The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gowfers’ super escape act almost complete
CARNOUSTIE BOSS Ian Gilzean heaped praise on his side after Saturday’s win over Bo’ness effectively completed a Houdini act in sealing Super League survival.
The win hoists the Laing Park outfit above Bathgate Thistle and, although their remaining game is against title-chasing Bonnyrigg, it would take a defeat of double-digit proportions — 16 goals, to be precise — for Bathgate to survive.
One of the home heroes was stand-in keeper Chris Miller of tayside Fire Brigade amateurs. Answering an emergency call-up in the absence of either regular keeper, the trialist came to the rescue making three crucial saves before the Gowfers’ goal.
That decisive counter came 25 minutes from the end when a Scott Gates corner was headed into his own net by Chris Hamilton.
“I can’t praise the players too highly for their efforts, not just in this game but since the turn of the year,” said the relieved Gowfers’ gaffer.
“No one rated our survival chances, but we’ve only lost one of our last eight games and that is down to the endeavours of the players.
“They deserve all the credit and we can now go into next week’s final game against Bonnyrigg in a relaxed frame of mind.”
Their opponents cannot adopt the same approach as they chase the three points to clinch the Super League title.
Saturday’s postponement of Hill of Beath and Musselburgh sets a super Saturday with Haws requiring to win against visitors who now must win to stay up, and hope the result at Laing Park goes their way
In their final game of the season, Ballingry couldn’t prevent Sauchie leaving Ore Park with three of the four points they required to lift the Premier League title.
Their odd- goal- in- f ive victor y means a point from tonight’s last league game at bottom of the table Arniston Rangers will seal it.
But it was a close call with Rovers fighting back from two down at the break.
But although Dave Baikie’s side had the slight edge after Jamie Gillfillan reduced the arrears within five minutes of the re-start, Rovers couldn’t penetrate the stubborn Sauchie rearguard to salvage a point.
Darren Cumming headed the visitors in front after five minutes, only for Gillfillan to cancel it out in like fashion five minutes later. Sauchie were back in front quickly, as home keeper Kevin Smith could only parry a Gary Carroll shot and Steven Bell tucked away the rebound.
Their lead was extended five minutes from the interval when Ross Graham headed past his own keeper.
The Ore Park boss lamented afterwards, “We shot ourselves in the foot by gifting them three soft goals.
“But I felt we deserved something from the game as we were denied two clear-cut penalties.”