Dunfermline Press | Sport | Oakley boss blasts ‘embarrassing’ defeat

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 11th October, 2007 09:00

Oakley boss blasts ‘embarrassing’ defeat

FUMING Oakley boss Willie Newbigging slammed his side’s 4-0 defeat to fellow Super League strugglers Bonnyrigg on Saturday as “embarrassing”.

The defeat leaves United just one place off the bottom of the table and Newbigging was incensed with the second-half showing against a side previously without a win this season.

The manager exempted club skipper John Rushford, centre half John Allison and striker Colin Burke from blame but accused his younger players of not trying.

“The second half was nothing short of embarrassing,” Newbigging told Press Sport. “I thought the young boys threw the towel in.

“John Rushford, John Allison and Colin Burke were working their backsides off but the others seemed to give up when they went a goal down.

“I’m not asking too much of boys to run about and put some effort in.”

This Saturday is crunch time for the club as they face bottom-placed Glenrothes at Blairwood Park.

“It’s a big game for both clubs and we’ll see what reaction we get,” Newbigging said.

Oakley beat Dundonald 3-2 in a friendly played under the floodlights at Woodmill High School’s astroturf pitch on Monday and Newbigging said there would be a couple of changes for Saturday’s big game.

Striker Lee Celentano, who missed the Bonnyrigg game because of a holiday, will come in but forward Greg Sinclair is likely to be out for a month with a broken bone in his foot. Scott Lammie is also a major doubt for the match.

Rosyth striker Craig Reynolds went from hero to zero in his side’s 2-2 draw at home to Armadale.

Recs were coasting after a Reynolds brace gave them a 2-0 lead but then the experienced frontman was shown two yellow cards in the space of a minute for dissent and was sent off. Without him, Rosyth folded and conceded two goals to chuck away the points.

Boss Billy Spence was still seething three days after the game and pulled no punches when it came to Reynolds’ actions.

“Why you’d want to get involved with the referee when you’re two goals up I don’t know,” he said.

“There’s no excuses for it, it wasn’t the referee’s fault, he left the guy no option. Our own indiscipline has cost us dearly.”

It’s the second time in two weeks Rosyth have been down to 10 men because of dissent and while Spence said the player would be disciplined, he added, “The players are going to be hit harder if they continue to act like this.

“They are instructed before they go out not to get involved with referees and we told them before they went out to keep 11 on the park.”

Rosyth could go within a point of fifth-placed Musselburgh if they win at home on Saturday but Spence said it would be a tough game.

“They are the best side I have seen this year so it will be a very difficult game,” he said. “We’ve introduced a few young boys this year, all local boys and I worried if we would be as good this year. I think we’ve been better at times but we’ve not been getting the breaks.”

Goals from Sean Graham and Murray McDowell gave Kelty a 2-1 win at home to Tayport.

Managerless Steelend put in a superb performance to take Premier League side Hill of Beath to penalties in the first round of the Kingdom Kegs Cup. Alan Kirkwood levelled for the Vics after the home side had taken the lead and the match finished 1-1 before the Haws squeezed through 4-2 on spot-kicks.

Defender Richard Fox has taken temporary charge since John Carberry resigned three weeks ago and Vics secretary Hugh McQuillan said, “I’m happy enough with the way it has gone since John Carberry left and this fella is likely to get the job.

“I’m certain he could do a job for us.”

Saturday fixtures: Whyte & Mackay East Region Super League – Carnoustie Panmure v Kelty Hearts, Oakley United v Glenrothes. Whyte & Mackay East Region Premier League – Rosyth Recreation v Musselburgh Athletic. Whyte & Mackay East Region Central League – Steelend Victoria v Ballingry Rovers, Crossgates Primrose v Scone Thistle.

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