Off-form Gowfers Are Caught 'Napping'
Lochee United 5 Carnoustie Panmure 1
With their scheduled away match against Linlithgow Rose postponed due to international commitments, Carnoustie Panmure were given a re-arranged league fixture against Lochee United at Thomson Park, Dundee, on Saturday afternoon.Prior to the kick-off, a minute's silence was observed in memory of former Lochee United physio Chuck McGowan, whose ashes were later scattered on the pitch following the match.
Carnoustie kicked-off, but soon found themselves under pressure and survived an early scare. A high ball into the Gowfers' box came off Ogilvie's head and fell to Blackwood, whose angular shot across the face of the goal struck the far post but rebounded into 'keeper Whyte's arms.
It was all Lochee in the opening stages and a Middleton long-range effort was well wide of Whyte's left-hand post.
Shortly afterwards, the same player squandered another chance to put the Bluebells ahead when he lobbed over from 10 yards.
Carnoustie eventually got up the park, but Muhsin's good cross from the right found Voigt in an offside position.
Back at the other end, a long ball forward was headed on by Watson to Blackwood, who fired narrowly past Whyte's left-hand post.
There was another let-off for the Gowfers in 12 minutes when a Hagan 25 yard free kick struck the defensive wall on its way through, but the deflection again went straight into 'keeper Whyte's arms.
In 15 minutes, a rare Carnoustie sortie upfield saw Cooke's cross from the right being punched away by 'keeper Brown. Smith fired the ball back in, but Watson was straight in line and managed to block the shot away.
Lochee's early pressure eventually told in 16 minutes when a Middleton cross from the right was met by HAGAN, who first-timed a shot past Whyte from 12 yards to put the Bluebells ahead.
Moments later, it was almost two, but Whyte brought off a great save from Hardie's 25 yard effort.
Krobot then flighted a free kick in from the right to Hagan at the far post, but Cook did well to block his 18-yard drive.
In 35 minutes, Bannon was booked for a foul on Muhsin. Scott's free kick was turned behind for a corner by Hay, but Cumming headed wide from the resultant flag kick.
Two minutes later, however, Carnoustie grabbed a rather fortunate equaliser. As Muhsin chased a through ball from Voigt into the home box, BANNON attempted to kick clear, but only succeeded in hooking the ball past his own 'keeper to bring the Gowfers back level.
In 41 minutes, Middleton was booked for dissent.
Half Time : Lochee United 1 Carnoustie Panmure 1
Within two minutes of the restart, Carnoustie found themselves behind once more when HARDIE got on the end of a Hagan cross from the left and bulleted a header past Whyte from 10 yards.Things got even worse for the Gowfers in 49 minutes when Hagan was tripped by Ogilvie inside the box and MIDDLETON duly fired home from the spot.
In 53 minutes, Carnoustie made a double substitution, Cumming and Cook going off for Kelly and Steele.
Five minutes later, however, the Gowfers went even further behind. A Middleton corner from the right was met by WATSON, who was allowed a free header inside the six yards box and glided the ball past Whyte for Lochee's fourth.
In 59 minutes, Collier was booked for a foul on Cargill.
Hagan almost added to Lochee's tally with a 25 yard drive, which whistled just wide of Whyte's right-hand post.
Carnoustie came close to pulling a goal back when Watson's attempted headed clearance from a Smith corner on the right fell to Scott, whose fierce drive appeared destined for the postage stamp corner, but Brown brought off a great save to tip the ball over the bar.
Smith again took the flag kick, but this time Watson's clearance was successful.
As the Gowfers continued to press, a Scott 30 yard free kick was deflected past by the defensive wall. Steele's corner from the left was met at the far post by Smith, who headed just wide.
In 66 minutes, Smith was replaced by Hall.
Within a minute of coming on, Hall was booked for a foul on Cargill.
Cargill was again in the wars in 68 minutes when he was the target of a two-footed challenge, which earned Voigt his marching orders, reducing Carnoustie to 10 men.
Lochee then made a double substitution in 69 minutes, replacing Middleton and Hay with Ritchie and Robertson.
A minute later, the Bluebells went nap when a Dailly shot from eight yards was blocked on the line by Whyte, but the rebound fell to BLACKWOOD, who fired home from close-in.
Lochee made their thrid and final change in 76 minutes, Hardie being replaced by Bruce.
Carnoustie kept plugging away and were unlucky in the closing stages when Kelly sent a low drive narrowly past Brown's right-hand post.
Right on the final whislte, a Steele free kick from the left was well held by the Lochee 'keeper.
Shortly afterwards, the referee brought the game to a close and as the Bluebells celebrated their ninth straight win, the Gowfers returned home having suffered their heaviest defeat for some time.
Line-Ups:
Lochee United : Brown, Krobot, Bannon, Hay (Robertson 69), Watson, Daily, Hardie (Bruce 76), Cargill, Middleton (Ritchie 69), Blackwood, Hagan.
Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Cook (Steele 53), Scott, Ogilvie, Bollan, Muhsin, Hendry, Smith (Hall 66), Cumming (Kelly 53), Collier, Voigt.
Referee : S.Crichton, Kirkcaldy.
Substitutes Not Used : McMillan, Leahy
Substitutes Not Used : Narey, Robertson