Carnoustie completed the first half of the 2019/20 season, top of the Super League North on 35 points from 14 games, five points clear of Broughty Athletic , thirteen clear of Downfield and sixteen clear of Lochee United, who have four games in hand.
The Gowfers latest win came at the expense of Scone Thistle for the second time this season with Phil McGuire’s men running out 5-0 winners.
Manager Phil McGuire made a few changes to the starting eleven with one eye on fixtures ahead, Michael Cruickshank came in for Jake Mair who dislocated his shoulder at Luncarty, with Jamie Winter and Pat Martin rested with Gordon Macdonald and Paul McLellan coming in.
The visitors had the first effort on goal after three minutes but the shot went high over the bar. Carnoustie gradually started to dominate and took a deserved lead on 25 minutes, a shot from distance wasn’t dealt with by Gavin Sorley in the Scone goal and Ryan Dignan seized on the chance and smashed the ball in to the back of the net. Six minutes later it was 2-0, the ball was fed to McLellan on the left, he spotted Sam Simpson unmarked on the right, Simpson watched the ball cross the park before volleying it in to the back of the net giving Sorley little chance. Just before half time, two became three when a McPhee corner was only cleared as far as Brian Clark on the edge of the box and he struck a drive in to the roof of Sorleys net.
The second half started as the first had finished with The Gowfers on top and looked to have made it 4-0 on 65 minutes when Dignan crashed a rebound in to the net but as the striker was in the act of shooting the referee blew for a penalty and disallowed the goal. To make matters worse for Carnoustie Sam Simpson saw his penalty strike the post and come back in to play. The home side continued to press and despite several opportunities it wasn’t until the 85th minute that a rapid attack by Carnoustie led by Steven McPhee saw Paul McLellan beat the offside trap to stab the ball past Sorley. The Gowfers were firmly in control after four fine goals but the icing on the cake was a wonder strike from Pat Martin in stoppage time. A Kieran Sturrock effort was blocked by the Scone defence but the clearance found Martin 25 yards from goal, he took one look and rifled the ball beyond Sorley and in to the top corner, a definite contender for goal of the season.
Carnoustie : Robbie, Cruickshank, Steel, Roche, Clark, McLellan, Dignan (Sturrock), McPhee, Simpson (Conway), Macdonald (Martin), Dailly
Subs Not Used : Cormack, Winter
