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East Region (313)
St Andrews stun Carnoustie in J Cord Cup final
Written by Andrew CreeganSt Andrews Colts completed one of the most astonishing comebacks in DDYFA history as they fought back from 4-0 down to beat Carnoustie Panmure on penalties and lift the J Cord Cup.
These sides occupy opposite ends of the Bodycare Complimentary Clinics League table, with Carnoustie chasing the title while St Andrews prop up the league. Despite that, the sides were evenly matched in the opening stages. Lewis Fairbarn flashed a header wide for St Andrews after 21 minutes.
After an encouraging opening, St Andrews fell behind on the half hour mark. Vincent Edmonds robbed Blair Myles and made no mistake with a composed finish past Lyall Constable.
Constable was made a routine save from Kieran Bradford’s free kick before keeping out Matthew Strachan’s near post effort.
Elation for East Fife Youth Academy with Spring Cup win
Written by Calum McCafferyEast Craigie Swifts sink Ferry in seven-goal thriler
Written by Andrew CreeganEast Craigie Swifts saw off Ferry Athletic to clinch the Elwood Trophy. Matt Mckinnon opened the scoring early on, before Hayden Burr headed past his own keeper to bring Ferry level.
Burr soon made amends with a first half double that put East Craigie in the driving seat. Aiden Mcirvine netted East Craigie’s fourth in between a double from Ferry’s Cameron Murray.
These sides have occupied first and second spot in the Dave Pullar league for most of the season, but it was East Craigie who struck first with 80 seconds on the clock. A low cross from the left was turned home by Matt Mckinnon for his 20th goal of the season.
East Craigie were clearly in the mood, but a series of early shots all failed to trouble Ferry stopper Robert Black. With 11 minutes played, Ferry were level. Jamie Chalmers delivered a free kick from deep, and East Craigie defender Hayden Burr could only head the ball past Charlie Kennedy.
Both teams were struggling to get into a rhythm early on with the referee continually stopping play for a series of niggling fouls. East Craigie did go back in front after 24 minutes.
A free kick was played into Reece Lornie, whose shot deflected into the path of Burr at the edge of the box and he fired the ball into the net despite the efforts of Chris Mudie on the line.
Max Flucker went close to adding a third for East Craigie after exchanging passes with Mckinnon, but he shot wide. At the other end, James Lawrie didn’t trouble Kennedy with a free kick from 25 yards.
Five minutes from the break, East Craigie were given a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Finlay Baird was bundled over in the box, and Burr made no mistake with the resulting penalty, drilling it into the bottom left corner.
St Andrews Colts survive late scare to end 24-year trophy drought
Written by Andrew CreeganSt Andrews Colts survived a late scare from Maryfield United to clinch the Mac Brown Cup and end the club's 24-year wait for silverware. Gary McDermott and Harry Martin had the Fife side two to the good, but Joe Wallace pulled one back for Maryfield late on.
Harry Paul put St Andrews 3-1 up but there was enough time remaining for Innes Urquhart to pull back another goal for Maryfield, but it wasn’t enough as Saints clinched the cup.
St Andrews had taken just one point from their two league matches against Maryfield but got off to the perfect start when Gary McDermott opened the scoring after six minutes. Harry Paul delivered a free kick from the right that was misjudged by Maryfield keeper Aiden Stewart, which allowed McDermott to force the ball over the line from close range.
Aiden Stewart made amends for his error at the goal two minutes later when he denied Callum West. Harry Martin released West, but Stewart denied him one-on-one.
Both sides were trying to find their rhythm after a frantic opening to the match, meaning clear-cut chances were at a premium. Evin Stewart dragged a shot wide after a solo run, while at the other end, Paul curled a shot into the arms of Aiden Stewart.
Magic minute secures Fairmuir three points against Ferry
Written by Andrew CreeganTwo goals in the space of a minute were enough for Fairmuir to see of Ferry Athletic in the Maryfield League. Matthew Nelson hooked in the opener before Rory Jagusinski curled in a second late in the second half, as Fairmuir continued to chip away at Dryburgh’s lead at the top of the table.
Both sides were in midweek action for the second time this week. Fairmuir picked up a 3-1 win over Dryburgh while Ferry played out a 1-1 draw against neighbours and cup final opponents Broughty United.
Fairmuir goalkeeper Cammy Hendry was caught out by the swirling wind as he dropped a cross at the feet of Jake Stewart, but the keeper flung himself at the striker’s feet and diverted the ball to safety. At the other end, Connor Milton produced a fine diving save to keep out Jamie Timmons’s free kick.
Logan Bonella nearly opened the scoring when the Milton inadvertently hit the ball off the Fairmuir striker, but the keeper’s blushes were spared as the ball flashed past the post.
The effects of so much football in such a short space of time was clear amongst both sets of players as neither side was able to get into any kind of rhythm. Fairmuir did break the deadlock four minutes from the break. The ball fell to Matthew Nelson at the edge of the box, and he hooked it up and over Milton into the net.
The hosts wasted no time in adding a second as Ethan Samson stole the ball 25 yards from goal and rather than go himself slipped in Rory Jagusinski. The former Broughty United man made no mistake with the finish, curling the ball into the side netting.
Fairmuir beat Dryburgh in top of the table clash
Written by Andrew CreeganFairmuir picked up a crucial three points against Dryburgh in their hunt for the Maryfield League title. Kane Hynes headed Fairmuir into the lead on the stroke of half time, with Rory Jagusinski and Mark McCrory sealing the points after Ryan Smith had levelled from the penalty spot.
Both these sides were unbeaten in the league coming into the match and neither was giving any ground in the opening stages. Aaron Cosgrove was forced into a couple of routine saves to keep Fairmuir at bay, while his opposite number Cammy Hendry made a smart save to keep out Ryan Corbitt’s header.
Cosgrove produced a fantastic reaction save to keep out Alex Stewart’s close-range volley as Fairmuir turned up the pressure on the Dryburgh goal.
With the referee preparing to bring the first half to an end, Fairmuir took the lead. Jamie Timmons delivered a free kick from the right, and Kane Hynes headed the ball past Cosgrove from close range.
Ferry seals Monifieth's first cup with late strike against Pitfour
Written by Andrew CreeganArran Ferry’s second half goal clinched the Tommy Clark Trophy for Monifieth Athletic against Pitfour. Ruari McQuillan headed Monifieth into an early lead before Andrew Allan brought Pitfour level before half time. Ferry struck the winner 11 minutes from time to secure Monifieth their first ever trophy.
Both sides came into the game off the back of busy weeks that saw them face last Sunday, before facing title rivals Dundee West and Fairmuir respectively. Aiden Lorente had the first chance of the game as he broke from a Pitfour corner before dragging his shot wide.
A Monifieth corner fell to Bartosz Kwiatek at the edge of the box, but his looping volley was straight at Archie Kelly-Barton. There was nothing the keeper could do three minutes later as Monifieth took the lead.
Elliot McCafferty delivered a free kick from the right onto the head of the unmarked Ruari McQuillan, who guided his header across Kelly-Barton into the bottom corner.
Pitfour felt Aaron Dewar handled Dylan Wright’s header on the line, but the referee waved away their appeals as Monifieth cleared the danger. Kai Finnie forced Thomas Welsh into a save as Pitfour began to grow into the game.
At the other end, McQuillan cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce shot that Kelly-Barton kept out. The Pitfour stopper had to be at his best to keep out a rising strike from Lorente moments later.
Kwiatek prodded the ball past Kelly-Barton on the half hour mark after a scramble in the Pitfour box, but Andrew Allan was in the right place on the line to clear the danger.
Pitfour striker Ally Alcorn scored all seven of his side’s goals as they beat Dundee Thistle during the week, and it took a fingertip save from Welsh to deny him his 38th goal of the season.
The resulting corner was met by Allan, whose effort bounced up and into the net despite the efforts of Dewar on the line. The defender netted from two Alcorn corners in last season’s Dundee West Anniversary Cup final, and he had handed his side a valuable lifeline three minutes before the interval.
DUSC do the double after hitting Arbroath for six
Written by Andrew CreeganDundee United SC made it a league and cup double as they hit Arbroath Lads for six in the final of The Marshall Cup. Liam Old, Jamie Bruce, Layton Massie and Freddie Holmes all scored in the first half, with Holmes netting again in the second as did Harvey Todd.
Arbroath prop up the P Gibson League table, and they got off to the worst possible start as Liam Old opened the scoring after 80 seconds. Arbroath could only clear a corner as far as the DUSC skipper, who swept the ball into the net from 15 yards.
The early goal settled any pre-game nerves amongst the DUSC players, as they began to show why they’re champions. Having already punished Arbroath from a set piece, DUSC doubled their lead after 11 minutes in emphatic fashion.
Arbroath keeper Cooper Robb did well to punch a corner clear at his near post but could only stand and watch as Jamie Bruce rifled the loose ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
Things nearly got worse for Arbroath seven minutes later as Harvey Todd was sent through on goal, but he slipped as he went to pull the trigger and Arbroath survived.
Robb got down well to deny Layton Massie from close range at a corner but was helpless when he smacked the ball into the net from all of 25 yards.
Old went close to adding a fourth but saw Logan Mackie head his effort onto the bar. DUSC didn’t have to wait long for a fourth as Logan Farquharson’s cross from the left was guided past Robb by Freddie Holmes.
Thomas Cunningham was causing Arbroath all sorts of problems throughout the first half and he was denied twice in quick succession, firstly by the post and secondly by Robb who produced a fine diving save to keep the deficit at four.
10 man Lochgelly pip Pitreavie to book Fife Cup Final spot
Written by Luke ShearerBoth sides entered this match confident of progressing to the Fife Cup Final, however it was Lochgelly who progressed after a brilliant performance with only 10 men. They came from behind to overcome a strong Pitreavie side and as a result booked their place in the Fife Cup Final.
Launcherhead Park hosted this semi-final between two very strong sides. The pitch, which was not conducive to good football, really impacted on the performances of both teams, however the Pumas did start the better of the two sides.
Some good play down the right wing from Pitreavie led to a cross into the box, Lochgelly only managed to clear to the edge and Kendall Forbes controlled well but his shot flew wide of the right hand post.
Five minutes later, the game changed completely. Lochgelly’s Liam Taylor, who had been yellow carded only a few minutes earlier for a late tackle, saw a second yellow for foul and abusive language. The red card seemed very harsh in truth and Lochgelly were reduced to 10 men.
From the resulting free kick, about 25 yards out, the ball was laid off to Mitchell Roe, who controlled his strike well to fire the ball into the top right-hand corner to put Pitreavie one goal up.
The red card, coupled with Pitreavie’s early goal seemed to galvanise Lochgelly and ten minutes later they had an opportunity of their own. Jordan Robertson was played in on goal and his effort was deflected just over the bar.
This was a sign of things to come and just before half-time they should have been level. A long free kick from Cairn Dow found its way to Todd Fleming who forced Kyle Bow into a good save. The rebound fell to Robertson, however he shot wide from six yards and Pitreavie went in 1-0 up at the break.
Valleyfield look forward to Fife Cup Final after semi-final win over Rothes Juniors
Written by Calum McCafferyMore...
Monifieth strike late to edge out Dryburgh CC in seven-goal thriller
Written by Andrew CreeganAn injury time goal from Ross McDowell clinched the Chuck McGowan Cup for Monifieth Athletic after a thrilling final. The striker latched onto Oli Carmichael’s pass and fired past Cammy Grant to settle a tie that saw both team’s ahead during the 80 minutes.
There has been little between these sides this season, and Monifieth got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring after six minutes. Josh Wanless’s corner caught out Cammy Grant and sailed straight into the net.
Dryburgh went on the offensive and nearly equalised through Jack Whyte who linked with Kal Duncan, but he failed to hit the target from the edge of the box.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Dryburgh did level the score. Duncan swept the ball towards goal, and despite a fine reaction save from Dylan Kelly, the ball rebounded off Michael Galloway and into the net.
Monifieth were nearly behind when a long free kick caught out Kelly, but Liam Annan managed to slide the ball off the line. At the other end, Adam Gray brought a save out of Grant before Annan bulleted a header just over from the resulting corner.
Wanless pounced on a loose ball inside the box but was denied by Grant from close range. With half time approaching, Monifieth went ahead for a second time.
Oli Carmichael raced down the left wing and slipped a shot past the oncoming Grant into the net, despite the efforts of the recovering Dryburgh defenders.
Comeback kings Ferry clinch Diamond Jubilee Cup
Written by Andrew CreeganAiden Lockhart’s second half double secured Ferry Athletic the Diamond Jubilee Cup. Ferry had to come from behind to win their quarter and semi-final ties, and the final was no different as they came from behind after Scott Hamilton had given Carnoustie the lead in the first half.
Carnoustie started brightly and tested Ferry keeper Finlay Lyttle thanks to a strike from Dylan McLeish. The deadlock was nearly broken after 11 minutes when Charlie MacPherson's cross clipped the crossbar.
Scott Hamilton slipped the ball into the path of Jack Chalmers but Lyttle was sharp of his line to smother the shot.
Carnoustie's dominance was rewarded when Hamilton opened the scoring after 25 minutes. MacPherson found Jack Chalmers on the right and his low cross was swept home by Hamilton.
Ferry nearly replied instantly but Will Hanbury could only hit the post from a tight angle after rounding Zac Watt.