GOWFERS RETURN TO FORM WITH CUP WIN OVER EAST CRAIGIE
East Craigie 2 Carnoustie Panmure 4
Carnoustie kicked-off and had an early chance after Reilly was fouled by R. Welsh midway inside the Craigie half. Masson swung the free kick to the back of the box and picked out Robertson, who headed narrowly over.As the homesters pushed forward in response, Martin collected the ball from a G. Welsh throw-in and sent in a deep cross which, with the wind behind it, carried right into the goalmouth, but Jamieson got up to tip it over the top for a fruitless corner.
In five minutes, Craigie again came close after Martin was fouled by Robertson just inside the Gowfers' half. Martin took the free kick himself, but sent the ball wide of Jamieson's right-hand post.
Two minutes later, the home side won a corner when Clark deflected a Coogan cross out behind. Chalmers took the kick, but Smith got up well to head the ball away to safety.
Craigie continued to do most of the early attacking and in 10 minutes Martin cut inside Robertson before putting in a cross from which Coogan shot well wide of Jamieson's left-hand upright.
Play then switched quickly to the other end where CUMMING got his head to a Smith cross. The ball came back off the right-hand post, but struck 'keeper Burns and rebounded over the line to put Carnoustie ahead with 11 minutes gone.
Just a minute later, the Gowfers doubled their lead and again it was a rather fortunate counter. McIlravey sent in a cross to Reilly, whose initial shot was blocked by a defender. The ball, however, rebounded to REILLY and this time, with a neat overhead kick, he knocked it past the 'keeper into the net for the visitors' second.
Despite finding themselves two goals down, Craigie were far from out of it and deservedly pulled one back in 15 minutes. A poor clearance by Smith was intercepted by Constable, who was then fouled by Clark. Martin drove the free kick in low and hard and as Jamieson came off his line to claim it, the ball bounced up and struck him on the chest. In trying to catch the ball at the second attempt, the 'keeper only succeeded in fumbling it out to McFARLANE, who smashed it into the roof of the net from six yards.
In 19 minutes, Carnoustie should have restored their two goal advantage after a Cook free kick picked out Hall, who was brought down by Cairney inside the box. The referee immediately ran forward pointing to the spot, but Reilly's penalty was a poor one and Burns had no great difficulty making the save.
Carnoustie were looking quite comfortable, but were rocked in 36 minutes when Wilson fired a 25-yard free kick through a ruck of players and R. WELSH stuck out a foot to divert the ball past Jamieson for the equaliser.
With the half-time whistle about to sound, McIlravey sent in a good cross to Clark, who won a corner on the left off Wilson. McIlravey's flag kick picked out COOK, who powered a great header past Burns from 10 yards, giving the 'keeper no chance and putting the Gowfers back in front.
Half Time : East Craigie 2 Carnoustie Panmure 3
In a sensational opening to the second half, R. Welsh was shown a straight red for a foul on Clark with barely a minute played.East Craigie were dealt another body blow in 53 minutes when McFarlane brought down Clark 22 yards out and was shown a second yellow card, immediately followed by the red, reducing the homesters to just nine men.
MASSON stepped up to take the free kick and fired the ball low and hard round the edge of the defensive wall and into the net, giving the 'keeper no chance.
In 68 minutes, Carnoustie made their first substitution with Cook going off to make way for Narey.
Further changes followed in 72 and 78 minutes with McSkimming replacing Masson and Urquhart taking over from Reilly. Craigie replaced Coogan with Kiernan in 82 minutes.
Still the Gowfers kept pressing forward and won a corner when a McIlravey shot was blocked behind by Davidson. Clark's cross picked out Cumming, who headed narrowly over.
In 87 minutes, Cumming had yet another chance, but fired the ball high over the top.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
| STARTING LINE-UPS | |
| 1. Burns | 1. Craig Jamieson |
| 2. G. Welsh | 2. Brian Clark |
| 3. Wilson | 3. Daryn Smith |
| 4. Davidson | 4. Scott Robertson |
| 5. Cairney | 5. Robert Hendry |
| 6. McFarlane | 6. Euan Hall |
| 7. R. Welsh | 7. Steven Cook |
| 8. Martin | 8. Terry Masson |
| 9. Coogan | 9. Kevin Cumming |
| 10. Chalmers | 10. Andy Reilly |
| 11. Constable | 11. Michael McIlravey |
| SUBS : | SUBS : |
| 12. Kiernan (Replaced Coogan After 82 Minutes) | 12. Steven Narey (Replaced Cook After 68 Minutes) |
| 14. Lochhead (Sub Not Used) | 14. Alan McSkimming (Replaced Masson After 72 Minutes) |
| Sub Keeper - Ryan Mitchell (Sub Not Used) | 15. Robert Urquhart (Replaced Reilly After 78 Minutes) |
| GOALS | |
| MCFARLANE(15), R.WELSH(36) | COOK(45), CUMMING(11), MASSON(53), REILLY(12) |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS | |
| Referee : D. Potter, Kirkcaldy. | |
| R.WELSH(RED CARD 46 MINS), MCFARLANE(RED CARD 53 MINS AFTER 2 YELLOWS) | NONE |