Fossoway travelled to League Leaders Leven United this afternoon with a massive challenge ahead of them, but welcomed back new signings Callum Grindlay making his first start on returning and Scott Powrie promoted from the substitutes bench for their first appearances of the season.
Once again, the match seemed to follow the pattern of last week's Cowie game with Foss starting the game brighter and Powrie had the games first chance in the 8th minute heading over a difficult chance from a Grindlay cross from the right. A few minutes later a rasping Ciaran Reilly effort from outside the area was pushed behind for a corner.
Leven came back at Foss and had a good chance on 13 minutes that produced a fine save from Mark Robertson with the loose ball fired well over the bar.
Foss were again playing some good play and a great move broke out in the 15th minute from Andy Gourlay and Powrie, which saw the latter fire in a dangerous ball into the Leven six-yard box but Reilly couldn't make enough contact to find the net. Powrie had another effort himself in the 20th minute but couldn't keep the ball down enough to trouble the goal.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when a ball was played into the Leven box. Confusion reigned between defender and keeper, with the keeper calling but then not coming to collect allowing a chance for Scott Sneddon to nip in between the two and tap home into an empty net.
Moments later the hosts could have equalised with a bouncing header that trickled just past the far post and behind. On the stroke of half time, Moncrieff headed another chance wide of the near post.
The half ended with the game reasonably even and the home side about to receive a rollicking from their manager which ultimately would change the course of the game and would fire his side into life.
Last week Fossoway were undone by a quick fire 3 goals conceded inside just 7 minutes. This week saw a slight improvement (!!!) with 3 goals quickly conceded inside 9 minutes early into the second half. Firstly Derek Page could do little but deflect a dangerous low ball into his own net from close range in the 47th minute.
Then two quick opportunities fell to Leven number 9 Fraser Moncrieff and he didn't miss. Firstly slotting home under the body of Robertson in the 54th minute and sliding home just two minutes later to make it 3-1.
Credit to Foss this week that they didn't fully capitulate and managed to steady the tide. As Leven then seemed to take their foot off the gas after their half time telling off, Foss got themselves back in with a shout of getting something out the game. Sneddon went close on 78 minutes after receiving a short corner and then running into fire a low shot that the Leven keeper got a foot to and deflect over for another corner. From the following corner, trialist sub Mark Oliver rose the highest to head just over the bar.
Reilly gave Foss a brief glimmer of hope when he headed home from close range in the 81st minute from an excellent Sneddon cross, whilst Page came to the rescue with a brilliant diving headed block to stop a goalbound shot.
Foss were still chasing an equaliser and another good move from Sneddon and Grindlay saw Martin Payne through. Under pressure, the Foss skipper could only scuff at his chance on goal and the ball fell wide of the post.
The hosts ended the game with a couple of chances of their own. Substitute Alan McAllister found himself unmarked but he put his effort wide on 89 minutes, and a powerful effort was kept out by Robertson moments later.
Overall it was again disappointing to suffer from a brief collapse after conceding, which ultimately cost us dearly and undid all the hard work prior to this. But this time a positive being that the side did recover from this set back but a side like Leven aren't going to give you many opportunities to get back into the game.
Next week, it's a break from League action when we welcome Kelty to The Myre in the Fife Cup.
