Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Will Shipbuilders be spot on again?
EAST Craigie wound up their league programme on Wednesday but their season isn’t quite finished yet.
The Shipbuilders have an important date with Carnoustie on Sunday when they meet in the final of the GA Engineering Cup at Tannadice Park (KO 1pm).
It’s been a long time since Craigie played in a final.
In fact, no-one currently associated with the team has any record of the last time they reached t he final stage of a competition.
However, the club are just delighted to be there and they are there on merit after some notable victories, all away from home.
They kicked off the campaign at Thomson Park against Lochee United and, for the second season running, they knocked the Super League side out.
It finished 2-2 after 90 minutes with the Shipbuilders going on to win 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
They were then drawn away to Culter and shared six goals with the north side but, once again, held their nerve to win on spot-kicks.
A l ocal derby against North End followed and the Shipbuilders were 2-1 victors which earned them a semi-final tie away to Hermes.
They held one of the top north sides to a 2-2 draw and, yet again, they were triumphant in the shootout.
That earned them a place in Sunday’s final and one of the key players en route to the final was keeper Liam Dunn, who played a major role in the three ties which went to penalties.
Carnoustie, on the other hand, have had a far more straightforward path to the final, winning all four matches by the same 3-1 scoreline.
They kicked off at home to Scone, then faced a trip north to meet Longside.
It was back to Tayside for an all-Super League clash with Jeanfield and they reached the final with a win over Stonehaven at Laing Park.
The Gowfers will be favourites to lift the trophy but Craigie aren’t there to make up the numbers and go into the final as the form team. Although they lost 3-1 to Lochee Harp on Wednesday night, they had gone the previous 15 matches undefeated and confidence in the camp is high.
The Gowfers won’t underestimate their opponents but are quietly confident.
However, their 3-2 defeat at Dundonald in midweek, after leading 2-0 through Adam Harwood and Pat Martin goals, won’t have done their confidence any favours ahead of the final.
While the current junior side have been grabbing the headlines, Craigie’s U/17 side, East Craigie Swifts, are determined to grab some of the limelight.
They are through to the final of the SYFA East of Scotland Cup after beating Hill of Beath 3-2 and will meet Scone Thistle in the final at Newburgh on May 30.