Dunfermline 1 Hearts 1

Sunday, 20th Sep 1998

SPL:
Andy Smith (12) 1-0:
Jim Hamilton (58) 1-1:

The woodwork denied the Pars of all three points in Sunday’s derby against Hearts. The sun beat down and the heat was on the Jambos from early on.

Andy SMITH had tested Rousset minutes before he rose to meet a Greg Shields cross and nod in the opener on 12 minutes It was all Dunfermline for most of the first half but they failed to add to their tally and that ultimately cost them their win bonus

Skipper Andy had more chances and Scott Thomson dispatched a cracking shot from outside the penalty box that hit the post and rebounded across the goals Scott McCulloch had a drive at goal and Hearts were mere spectators

The Pars did not have as much of the early second half play and allowed the Edinburgh team back into the game in the 58th minute Stephane Adam beat the offside trap, burst down the right and delivered a perfect ball to Jim HAMILTON who slotted past Lee Butler. 1-1

Hearts then had a couple of opportunities to take the lead and Butler did particularly well to keep it all square. Petrie was brought on for French after 72 minutes and suddenly the Pars were back in the driving seat. Richard Huxford hit the crossbar and Scott McCulloch again came close.

This was a good performance from Dunfermline who for the first time this season looked every bit worthy of their Premiership status. Rangers are the guests at East End Park on Saturday and with the opening of the new Norrie McCathie stand the Pars will have to produce a performance to match their transformed professional appearance.

The young Dunfermline defence is improving every match and the threatened signing of Owen Coyle from Motherwell should sharpen the attackers resolve. The management should possibly be alert to making substitutions earlier, the introduction of Marc Millar and Craig Falcounbridge on Sunday came too late for them to prove their worth.

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Butler; Craig Ireland, Jamie Squires, Scott McCulloch, Greg Shields, Scott Thomson, Hamish French (Stewart Petrie 72), Derek Ferguson (Marc Millar 80), Richard Huxford, Andy Smith, Gerry Britton (Craig Faulconbridge 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Templeman David Hay (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (12)
YELLOW CARD: Squires, Ferguson

HEARTS: Gilles Rousset: David Weir, Steven Pressley, Gary Naysmith, Paul Ritchie, Neil McCann, Stevie Fulton (David Murie 74), Lee Makel (Grant Murray 81,) Stefano Salvatori, Jim Hamilton, Stephane Adam
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Severin Derek Holmes Myles Hogarth (GK)
SCORERS: Hamilton (58)

REFEREE: Mike McCurry
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 5963

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