Back in May, Carnoustie Panmure lifted the G A Engineering Cup beating East Craigie after a penalty shootout, the defence of the title all be it with a new sponsor came to a very quick end as East Craigie took the revenge in impressive fashion beating Carnoustie 4-2 at Craigie Park. It was the fourth season in a row that the defending winners have exited at this early stage after Tayport, Lochee United and Broughty Athletic.

Carnoustie’s injury are showing signs of improvement although nobody was ready to make a return although Jamie McCabe and Vince Edmonds were on the bench. Barrie Gourlay joined Bailey Steel on the naughty step after his red card last week which meant yet another defensive reshuffle which saw Bruce Hearn, Ewan Buggins and Harvey Dailly complete the defensive three, Sam Simpson and Michael Cruickshank wide, Jamie Winter, Paddy Conway and Pat Martin were the midfield trio with Steven McPhee just off Ryan Dignan.

East Craigie started much the brighter and had been really fired up by their management team to avenge what they saw as an injustice from last seasons final and their opener came on 20 minutes. Alan Cormack played a short pass out to Harvey Dailly who was immediately under pressure, he was robbed of possession before the ball ran to Adam Brown in space and the former Gowfer fired the ball under Cormack and in to the net. Two minutes later it got worse when Paddy Conway was adjudged to have tripped an East Craigie player and referee McNab pointed to the spot, Bruce Hearn was booked for his protests and despite getting a hand to Howitts kick, Cormack couldn’t keep out the penalty. Carnoustie were on the ropes and were dealt, what was effectively the knockout punch on 28 minutes, when the home side were awarded a second penalty after Hearn was adjudged to have fouled his man and he was somewhat harshly shown a second yellow and ordered off. Cormack once again guessed right as Howitt swapped sides but again couldn’t keep out the kick. Carnoustie regrouped with Conway dropping in to defence but they couldn’t really get back in to the game and it remained 3-0 until half time.

Carnoustie started brighter for the second half but were still second best in a lot of places to a hard working East Craigie, the home side increased their lead on 64 minutes when Aiden Benvie got his head to a cross at the near post and glanced the ball past Cormack and in to the back of the net. Carnoustie pulled a goal back on 67 minutes when Ewan Buggins rammed the ball home in a congested penalty area but if that was the start of a comeback then it got somewhat lost and it wasn’t until stoppage time that Carnoustie’s best move of the game saw Ryan Dignan pull a second goal back but alas it was too late for the holders and East Craigie progress deservedly in to Round Three.

Carnoustie

Cormack, Hearn, Dailly, Conway, Buggins, Martin, Simpson, Winter, Dignan, McPhee (Smith), Cruickshank

Subs Not Used : Robbie, McCabe, Mair, Edmonds