The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Gowfers dominate to see off Musselburgh
SUPER LEAGUE: Carnoustie and Saints get off to flying starts but champs Kelty suffer on opening day
Carnoustie Panmure are off to a flying start after a highly impressive 4-1 victory at home to Musselburgh Athletic at Laing Park.
Alan McSkimming’s side took the lead on five minutes through Scott Gray, only for the Lothian side to equalise on 13 minutes when Jackie Myles converted a spot kick.
Marc Scott restored the Gowfers’ lead on the quarter-hour mark as the Angus side regained control and dominated the game. Jamie McCabe increased the home side’s lead early in the second half before Sam Simpson put the gloss on the performance with number four after 65 minutes.
Newly-promoted St Andrews United are also of to a flyer after a dominant 2-0 victory over Bonnyrigg Rose at Barnetts Park that saw the visitors complete the game with 10 men.
At almost the same time as Carnoustie, Saints took the lead.
Paddy Deane was flattened just outside the box by former Montrose defender Ewan Moyes, who was booked,
Stevie McManus stepped up and curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom corner of Paul Grant’s net.
The visitors’ task was made all the more harder on 82 minutes when fullback Jonathan Brown was shown a straight red for something said to the referee.
Saints took advantage as the visitors tried to reorganise with Kieran Sturrock seizing on a poor Rose throw-in before beating two men and the keeper to slide the ball into an open net and secure the points for Phil McGuire’s side.
Tayport were seconds away from making it a hat-trick for Courier Country’s three northern clubs but were denied by a last-minute equaliser against troubled Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield.
Dave Baikie’s men made the ideal start when Scott Finlay put them in front after three minutes, firing in a low freekick from the left.
Kevin Milne should have made it two and then had a strong penalty claim ruled out.
The home side came back in to it and Gavin Wilson had to be in top form to keep out Kelbie, Coyne and Shirra.
Then in stoppage time Tommy Coyne got away from his man before crossing for substitute Tyrrell to break the visitors’ hearts and pinch a point from a game they had looked like losing.
Champions Kelty Hearts’ campaign to record back-to-back Super League titles got off to a bad start at New Douglas Park against Newtongrange Star.
Blair Tolmie put the home side in front with a header on 10 minutes and as much as Tam Courts’ side worked hard to get back in to the game they couldn’t break down a resolute Star side.
Kris Renton was sent off for Newtongrange but rather than weaken Star’s hold on the game it made them more resolute and they managed to hold on for all three points comfortably at the end.
Hill of Beath Hawthorn started Super League life without Jock Finlayson with a 2-1 home defeat to Fauldhouse United at Keirs Park.
However, the Fife side were adamant that they should have been awarded a late penalty but referee Jordan Stokoe did not agree.
Fauldhouse took the lead on 10 minutes when a Deans corner was met by a bullet header from Gary Fallon that gave Stuart Hall no chance.
Calum Adamson, who looked lively all afternoon, drew the Haws level on 35 minutes when he seized on a poor defensive header to rifle the ball back past Murphy.
United regained the lead on 75 minutes in fortuitous circumstances, a Deans shot- cross hit Scott, the Fauldhouse man then turned to tap the ball past Hall to secure the points.