Carnoustie made it fourteen games without defeat as they beat Downfield 1-0 at Laing Park in the McBookie.com East Region Super League North.
It would have been easy to mistake the home dressing room for the set of Casualty as players were bandaged and strapped up prior to the game but after having five players injured after training on Thursday night, manager Phil McGuire made just one change to the side that drew with Broughty Athletic and that was down to suspension with Bruce Hearn coming in for Sam Simpson.
Carnoustie had the first chance of the game after just 90 seconds but Jamie Winter saw his effort go wide. The visitors came in to the game and had a couple of early chances with Gavin Thomson heading straight at Jamie Robbie and then shooting wide. Robbie was called in to action late in the first half having to make two saves in quick succession and the sides went in at the break level.
The second half started in similar manner with Carnoustie gradually gaining the ascendency, Spiders Gavin Thomson was a little lucky to stay on the pitch on 63 minutes, already booked, the Downfield man was guilty of a poor challenge on Bailey Steel but the referee felt a free kick was strangely enough reward for the Gowfers. Carnoustie took the lead on 65 minutes, a Steven McPhee corner was a little too close to Grant Adam in the Downfield goal but he managed to drop the ball and Ryan Dignan reacted quickest to knock the ball home. Carnoustie were denied a penalty when Paul McLellan was hacked down in the box but again the referee puzzled the crowd by playing an advantage that wasn’t there. Carnoustie had further chances to increase their lead but couldn’t find the back of the net but you get as many points for 1-0 as you do two or three.
Carnoustie : Robbie, Hearn (Dow), Steel, Roche, Clark (Martin), McLellan, Winter, Dignan, McPhee, Macdonald (Martin), Dailly,
Subs Not Used : Cormack, Conway
