Dunfermline 1 St Johnstone 1

Saturday, 31st Oct 1998

SPL:
Andy Smith (22) 1-0:
John McQuillan (54) 1-1:

Only six of the starting line up from Wednesday were retained as Dunfermline brought back Andy Smith, replaced the entire midfield and brought Jamie Squires in to a five man defence. Playing into the low autumn sun, the Pars had a promising start and looked eager to lift themselves off the bottom of the League.

The 22nd minute opener came in controversial circumstances as the Assistant Referee on the North Stand side raised his flag as Greg Shields tried to round the Saints defender. Shields appeared to give up and just blasted over the ball as Stuart Dougal waved play on. SMITH was left with slightly more than a tap in from four yards. Despite the St Johnstone protestations the goal stood.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 St Johnstone 0

The second half was not Dunfermline`s. Saints equaliser came on 54 minutes after a period when the Pars defence just could not get the ball away. A clearance fell to John McQUILLAN whose 25 yard shot found the bottom right hand corner of Lee Butler’s goal. The visitors had chances to win the game; Lee Butler tipping the ball out from under the crossbar in 71st minute and minutes later deflecting a Lowndes cross away from the waiting St Johnstone players.

Only at the end did Dunfermline threaten to score when Richard Huxford head passed and Smith was caught sleeping as Stewart Petrie pushed through a great ball.

The final whistle was a great relief to all after Dunfermline went down to ten men following what looked like a serious leg injury to Scott Thomson.

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Butler: Greg Shields, Andy Tod, Jamie Squires, Craig Ireland, Scott McCulloch (Stewart Petrie 60): Scott Thomson, Chris Templeman (Richard Huxford 71), Marc Millar, Andy Smith, Gerry Britton (Derek Ferguson 79)
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Faulconbridge, David Hay (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (22)
YELLOW CARD: Tod (14), Millar (42), McCulloch (52), Petrie (88)

ST JOHNSTONE: Alan Main: Alan Kernaghan, Gary Bollan, John McQuillan, Alan Preston (Gerry McMahon 55), Darren Dods, Nick Dasovic, John O`Neil, Paul Kane, Miguel Simao, George O`Boyle (Roddy Grant 80)
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart McCluskey, Nathan Lowndes, Allan Ferguson (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Kernaghan

REFEREE: Stuart Dougal
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 5911

NEXT MATCH: v Aberdeen (away) 7th November 1998

League position 10th and still bottom!


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