Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Craigie cap off season with five-star victory
AFTER 11 months the junior season ended on Saturday with East Craigie overwhelming Tayport to lift the Quest Engineering Cup with a fivestar performance.
Both sides were under-strength for various reasons, with Tayport able to name keeper Darren Brown as their only substitute while Craigie were slightly better off and able to name three.
The Shipbuilders set the early pace with Conan Howitt firing just wide in the opening minute but their pressure paid off in five minutes when ’Port keeper Craig Hepburn couldn’t hold on to a Paul Moran shot and Fraser MacLeod followed up to slot home the rebound.
Craigie doubled their lead on 11 minutes when Hepburn could only dive and push out a cross and it was met by Lee Cameron, who accepted the chance.
The Fifers were rarely seen in attack, with their only real effort coming from a Ryan Paterson free kick which was easily saved and they lost a third four minutes from half time when Howitt rifled home from the edge of the box.
The Shipbuilders continued to dominate in the second half and it came as no surprise when they went four ahead in 57 minutes with a cracking drive from Howitt, which hit the junction of post and bar and for the second time MacLeod was first to react and tapped home the rebound.
’Port did manage to pull one back in 65 minutes with a fine overhead kick from Keiran Sturrrock but it was no more than a consolation, with the Shipbuilders going nap with 10 minutes to go when Howitt converted a penalty after Rory Faulkner was barged off the ball.
It was a fitting end to a fine season for Craigie although it did end on a slightly sour note when Lewis Fraser was given his marching orders with five minutes to go for comments made to the referee.