Dunfermline Athletic 4 Hibernian 0
Monday, 19th Mar 1962Sitting fourth in Division One Dunfermline took on Hibs, in a game which had been brought forward by a month to enable work to start on constructing the new stand at East End Park.
Two days previously the Pars had travelled to Pittodrie where they had recorded an impressive 4-1 victory.
Injuries had forced manager Stein to make changes to what had been a settled team, and in came 16 year old Rosyth schoolboy Alex Edwards to make his first team debut.
The Athletic started the game disappointingly, and the team took a long time to get going. The early chances fell to Hibs, with McLeod and Baker coming close. Connachan was beaten, when a free kick on the edge of the box narrowly flashed past the post.
The first real chance for Dunfermline fell to Melrose, but his shot just swept over the bar. Then in 25 minutes George Miller scored a peach of a goal. From 30 yards out MILLER latched on to the ball, and drove in a tremendous shot that gave Simpson in the Hibs goal no chance.
The Dunfermline Press called it, `The goal of the season`. After taking the lead, the Athletic always looked likely to add to their lead, although, other than a McDonald shot, Simpson was rarely troubled before the break.
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Hibernian 0
The second half started scrappily, and it took the Pars 18 minutes to increase their lead, when Peebles, heading away from goal, was upended by Easton. Willie CUNNINGHAM converted from the spot. That second goal effectively killed off Hibs challenge, and their sole efforts were then restricted to a few wayward long range efforts.
With Melrose and Peebles swapping wings, the Pars moved up a gear and in 77 minutes Edwards pushed a ball forward for Peebles, who cut through to the bye-line, from where he pushed the ball along the line to where Harry MELROSE was waiting to tap home. Two minutes later the Pars added their fourth in an almost similar fashion. This time Peebles cut the ball back, and there was Bert PATON waiting to smash the ball into the net past Simpson.
Hibs made a gallant effort to snatch a consolation goal, but Connachan managed to scramble away Jerry Baker`s header. With just seconds remaining, the home fans cheered as Edwards raced clear, but his shot was just touched round the post by Simpson.
This excellent victory by Dunfermline, saw the Pars climb up to third place in Division One, behind Rangers and Dundee. Celtic were in fourth place, 4 points adrift of the Pars. Dunfermline finished the season in fourth place, the highest ever recorded by the team during their 77 year history
The HIbs game was the fifth occasion in season 61/62 that the Pars had scored 4 goals, and the eight time they had chalked up a winning margin of at least 3 goals.
Finally, the Dunfermline Press reported that the firm which supplied the concrete for the new stand foundations had got their dates mixed up. A lorry load of ready mixed concrete had arrived at EEP the previous Monday, one week ahead of schedule. The load was returned to Glasgow!
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Miller (25), Cunningham (63 pen), Melrose (77), Paton (79).
HIBERNIAN: Ronnie Simpson: Grant, McLelland, Preston, Easton, Baxter, Stevenson, Baker, Fraser, Falconer, McLeod.
SUBS NOT USED:
REFEREE: J.W. Paterson (Lesmahagow)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH:
Views : 1,780
ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.
Match Photos To Follow.
