From Stephen Durcan (East Craigie)
East Craigie v Coupar Angus
Coupar Angus arrived at Craigie Park looking to bounce back following four straight league defeats. Their task, on paper at least, appeared monumental as the hosts were on a mighty run of 10 successive domestic victories and were impressive 7-0 victors the last time the two sides met in late August. Once again, the playing surface was in places quite muddy following days of frost and rain. There was another new face on the home bench with Drew Wighton making the step up from the under-19s.
Craigie set their stall within seconds of the start with Fraser MacLeod lifting an effort over the bar. This was quickly followed by George Johnston shooting wide. On 13 minutes Paul Moran advanced on goal but scuffed his shot well wide of the Coupar Angus post. Three minutes later the home pressure paid off with James Malone offering a clever chip into the box which JOHNSTON anticipated well when nipping ahead of a defender to slot home. The hosts doubled their lead within minutes following a precise corner from Moran which was put away by the head of youngster BEN GARRICK at the far post.
The home pressure was constant and the visiting defence under immense strain as the Shipbuilders launched attack after attack. A weak shot from MacLeod was easily held by Smith in the Coupar Angus goal before Higgins brought down Rory Faulkner as he weaved his way towards goal midway through the half. The resulting penalty was placed low to the keeper's right by JOHNSTON for his double. 3-0 to East Craigie and in an unstoppable mood. Make that 4-0 as another writing pen went in the bin. A note here to any pen manufacturers willing to sponsor me (Messrs. Parker or Sheaffer most welcome). The 4th fell to the impressive GARRICK on 28 minutes as he smashed home with venom a neat ball from Finlay Baird.
Moran on the 18-yard line had a shot saved, before Baird curled an effort over and wide as the hosts continued to pummel the visiting goal. 36 minutes in and FAULKNER nodded home Cameron Christie's cross to make it five for East Craigie. Christie was in the mix again three minutes later as he slid the ball to JOHNSTON who beat the keeper to the ball and steered home his hat-trick to make it 6-0.
A minute later the brave, battling Coupar Angus managed a shot themselves as Mccluskey was denied by a diving Iain Ross. The fact that he managed to dive at all was a miracle as most of the spectators had turned to ice in the driving cold and he had been a virtual spectator himself up until then. The super-productive half ended with Scott Brannan heading over a corner from Moran. Damage limitation the half-time team talk for the Perthshire side?
HALF-TIME: East Craigie 6 Coupar Angus 0
Always expect the unexpected. Within three minutes of the restart an ambitious lob from BROWN caught the home keeper out and he could only parry the ball into his own net. A consolation or an unlikely comeback?
On 54 minutes a free kick was played back to Brannan who drove narrowly over the visiting crossbar. Coupar Angus responded with Smith smashing over from 25 yards out. A lot quieter half than the vigorous first burst back into life on 71 minutes as an absolute belter of a shot from JOHNSTON out on the left looped over the flailing keeper to make it 7-1. That was the striker's fourth goal in a truly dominant display of finishing.
Newcomer Drew Wighton replaced Johnston on 74 minutes before Garrick turned on a penny and shot wide just inside the box. East Craigie sealed their biggest goal haul of the campaign when Howett slid the ball across goal for MORAN to stab home from the tightest of angles. Game over and in some style.
FINAL SCORE: East Craigie 8 Coupar Angus 1
MAN OF THE MATCH: George Johnston
EAST CRAIGIE: Ross, Malone (Paterson), Christie, Howett, Brannan, Baird (McDonald), R. Faulkner, MacLeod, Garrick, Johnston (Wighton), Moran. UNUSED: McIlvenny, Dunn.
COUPAR ANGUS: A.Smith, Duncan, Higgins, Buik, Wilson, Pattullo, King, R. Smith, Cruickshank, Gemine, Mccluskey. SUBS: Brown, Byres, Glendinning.
