Dunfermline 3 Kilmarnock 2

Saturday, 31st Jan 1998

SPL:
Jerome Vareille (2) 0-1:
Dave Barnett (41) 1-1:
Andy Smith (67) 2-1:
George Shaw (76) 3-1:
Mark Roberts (85) 3-2:

DEBUT GOALS FROM BARNETT AND SHAW HERALD VICTORY

This game started badly for the Pars conceding a second minute goal to Jerome VAREILLE when Colin Miller was left in the Frenchman’s slipstream. In the match programme Bert Paton had said that it was time to make some changes but this kind of goal gifting was not in the plans.

Dave Barnett was back in the centre of defence, George Shaw started in place of Allan Moore and John Fraser came into midfield in place of Harry Curran For the first forty minutes it seemed like the same performance that had extended a run of 9 games without a win Ally Mitchell had two great shots saved by Westwater while Dunfermline were caught so many times offside (not always correctly) that even the stand side assistant referee’s flag fell apart Then everything changed

Stewart Petrie burst through and his net bursting effort forced a fine save from Meldrum in the Kilmarnock goal From the resultant corner Dave BARNETT put away a simple header to bring the Pars back into the game In the next 5 minutes before the half time whistle Dunfermline created another 4 or 5 chances and could have gone in leading.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Kilmarnock 1

Ivo Den Bieman came on for Colin Miller at half time. The Canadian Internationalist had been barracked by the home crowd for both his poor form on the field and his reported comments about the Pars “support”.

In the second half Dunfermline failed to pick up from where they had finished the first. Kilmarnock seemed to be getting back into the game when Dunfermline struck again. George Shaw exchanged passes with both Petrie and Shields before releasing a defence splitting pass to SMITH. The ball was sent low past Meldrum by the Pars striker. 2-1

Nine minutes later George SHAW put the Pars further ahead but got yellow carded for running to the supporters behind the goals With five minutes remaining Killie brought on Bagan and Hendry and immediately pulled one back through Mark ROBERTS.

Dunfermline will be a fingernail free zone after the closing minutes as Kilmarnock tried desperately to get the equaliser. Referee Clark managed to play until 4:50 despite there being virtually no injuries.

The full time whistle was the sweetest since mid November. The difference a hard working display; confidence re-discovered and an excellent show from John Fraser in midfield.

DUNFERMLINE: Ian Westwater: Greg Shields (Raymond Sharp 70), Colin Miller (Ivo Den Bieman 45), Andy Tod, Dave Barnett, John Fraser, George Shaw, Craig Robertson, Andy Smith, Hamish French, Stewart Petrie (David Bingham 78)
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Barnett (41), Smith (67), Shaw (76)
YELLOW CARD: Smith, Shaw, Sharp, Bingham

KILMARNOCK: Colin Meldrum: Kevin McGowne, Jom Lauchlan, Gus MacPherson, Martin Baker, Gary Holt, Ally Mitchell, Mark Reilly (David Bagan 84), Jerome Vareille Mark Roberts Paul Wright (JohnHenry 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Ray Montgomerie
SCORERS: Vareille (2)! Roberts (85)
YELLOW CARD: Baker

REFEREE: K Clark (Paisley)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 4903

NEXT MATCH: v Rangers (away) Saturday 7th February 1998

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