Eagles were dealt a severe blow before kick-off in their penultimate league fixure versus Elevado when influential Captain Mullen failed to show up. Positive team news came about when number one goalkeeper McGregor returned from injury. Elevado pushed the ball about well in the early exchanges and took the lead despite McGregor's acrobatic dive just failing to keep the ball out. Worse was to follow when hesitancy in defence led to the second. Eagles though pushed forward and were given a lifeline when Pryde struck home after great midfield work from Halley and Malcolm. The game was in the balance at this point but sloppy defending cost Eagles dear and a fourth goal was then conceded before Halley reduced the deficit running on to a defence splitting pass from Marshall.
Into the second half Eagles made most of the running and Malcolm was very unlucky when the Elevado keeper saved four times in succession as the ball seemed to play pinball in the Elevado goal mouth. Marshall was doing a lot of powerful running down the flanks and the midfield powerhouse set up Pryde to pull a goal back. Eagles sensed a tangible reward and pushed forward in droves in search of the equaliser but this was to prove costly as gaps at the back appeared where six goals were lost before McLuckie finished well after a through ball from Syme. Elevado struck twice more in the dying minutes as the Eagles left the field once more deflated.
Full time: Cupar Eagles 4 Elevado 12
Eagles line-up:
1. Roy McGregor
2. Gregg McLuckie
3. Mark Malcolm
4. Gary Pryde
5. Craig Halley
6 Ally Syme
Subs:
7. Colin Clive
8. Tommy Marshall
