ROSYTH CIVIL SERVICE 2-0 CUPAR HEARTS

Saturday 8th November 2008

After winning the Fife Amateur Cup for the last two seasons it won’t be three in a row for Cupar Hearts after their first defeat of the season at the hands of a much improved Rosyth side. But despite having a lot of the possession it was Hearts’ finishing touch that let them down.

B. Sibanda could have opened the scoring after 5 minutes but he couldn’t control the ball and the Rosyth keeper was able to gather. Brown replied for the homesters a couple of minutes later but his long drive flew high over. B. Sibanda came close with a header moments later following a neat cross by his brother Lee.

Rosyth’s first real chance was after 15 minutes play when a soft free kick decision at the edge of the box gave Harwood the responsibility to go for goal but he blasted over.

Cupar kept pressing for the opener and it nearly came halfway through the first half albeit by a Rosyth defender when he headed past his own post following a neat Hutcheon cross. Then minutes later Hutcheon himself should have scored but he couldn’t keep his header on target. On the half hour mark a mistake by G. Sharp in the Hearts goal gave Rosyth a chance but Gilfillan was able to block Wilson from scoring. There were chances at both ends heading towards the break but it was the home side who made one count with a couple of minutes to go. A defensive wall kept out a Cupar Hearts free kick and Rosyth broke upfield immediately and a low cross by Brown was met by the diving header of Wilson and the ball flew into the back of the net.  

After the restart Hutcheon made space and should have gone for goal himself but he squared to Pryde and the chance was lost. Then just 10 minutes into the second half disaster struck for the home side when their keeper McNab was given his marching orders for bringing down B. Sibanda just outside the box but it was a further 15 minutes before the stand in keeper had a proper save to make as Cupar failed to keep their efforts on target.

The old scenario of teams finding it difficult to play against ten men certainly applied to this game and no matter what Cupar threw at their opponents it looked like they were never going to score.

Then with 9 minutes remaining a clumsy challenge by Sharp on Guild gave Rosyth a penalty kick and Harwood made no mistake from the spot making it an even harder uphill struggle for the visitors.

Even using all substitutions couldn’t help Cupar as Rosyth held on to a well deserved victory. Cupar Hearts try to defend the Fence ‘N’ Deck Cup when they face Star Hearts at Duffus Park on saturday 15th November. Kick off 1.30 P.M. Thanks to Libo’s Chip Shop.

Hearts: G. Sharp, Halley, Anderson (C), L. Sharp, Gilfillan, McLean, L. Sibanda, B. Sibanda, Hutcheon, Boylan, Pryde, Fraser, Kinhart, G. Reilly, Fraser and M. Reilly.