Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Carnoustie are league champs after 5-0 win
CARNOUSTIE are the league champions after clinching the title in style on Saturday with a 5-0 win over Forfar WE.
Meanwhile, East Craigie’s challenge fizzled out as they suffered a last game 1-0 defeat from North End.
The Gowfers made the perfect start at Strathmore Park with two goals in the first 14 minutes. Connor Coupe netted the first on 10 minutes and four minutes later Dale Reid doubled their score.
The title was all but sewn up five minutes from the break when Reid made it 3-0 – and eight minutes into the second half he completed his hat-trick.
Just to round off the celebrations, Ryan Dignan added a fifth with 15 minutes to go.
Craigie’s challenge didn’t materialise, but perhaps it was expecting a bit too much after they dropped points to Tayport in midweek.
With news filtering through from Strathmore Park it was hardly surprising the Shipbuilders’ heads went down a bit – although it was a bit cruel that the Dokens grabbed a winner from Jamie Montgomery with a minute to go.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the title, the Shipbuilders can hold their heads up high after a magnificent effort – their season is by no means over, as they are still in with a chance of lifting two trophies.
They face Tayport in the final of the Quest Engineering Cup and are still in the frame for the Thorntons Property Services Cup.
Elsewhere, Lochee United made it an unhappy return to Thomson Park for Kirrie Thistle manager Steve McNally as the Bluebells cruised to a 5-1 victory.
Lochee made a blistering start with three goals in the opening 13 minutes.
Ross Gallagher opened the scoring on three minutes and this was followed by a George Johnston double.
Kirrie pulled one back on 23 minutes through Stewart Russell, but the Bluebells replied with a Grant Lawson penalty on 68 minutes and they went nap just on time through Kerr Hay.
In a remarkable game at Whitton Park Broughty Athletic were 5-3 down against Letham with 15 minutes to go, but three late goals gave the Fed a 6-5 victory.
Letham raced into an early two-goal lead through strikes from a trialist and Adam Storrar, but the Fed hit back through a double from Josh Skelly.
A minute from half-time, Alan Cunningham regained the lead for the Perth side, but on the stroke of half-time Brad Smith levelled.
The goalfest continued after the break with Sean Whitworth and Shaun Simpson giving Letham a 5-3 lead, but the Fed replied in a late rally with two goals from Smith to complete his hat-trick and another from Rikki Gillespie.
Tayport received an early shock at the Canniepairt when Cammy Fraser gave Brechin Vics the lead, but they replied swiftly through Jamie Gill and another two from Keiran Sturrock and Adam Fraser gave the Fifers a 3-1 interval lead.
Sturrock struck again midway through the second half and further goals from Ryan Paterson and Paul Sludden in the final five minutes made it 6-1 for the Fifers.
Elsewhere, Harp won the bragging rights over their former management team with a 2-1 home victory over Coupar Angus and defences dominated at Fairfield Park as St James and Violet fought out a goalless draw.
Blairgowrie were 4-1 winners over Forfar United, with goals from Ross Bell and Blair Geddes putting the Berrypickers in control at half-time.
A Crichton goal for United gave them some hope, but two late goals from Ruari Henry sealed the points for the Berrypickers.