Carnoustie opened up a four point gap at the top of the Super League North following a comfortable 4-1 win over Kirriemuir Thistle in the Super League North.
Phil McGuire made three changes to the side that won 1-0 at the same venue the week before, two were enforced, Steven McPhee was way at a wedding while Jamie Robbie was on holiday so Jake Mair and Alan Cormack came in to the side while Gordon Macdonald came in for Pat Martin.
Both teams started well but it was Carnoustie who had the chances, however, they didn’t test Kirrie keeper Daryl Burns in the early exchanges. The Gowfers took the lead on 19 minutes, a cross from Brian Clark on the right was blocked by a Thistle arm in the box and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot, Sam Simpson stepped up and despatched the kick to the keepers right to put Carnoustie in to a deserved lead. Carnoustie continued to dominate and should have extended their lead on a number of occasions but that didn’t come until three minutes before the break as Clark was fouled in the box and the referee again pointed to the spot. Once again Simpson took the kick and after some “helpful” advice from Burns sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted the kick to the keepers left this time.
Within a minute of the start of the second half it was three, a corner from the left was returned in to the danger area by Ryan Dignan and under pressure from three of his own defenders and Gordon Macdonald, Burns dropped the ball in to his own net. Carnoustie continued to press and made it four on 64 minutes with the goal of the game. Once again Clark was the architect on the left, slipping the ball to Jamie Winter, who rifled the ball through a crowd of players in to the bottom corner of Burns net.
Kirrie did mange a consolation goal on 74 minutes when Cammy Black scored after a scramble in the 6 yard box but that was as far as any comeback got as Carnoustie managed the remaining 15 minutes well to ensure their sixth victory from their 9 games.
Carnoustie : Cormack, Steel, Roche, Clark (McLellan), Winter, Dignan (Martin), Simpson, Macdonald, Dailly, Conway, Mair (Cruickshank)
Subs Not Used : Scott, Hearn
