Gowfers Blunt Armadale's Thistle
Armadale Thistle 1 Carnoustie Panmure 3
Carnoustie kicked-off with Reilly touching the ball to Cumming, who played it long up the left for Urquhart to chase, but Cunningham got across and knocked it out of play. Narey's throw-in was played through by Cook towards Cumming, but Wilson came quickly off his line to claim the ball before the Gowfers' striker could get a touch.In four minutes, Armadale won a corner off Urquhart and from McIntosh's cross, R. Johnstone shot just wide of Jamieson's right-hand post.
The home side continued to press and just a minute later were perhaps a shade lucky to open the scoring. A through ball from Bonnar found Chilton, whose initial effort was blocked away by Urquhart. Chilton was quickest to react and drove in a fierce shot, which Jamieson got down well to block, but failed to hold, and the ball dropped at the feet of L. JOHNSTONE, who blasted it into the net from six yards.
Stung into action by the loss of that early goal, Carnoustie pushed forward in search of a quick equaliser. Cook played a good ball up the line to McIlravey, who took it almost to the bye-line before firing in a low cross, but Wilson got down well to make the save.
In 10 minutes, the referee annoyed the Gowfers' support when McIlravey tried to send in a cross from the right with McIntosh in close attendance. The ball clearly broke off the Thistle player and went out behind for what should have been a corner, but the match official awarded a goal kick instead.
Two minutes later, Carnoustie came close to getting back on level terms when Beith crossed low and hard into the box. Reilly got a toe to the ball, but it was deflected behind by Manson for a fruitless corner.
The Gowfers continued to pile on the pressure and in 14 minutes Reilly took a pass from Cook and tried a shot from all of 35 yards, but Wilson again got down well to make the save.
In 18 minutes, Armadale won a free kick 30 yards out when Hall brought down R. Johnstone. McIntosh took the kick, but put the ball straight through to Jamieson, who had no trouble making the stop.
From the 'keeper's clearance, the ball came out to McIlravey, who made a great run up the right before sending in a cross to Reilly, who controlled it well only to be thwarted once more by another fine save from Wilson.
In 21 minutes, the Gowfers were forced to make a change when Cook went off with a pulled hamstring and was replaced by Clark.
Thistle won a corner on the right after Byle played the ball through to L. Johnstone, whose attempted cross was deflected behind by Clark. Bonnar fired the ball across the face of the goal, but with no-one else getting a touch, it went out on the far side for a throw to Carnoustie.
Next minute, the home side won another corner and again it was off Clark as he stuck out a foot to deflect a McIntosh cross behind. Again Bonnar took the kick and this time when the ball came over, Robertson got up well to head clear.
Back came the Gowfers and in 26 minutes, McIlravey took the ball right to the bye-line and won a corner off Byle. Clark sent a great cross into the six yard box where REILLY sneaked in front of Robertson and bulleted a header into the back of the net, giving Wilson no chance.
Armadale came close to regaining the lead in 37 minutes when R. Johnstone fed L. Johnstone, who flicked the ball past Narey and tried a shot, but sent it high and wide of the target.
In 40 minutes, Thistle won a free kick when L. Johnstone was fouled by Robertson 35 yards out. Chilton took the kick, but crashed the ball off the defensive wall and out behind for a fruitless corner.
Right on the half-time whistle, Armadale had another half-chance to go back in front when Maclaughline chipped a good ball through towards L. Johnstone, but Jamieson came quickly off his line to take it cleanly.
Half Time : Armadale Thistle 1 Carnoustie Panmure 1
Although it was Armadale who set the ball rolling at the start of the second half, Carnoustie were first to show with Reilly sending Urquhart away on a great run down the left. His cross to the back post found McIlravey, who controlled the ball well before firing in a shot, which Byle blocked behind for a corner. However, Clark's flag kick was a poor one and failed to get beyond Cunningham, who cleared it away upfield.Two minutes later, Reilly fed a good pass through to Urquhart, who tried a shot. Wilson got down and appeared to have it covered, but fumbled the ball out behind. Another corner followed in quick succession and this time Manson outjumped everyone to head clear.
In 49 minutes, L. Johnstone chopped down Hall and became the first player to be shown the yellow card. Beith dropped the resultant free kick deep into the home box, but Manson again got up to head clear.
In a Thistle counter-attack, L. Johnstone linked with Chilton, who laid the ball off to Bonnar, but Jamieson had no trouble making the save.
With an hour on the watch, Hall was brought down by R. Johnstone on the halfway line, but the referee waved play on. The ball broke to Urquhart, who took it forward, but his shot was a weak one and Wilson had no trouble making the stop.
Before the goalkeeper could take his kick-out, the referee called over R. Johnstone and booked him for the earlier foul on Hall.
In 64 minutes, Clark clashed with Manson, who suffered a head knock and remained on the ground. The referee immediately stopped play and waved on the home physio, who helped the player off the pitch. Play restarted with a dropped ball and Thistle continued with 10 men.
Carnoustie continued to press forward and Reilly and Clark worked a quick one-two before the latter tried a shot, but sent the ball well wide of Wilson's left-hand upright.
After some three minutes of treatment, the referee waved Manson back on and Thistle were once more at full strength.
In 69 minutes, Reilly played yet another good ball down the right to Urquhart, who won a throw-in off Cunningham. Reilly collected the ball from Narey's throw and sent in a great cross to the back post where URQUHART powered a header past Wilson to give the Gowfers a deserved lead.
In 74 minutes, Buchanan was cautioned for pulling back Reilly, but Clark's free kick was easily dealt with by the home defence.
Next minute, Armadale made their first change with Feeney replacing Byle.
Beith then linked with Narey, who won a corner off Manson. Clark took the kick, but when the ball came over, Wilson rose to punch it away.
In 80 minutes, Thistle were awarded a free kick for Urquhart's push on Bonnar. Clark was then shown the yellow card for not retreating quickly enough to allow the kick to be taken.
Carnoustie continued to press and in 85 minutes Reilly released Urquhart once more. After taking the ball forward, he sent in a good cross to CUMMING, who swept it home from six yards, giving Wilson no chance.
A minute later, the Gowfers almost notched a fourth when Hall sent in a good cross towards Urquhart, but he just failed to get the necessary touch and the ball went out behind for a goal kick.
Before play resumed, Armadale made a double change with Maclaughline and Chilton making way for Purdie and Shaw.
The remainder of the game was played out mainly in midfield and with nearly three minutes of stoppage time on the watch, the referee eventually brought proceedings to a close, thus signalling another welcome three points for the Gowfers.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
| STARTING LINE-UPS | |
| 1. Scott Wilson | 1. Craig Jamieson |
| 2. David Cunnigham | 2. Steven Narey |
| 3. Leslie Byle | 3. Robert Urquhart |
| 4. Gregor Buchanan | 4. Scott Robertson |
| 5. Kenneth Manson | 5. Robert Hendry |
| 6. Ryan Johnstone | 6. Euan Hall |
| 7. George Bonnar | 7. Gavin Beith |
| 8. Scott MacLaughline | 8. Steven Cook |
| 9. Craig Chilton | 9. Kevin Cumming |
| 10. Lee Johnstone | 10. Andy Reilly |
| 11. Alan McIntosh | 11. Michael McIlravey |
| SUBS : | SUBS : |
| 12. Dean Purdie (Replaced MacLaughline After 87 Minutes) | 12. Brian Clark (Replaced Cook After 21 Minutes) |
| 14. Dino Vita (Sub Not Used) | 14. Daryn Smith (Sub Not Used) |
| 15. Robbie Feeney (Replaced Byle After 75 Minutes) | 15. Matthew Henderson (Sub Not Used) |
| 16. Don Morrison (Trialist - Sub Not Used) | 16. Terry Masson (Sub Not Used) |
| 17. Graeme Shaw (Replaced Chilton After 87 Minutes) | N/A | 18. Neil McMechan (Sub Not Used) | N/A |
| GOALS | |
| JOHNSTON(5) | CUMMING(87), REILLY(26), URQUHART(69) |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS | |
| Referee : P. Wedlock, Livingston | |
| BUCHANAN, L.JOHNSTONE, R.JOHNSTONE | CLARK |
League Standings After Game
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||
| # |
Team
|
P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1 | Forfar West End | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 17 | +13 |
| 2 | Kinnoull | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 15 | +5 |
| 3 | Ballingry Rovers | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 0 |
| 4 | Arniston Rangers | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 | +5 |
| 5 | Tayport | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | +2 |
| 6 | Carnoustie Panmure | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 10 | -6 |
| 7 | Fauldhouse United | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 9 | -3 |
| 8 | Penicuik Athletic | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 9 | -4 |
| 9 | Armadale Thistle | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | +1 |
| 10 | St Andrews Utd | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 8 | -3 |
| 11 | Blairgowrie | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 8 | -5 |
| 12 | Montrose Roselea | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | -5 |