Manager Phil Mc Guire was limited in his team selection for the short trip to the Quest Arena to take on Broughty Athletic with Greg Warwick and Paddy Conway coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Millar and Gordon Macdonald, while the substitute bench included members of our youth set up.
A sizeable crowd saw the game begin in freezing conditions and it was the home support that were rewarded after just six minutes when Ruari Henry gave Broughty the lead, stabbing the ball home at the back post at the second attempt.
The game was suspended after 17 minutes when Broughty midfielder Brad Smith went down in the middle of the park with a suspected serious knee injury and in the freezing conditions the players returned to the warmth of the dressing rooms. After he had received emergency treatment thanks to an off duty paramedic, and despatched to Ninewells Hospital, the players returned and after a short warm up the game resumed following a 45-minute delay.
Carnoustie arguably started the game better the second time round, but it was the home side that increased their lead on the half hour through Craig Tosh. The Gowfers responded well and got back into the game, five minutes before half time when Ross Fraser completed a great run by smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first with the home side on top and once again their got an early reward when Josh Skelly completed a fine move, scoring from ten yards and the game was effectively put to bed on 68 minutes when Ben Middleton rose well at the back post to power a header past Darren Clarkson.
Credit has to go to the match officials and two teams for completing the game after a long delay but mostly to the supporters who saw the game through to the end in bitterly cold conditions.
We would also like to pass on our best wishes to Brad for his recovery.
