2017 started with The Gowfers sitting in twelfth place in the McBookie.com Super League but they wouldn’t get back to the league campaign until later in January. The year started instead with an East Of Scotland Cup tie against Arbroath Vics. A decent if somewhat rusty performance saw Carnoustie run out 3-1 winners with two goals from Gordon Macdonald as well as a Sam Simpson strike.
The following saw the league game against Jeanfield postponed due to a frozen pitch so it wasn’t until the third weekend that they re-started the League programme with a trip to Musselburgh. Olivebank has never been a great hunting ground for The Gowfers, so everyone was delighted with the point as they came from 3-2 down to draw, even after goals from Macdonald and Simpson had given Carnoustie a 2-0 lead. An 87th minute penalty from Sam Simpson, securing a point.
January ended with The Gowfers unbeaten following a 2-0 win at home to Hill of Beath Hawthorn, once more Gordon Macdonald was on the scoresheet, this time alongside Jamie McCabe.
Like January, February started with a cup tie, this time it was in the GA Engineering Cup as North Region side Islavale visited Laing Park. McCabe and Macdonald were on target once again, alongside strikes from Steven Cook and Ryan Roche as Keith side were dispatched 4-1.
The unbeaten run continued with a fantastic 2-1 victory at Prestonfield against Linlithgow Rose, once more it was Macdonald who made the difference with two quality strikes to make it seven goals in five games at the start of the year.
Dundonald came from behind to take a point at Laing Park after Macdonald once more and Robert Urquhart had put The Gowfers in front. Incredibly all the goals came within the first half hour of the game.
After the League game at Jeanfield at the beginning of March, the unbeaten run came to an end in the Quarter Final of the GA Cup. Premier League Tayport totally outplayed Carnoustie and were comfortable 2-0 winners. However, the unbeaten league run continued as, relegation threatened, Fauldhouse United we easily despatched 4-0 at home, McCabe scored twice with Macdonald and Simpson netting the other two.
McCabe was now the man in form in front of goal as he scored two more as The Gowfers went 2-0 in front inside the first ten minutes, however, the home side came back and were level by the 15th minute and Carnoustie had to settle for a draw, especially after they were reduced to ten men when Ryan Roche was sent off.
The unbeaten Super League run came to an abrupt end at the beginning of April, at home to the eventual champions Kelty Hearts at Laing Park. Macdonald scoring his tenth goal of 2017 in a 5-1 defeat.
That result against Kelty was put right seven days later with a surprise 2-0 win at Penicuik Athletic. After delays on route had meant the team bus hadn’t arrive until 45 minutes before kick off, The Gowfers were deserved 2-0 winners with goals from Simpson and Urquhart. Bogey club Lochee United were the next visitors to Laing Park and left with all three points from a 2-0 win. The home defeat was then followed with a 4-1 defeat to Newtongrange at New Victoria Park with Macdonald scoring what would be his final goal for the club.
Jeanfield all but secured their Super League status with a 1-0 win at Laing Park at the end of April before Bonnyrigg Rose visited Angus at the beginning of May in the much delayed East Of Scotland Cup tie. With Rose still pushing Kelty for the title, they decided to rest a few players but still had enough to beat Carnoustie 3-2 with The Gowfers goals coming from Danny Millar and Ryan Roche. The final home Super League game of the season resulted in a 3-1 defeat to Bo’ness United, Simpson scoring the Carnoustie goal. The 2016/17 season came to an end at New Dundas Park as Bonnyrigg romped to a comfortable 5-0 win against a makeshift Carnoustie side.
The Gowfers finished the season in eleventh place on 33 points, scoring 43 goals, Gordon Macdonald scoring most and taking the top scorer award.
The Summer would see major changes at the club with Macdonald, Danny Millar, Pat Smith, Scott Gray, Roddy Black and Michael McIlravey all leaving the club but new faces were on the way.
