and was waved back on.

Gray became the third Haws' player to see yellow after a foul on Steele.

In 80 minutes, Carnoustie edged further ahead when MUHSIN raced on to a Voigt cross-cum-shot and hammered the ball into the net.

From the centre, play surged downfield and as Abbot moved to halt the attack, he was hauled down by Duffin, who became the fourth Haw's player to be booked.

Voigt collected the ball from the resultant free kick and after taking it forward, played a pass through to STEELE, who ran on and thumped it home, giving Graham no chance.

In 84 minutes, Hill of Beath made a change with Duffin being replaced by Dair.

Right on the final whistle, Carnoustie almost went nap when Muhsin fired in a low drive, which Graham did well to block with his legs and the loose ball was cleared away by Burt.

As the ball dropped into the Gowfers' half, the referee signalled the end of the tie and a rare victory for the Laing Park men over the Fife side.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Smith, Craig, Narey, Robertson, Morrison, Muhsin, Abbot, Collier, G. McLaughlin (Voigt 65), Conway (Steele 62).

Substitute Not Used : Wilkie, Hendry, Farrell.

Hill Of Beath : Graham, Burt, Gray, Duffin (Dair 84), Adair, W. McLaughlin, McGuire, Richardson, Thomson, Bathgate, Noble.

Substitute Not Used : Bissett, McNeeley, Wotherspoon (gk).

Referee : S. Stevenson, Dundee.

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper