Dunfermline 2 Motherwell 1
Saturday, 7th Mar 1998SPL:
Tommy Coyne (12) 0-1:
Andy Smith (23) 1-1:
Andy Smith (61) 2-1:
This was a match where the result was the most important factor. The winner would claim a ten point cushion over bottom placed Hibs.
Dunfermline were without the services of Colin Miller (pulled muscle) and John Fraser (groin strain) but the management supplied a few changes courtesy of their own brand of strategic thinking. Craig Ireland retained his place in the centre of the defence, Dave Barnett returned to the heart of the defence and Andy Tod moved into midfield to play alongside David Bingham, Robertson and Petrie. Stewart Petrie started at right midfield and Hamish French joined Andy Smith up front
Motherwell scored first through Tommy Coyne in the 12th minute with Motherwell’s first sortie into the penalty box. A Billy Davies corner from the left was nodded down by Newman for COYNE to convert.
Eleven minutes later SMITH got on the end of a brilliant Bingham break out of our own half and an equally brilliant lay off to the right for the big striker to slot under the advancing keeper. Not a lot happened in a fairly lacklustre half in which the keepers must have felt distinctly out of things.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Motherwell 1
With 64 minutes gone Andy SMITH burst through on goal and Newman the Motherwell no.4 cleared the ball past Woods into his own net.
Both teams played out the time with little urgency save the French Motherwell substitute Eric Garcin who gave the defence a rough time.
SUBS NOT USED: Ivo Den Bieman
SCORERS: Smith (23, 61)
YELLOW CARD: Smith, Robertson, Shields
MOTHERWELL: Stevie Woods: Kevin Christie (Eddie May 69), Brian Martin, Steve McMillan, Rob Newman, Simo Valakari (Lee McCulloch 84), Billy Davies, Ian Ross (Eric Garcin 76), Willie Falconer, Owen Coyle, Tommy Coyne
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Coyne (12)
YELLOW CARD: Valakari
REFEREE: Tom Brown (Edinburgh)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 4811
NEXT MATCH: v Aberdeen (home) Saturday 14th March 1998
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