Eagles lined-up v Elevado without top scorer Halley who was absent as he sustained a hamstring injury in a midweek training session but Clive returned after getting himself back to full fitness through an extensive training programme devised by the management team.
Eagles were out the blocks quickest and after a deft touch from Pryde, McLuckie was given a goal scoring opportunity. Unfortunately his poor first touch was costly and Elevado mopped up the danger.
Elevado broke the deadlock midway through the half when Syme was caught out for pace and despite McGregor's acrobatic full length dive the ball ended up in the back of the net. Eagles equalised near the end of the first half after a neat one-two involving McLuckie and Pryde where the former fired home to the delight of the Eagles support behind the goal. Elevado scored from the resultant kick-off as the first half came to an end.
Eagles were playing the ball from left to right and utilising the full dimensions of the pitch as goal scoring opportunities were carved out one after another but the strikeforce of Beauchope and McLuckie were having an offday as chances came and went. Elevado stepped up a gear and scored three times to make it 4-1. Clive's injection of pace when he replaced Beauchope (back injury) was to prove a constant threat to the Elevado defence and when Pryde swivelled in midfield to release the veteran playmaker he raced through from the half-way line and buried his shot past the stranded Elevado keeper to restore a bit of Eagles pride as the game reached its final conclusion.
Full time: Cupar Eagles 2 Elevado 4
Eagles line-up:
1. Roy McGregor
2. John Mullen
3. Ally Syme
4. Gary Pryde
5. Gregg McLuckie
6. Andrew Beauchope
Subs:
7. Colin Clive
8. Tommy Marshall
