Gowfers Back On Winning Trail At Last
Kinnoull 0 Carnoustie Panmure 4
Although Kinnoull set the ball rolling, it was Carnoustie who were first to show with Cook releasing Muhsin, who took the ball down the right, but before he could get in a cross Gardiner intercepted to thump clear.The loose ball was collected by Cook, who again sent Muhsin away down the right. This time he did get in a cross, but it was just a shade too high for Clark and went out behind for a goal kick.
In four minutes, Cook again linked with Muhsin, who sent in a great cross to Clark. His shot appeared to strike Tang on the hand, but the Gowfers' penalty claims were waved aside by the referee, who saw nothing wrong.
Scott went down injured in 10 minutes and required lengthy treatment from Carnoustie's trainer before limping off and then resuming some three minutes later.
In 15 minutes, Cook made a great run down the right, taking the ball almost to the bye-line before cutting into the box where he was downed by McKenzie and the referee ran forward pointing to the spot. REILLY took the kick and hammered the ball home, sending 'keeper Bruce the wrong way.
Just a minute later, the Gowfers came close to adding a second counter after Cook played a great ball through for Voigt to chase. However, just before he could get the vital touch, Gardiner slid in to knock the ball away, and received a kick in the leg for his trouble. He required some treatment from the home sponge man before continuing.
Kinnoull were starting to come more into the game and won a corner on the left in 23 minutes. McManus took the flag kick, but when the ball came over, Campbell got up well to head clear.
Clark sent a pass through to Voigt, who was then fouled by McKenzie. Hall's free kick was laid back by Muhsin to Clark, who fired off a shot, but Bruce got down well to turn the ball round his left-hand post. Clark took the resultant corner, but Wilkie got up to head clear.
Carnoustie continued to press and went two up in 26 minutes. Reilly latched on to a McCafferty clearance and flicked the ball through to VOIGT, who completely outpaced Wilkie before lobbing the ball over the advancing Bruce into the net.
Kelly was then shown the yellow card for comments made to the referee.
Two minutes later, Carnoustie went further ahead after Scott played a great through ball to Voigt, who ran on into the box only to be pulled down by Wilkie, who can perhaps consider himself lucky to be shown only the yellow card. VOIGT placed the ball on the spot, then fired it low into the corner of the net, giving Bruce no chance.
In 32 minutes, Muhsin linked with Cook, who took the ball right into the home box where he was chopped down by McKenzie, but the referee turned the spot kick claims aside, despite it appearing more of a stonewall penalty than either of the two he had given earlier.
Carnoustie had the ball in the net again in 39 minutes when Voigt stroked it home following good lead up work by Cook, Reilly, Hall and Clark. However, the referee chalked the 'goal' off as Clark was deemed to have fouled Wilkie.
Next minute, the Gowfers again came close to increasing their lead after Reilly was fouled by Anton just inside the visitors' half. Scott's free kick picked out Voigt, whose header came back off the crossbar, with the ball being cleared away by Nicol.
Right on the half-time whistle, Kinnoull almost pulled a goal back when a McManus free kick was headed on by Wilkie, but McCafferty got up to touch the ball over the top. Anton's corner picked out Holden, whose shot took a deflection off Cook, but McCafferty brought off another great save.
Half Time : Kinnoull 0 Carnoustie Panmure 3
Kinnoull made a couple of changes for the second half with Tang and Ross being replaced by Gunnion and Gordon.In 53 minutes, Anton was fouled by Scott just outside the Carnoustie penalty area. Anton prepared to take the free kick himself, but as the players jostled with each other in the box, substitute Gordon deliberately elbowed Scott in the face and was immediately shown a straight red card, having given just eight minutes service. Anton then saw yellow for comments made to the referee.
When order had been restored, it was McManus who took the kick, but put far too much weight behind it and the ball went out for a goal kick without anyone else getting a touch. In 59 minutes, Scott was cautioned for bringing down Holden out on the right touchline. Again, McManus took the free kick, but Hall was able to block it away.
Carnoustie pushed forward once more and with an hour on the watch Scott played a great 50 yard cross-field pass to MUHSIN wide on the right. He took a great first touch, then cut inside before hammering the ball low into the corner of the net for the Gowfers' fourth.
Two minutes later, Reilly took the ball forward to the bye-line, then won a corner off Anton. Clark dropped the flag kick right into the goalmouth, but the home defence scrambled the ball clear before either Reilly or Voigt could get a touch.
In 77 minutes, Kinnoull were reduced to nine men after Kelly was shown a second yellow card, again for comments made to the match official.
At this point, Carnoustie made their first change with Conway going on in place of Clark.
Six minutes later, the Gowfers' second substitution saw Scott make way for Beith, who was making his first appearance since mid-October having undergone corrective surgery for a groin problem.
Beith was quickly involved in the thick of the action, linking with Conway to set up Reilly, whose shot was just off target, whizzing inches wide of Bruce's right-hand post.
The last chance of the match fell to Kinnoull after Hendry turned a Holden cross behind for a corner. McManus took the kick, but when the ball came over, McCafferty rose to take it cleanly just in front of Holden.
As the 'keeper cleared the ball upfield, the referee brought proceedings to a close, signalling three very welcome points for the Laing Park men.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
| STARTING LINE-UPS | |
| 1. Bruce | 1. John McCafferty |
| 2. Nicol | 2. Steven Cook |
| 3. Gardiner | 3. Jim Scott |
| 4. Tang | 4. Robert Hendry |
| 5. Wilkie | 5. Alan Campbell |
| 6. Ross | 6. Scott Hunter |
| 7. Anton | 7. Sean Muhsin |
| 8. McManus | 8. Euan Hall |
| 9. Holden | 9. Jon Voigt |
| 10. Kelly | 10. Andy Reilly |
| 11. McKenzie | 11. Brian Clark |
| SUBS : | SUBS : |
| 12. Gunnion (Replaced Tang After 45 Minutes) | 12. Gavin Beith (Replaced Jim Scott After 83 Minutes) |
| 14. Gordon (Replaced Ross After 45 Minutes) | 14. Aaron Conway (Replaced Brian Clark After 78 Minutes) |
| 15. Quinn (Sub Not Used) | 15. Garry McLaughlin (Sub Not Used) |
| 16. Gray (Sub Not Used) | 16. Jonathan Thompson (Sub Not Used) |
| 17 - Sweeney (Sub Not Used) | Sub 'Keeper - Jamieson (Sub Not Used) |
| GOALS | |
| NONE | MUHSIN(60), REILLY(15), VOIGT(26,28) |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS | |
| Referee : G. Harris, Coupar Angus. | |
| RED - GORDON & KELLY, YELLOW - ANTON & WILKIE | NONE |