Tayport 1 Carnoustie Panmure 0

A 1-0 away defeat from their old rivals Tayport at the Canniepairt on Wednesday evening has almost certainly consigned Carnoustie Panmure to life in a lower league next season.

Nothing short of a miracle can now save the Gowfers from the drop. With only two league games remaining, they sit two points below third bottom Glenrothes, but the Glens have three games in hand.

Carnoustie's starting line-up showed five changes from the side which triumphed over Culter at the weekend. Daryn Smith and Jamie Collier, both injured in that game, were replaced by Robert Hendry and Gavin Beith. Euan Hall and Steven Cook came in for Wayne Morrison, unavailable, and Stuart Abbot, suspended, and with 'Chipper' Whyte failing a late fitness test, his place between the posts went to John McCafferty.

Kelly had the ball in the net for Tayport after eight minutes, but had been flagged offside and the 'goal' was disallowed.

Five minutes later, Carnoustie were unlucky not to open the scoring when a Voigt header from a Cook cross rebounded from the top of the crossbar with Fitzpatrick beaten.

In 19 minutes, 'Port again thought they had taken the lead, but this time McNaughton was offside when he knocked the ball home.

However, it was third time lucky for Tayport in 25 minutes. A long free kick by Fitzpatrick was nodded on by Kenneth to RENNIE, who drove in and fired low past McCafferty for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Carnoustie came close to equalising in 37 minutes when substitute Steele and Beith combined well to set up a chance for Voigt, whose shot slid narrowly past Fitzpatrick's left-hand post.

In 40 minutes, Beith was booked for a foul on Juskowiak.

Half Time : Tayport 1 Carnoustie Panmure 0

Three minutes into the second half, Carnoustie were again unlucky not to draw level. Craig took a short free kick to Conway, who unleashed a fierce strike, but Fitzpatrick got down well to turn the ball round the post for a fruitless corner.

Just on the hour mark, Conway was booked for a foul on Wemyss.

Referee Crighton was in danger of becoming the busiest man on the park as four minutes later Tayport's Livie and Lawson both saw yellow for an illegal challenge on Conway.

Wemyss then followed his team-mates into the referee's book after a foul on Voigt.

The Gowfers kept plugging away, but Tayport almost doubled their lead in 77 minutes when Narey was dispossessed by Rennie, who drilled in a shot, only to be thwarted by a great save from McCafferty.

With five minutes to go, Beith was released by Narey and made a fine solo run up the wing before crossing to Voigt, who should have levelled the score, but shot rather weakly straight at the 'keeper.

Right on the final whistle, Carnoustie had one last chance to salvage something from the game when Beith dropped a free kick right into the home goalmouth, but Livie was on hand to head clear before any of the Gowfers' players could get the necessary touch.

Line-Ups:

Tayport : Fitzpatrick, Rennie, Wemyss, Juskowiak, McAllister, Kenneth (Scott 78), Kelly (Paterson 66), McNaughton, Livie, Lawson, Urquhart (Gunnion 76).

Substitute Not Used : Craik, Currie (gk).

Carnoustie Panmure : McCafferty, Hendry, Craig (O'Boyle 68), Narey, Robertson, Hall (Steele 30), Cook, Muhsin, Voigt, Conway, Beith.

Substitute Not Used : Wilkie, Morrison, Whyte (gk).

Referee : S. Crighton, Glenrothes.

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper