Ten-man Gowfers win vital point at League Champions
Boness United 3 Carnoustie Panmure 3
Bo'ness kicked off and immediately put the ball out of play beside Carnoustie's corner flag. In three minutes the Gowfers won a free-kick mid-way inside the Bo'ness half, but Clarks kick went well wide of Christie's left-hand post.The keeper found Watt with his kick-out and he made a good run up the left, winning a corner off Hendry. Walker took the kick, but Millar was on hand to clear the danger.
Millar then played a good ball through to Perera, but Snowdon just beat him to it and cleared the ball upfield where Plenderleith collected it and played it through to WATT, who took it forward, out-stripped the Gowfer's defence and fired the ball into the net, giving McCafferty no chance.
Three minutes later the Gowfers came close to leveling the tie, when Gates sent in a rocket shot from the edge of the box, but Christie made a great save to touch it over the bar. Clark took the corner, but the ball went behind for a goal-kick.
They went close again in 13 minutes when McIlravey played a good ball through to Perera at the edge of the box, but he hooked his shot over the bar.
Plenderleith picked up the keeper's kick-out and burst forward, but he let the ball run too far in front of himself and Gates nipped in to usher the ball out for a goal-kick.
Back came the Gowfers with Gates feeding the ball to Hendry who played a great ball forward to Perera, but Christie rushed from his line to smother it before Perera could get the necessary touch.
In 19 minutes the homesters doubled their lead after they were awarded a free-kick out wide on the right. Duffy took the kick and found the unmarked REILLY who headed home from ten yards.
They nearly scored a third a couple of minutes later when Donnelly was allowed to run through almost unchallenged on goal, but fortunately for Carnoustie he hit the ball narrowly past McCafferty's right-hand post.
In 22 minutes the Gowfers had a half-chance when McIlravey played a good ball through to Watson who turned and fired in a shot, but Christie got across to make another great save.
The Gowfers were not to be denied for long however when, with 26 minutes gone, Watson fed the ball into the box to McIlravey who was chopped down by Reilly for a Carnoustie penalty which was duly converted by GATES.
They had another half-chance five minutes later when a Clark free-kick found Watson who fired in a shot, but again Christie made a good save to keep his side in front.
The Gowfers kept pressing and were rewarded when McIlravey played a ball out to Watson, who flicked it over Mulligan's head and sent a great cross into the box, where Gibb just beat Perera to it and knocked it out for a corner.
Clark's corner kick found ROBERTSON at the near post and he headed home to give the Gowfers a deserved equalizer with 36 minutes on the watch.
Four minutes later McIlravey again linked with Watson who made a good run into the box, but Mulligan intercepted and knocked the ball out for a corner which Carnoustie were unable to capitalise on.
Half Time : Boness United 2 Carnoustie Panmure 2
The home side were first to show after the break, with Donnelly making a good run down the left, linking with Walker who played the ball in to Watt, but Hendry made a great interception and cleared the ball upfield.Two minutes later Donnelly again made a good run down the line before cutting inside, but this time it was Millar who put in a good tackle to halt his run.
In 51 minutes United came close to going back in front when a Donnelly cross found Plenderleith who powered in a header, but Hendry managed to clear the ball off the line.
Play surged back upfield and Gates fed a great ball through for Watson to chase, but again Christie rushed off his line to clear the danger.
Millar then fed the ball to Clark who went past two men then fed it to Gates whose shot brought out another good save from Christie.
In 54 minutes the Gowfers made their first change with Matthew making way for Cumming.
After Christie had made another good save, from a Carnoustie corner, punching the ball away for a throw-in, Bo'ness made their first change with Gribben taking over from Plenderleith.
With an hour on the watch, Bo'ness went back in front when Millar deflected the ball out for a corner which Gribben took, finding Reilly at the back post and his header back across goal was headed in by WATT.
Before the restart Bo'ness made another change with Nimmo taking Bonar's place.
Five minutes later Carnoustie made a second change with Perera being replaced by Cook.
A minute later Carnoustie were back on level terms after Cook sent Gates away up the left. He took the ball forward then swung a great cross into the goalmouth and, although Christie did well to punch it clear, it dropped to CLARK at the edge of the box and he volleyed it into the back of the net.
Two minutes later the homesters went close when Gribben picked out Reilly with a corner kick, but he headed over the top.
In 71 minutes the Gowfers were reduced to ten men when Reilly and Cumming went up to challenge for the ball and the referee flashed a straight red card at the Carnoustie man for "attempting to elbow his opponent".
Being a man short didn't stop Carnoustie pressing for the winner and firstly, from a McCafferty clearance, Millar played a great ball through to Watson, but he misjudged his run and was flagged offside, then Gates picked out Watson with a throw-in, but as he tried to get the ball under control, he was adjudged to have fouled Snowdon and a free-kick was awarded to United.
Bo'ness made their third change with Hamilton going on for Mulligan.
Two minutes later Christie again rushed off his line to claim the ball at the feet of McIlravey after Gates had played the ball through.
In 87 minutes another Gowfer's attack was halted when Watson was again flagged offside, as he ran on to a Millar pass.
Deep into stoppage time the home side were also reduced to ten men, after Robertson and Nimmo clashed. The referee showed Nimmo a yellow card followed by red, as he had apparently been cautioned earlier, for dissent. He then cautioned Snowdon for foul and abusive language directed at a Carnoustie player.
A minute later the final whistle blew and the Gowfers had deservedly secured what could be a very valuable point as they battle to avoid the dreaded drop.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
| STARTING LINE-UPS | |
| 1. Christie | 1. John McCafferty |
| 2. Snowdon | 2. Scott Gates |
| 3. Mulligan | 3. Robert Hendry |
| 4. Gibb | 4. Scott Robertson |
| 5. Reilly | 5. Danny Millar |
| 6. Bonar | 6. Mark Matthew |
| 7. Watt | 7. Michael McIlravey |
| 8. Duffy | 8. Brian Clark |
| 9. Plenderleith | 9. Calum Watson |
| 10. Walker | 10. John Roberts |
| 11. Donnelly | 11. Josh Perera |
| SUBS : | SUBS : |
| 12. Gribben (Replaced Plenderleith After 55 Minutes) | 12. Alan McSkimming (Sub Not Used) |
| 14. Hamilton (Replaced Mulligan After 76 Minutes) | 14. Steven Narey (Sub Not Used) |
| 15. Nimmo (Replaced Mulligan After 60 Minutes) | 15. Kevin Cumming (Replaced Matthew After 54 Minutes) |
| 16. Hay (Sub Not Used) | 16. John Tonner (Sub Not Used) |
| 17. Cannine (Sub Not Used) | 17. Steven Cook (Replaced Perera After 65 Minutes) |
| 18. Shields (Sub Not Used) | 18. Sam Johnson (Sub Not Used) |
| Sub Keeper - Allan (Sub Not Used) | Sub Keeper - Craig Jamieson (Sub Not Used) |
| GOALS | |
| WATT (6,60)REILLY (19) | CLARK (66), GATES (26 pen), ROBERTSON (36) |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS | |
| Referee : Mr Gavin Ross, Edinburgh. | |
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