The referee was the centre of attention, not for the first time, as Carnoustie lost 2-1 away from home against Whitburn at Central Park.
Manager Phil McGuire was able to recall Jamie Winter and Bruce Hearn but was without Jamie McCabe, Barrie Gourlay and Paddy Conway were at the heart of defence with Harvey Dailly moving to left back.
Carnoustie started poorly and were caught napping after just five minutes as Gunn flicked the ball home at the near post. The Gowfers gradually came back in to it and look to be taking control when Bailly Steel has harshly hacked down as he threatened to burst free, on another day it may have been a red card for the Whitburn defender but on this occasion the official showed a yellow card. The resulting free kick was fumbled behind by the goal keeper and from the corner Carnoustie were level, Steven McPhee’s kick was poorly cleared as far as Barrie Gourlay who smashed the ball in to the back of the net through a number of defenders on the line.
There was controversy early in the second half when Harvey Dailly was pushed down in the box but instead of awarding the clear spot kick, the referee booked the young left back. Whitburn took the lead on the hour, Gary Brass ran on to a through ball and he went down in the box under little if any contact from Gourlay, once again the referee sparked controversy by awarding a penalty and sending the Carnoustie man off. Duncan stepped up to convert the penalty to put the home side in front.
In added time Dailly received a second booking on top of his harsh first and joined Gourlay in the dressing room.
Carnoustie : Robbie, Hearn, Dailly, Steel, Gourlay, Conway, Cruickshank, Winter, Dignan, McPhee (Simpson), Martin
Subs Not Used : Cormack, Gibson, Sivewright, Roche
