Dunfermline 1 Huddersfield Town 2
Wednesday, 19th Jul 2000Pre Season Friendly
Clyde Wijnharb (27) 0-1:
Chris Hay (37) 0-2:
Stevie Crawford (66) 1-2:
Despite an excellent goal from Steve Crawford, Huddersfield proved the hungrier team on this occasion. A welcome showcase of the Pars new players, Dunfermline fans will have left this game with some satisfaction from that fact at least.
With six players out injured Jimmy Calderwood probably fielded his strongest available team from the start against a Huddersfield team who certainly proved that the Nationwide League could compete with the SPL. Despite leading their league last season for a long time Huddersfield finished in 8th position two points short of earning a play off spot.
Dunfermline kicked off into the sun playing with three men up. This almost paid off in the seventh minute when a Lee Bullen cross from the left was met by a diving Owen Coyle header. Vaesen saved to prevent a spectacular opener.
After that it was all Huddersfield. When they settled down from an early rash of giveaway passes Irons fired a shot at Ruitenbeek on ten minutes and six minutes later the Pars keeper tipped over a Ben Thornley shot that came out of a defence splitting move.
Midway through the first half a Huddersfield free kick from 19 yards out beat the seven man defensive wall and Ruitenbeek again blocked the net bound shot and the fast follow up of Wijnharb. Thornley hit the sidenetting before WIJNHARB controlled a touch from Iwan and scored from the edge of the penalty box. 0-1
Stevie Crawford immediately tried to inject something into the Pars game but Lucketti came to the rescue. Potter and Skinner contrived to give the visitors the opportunity to double their lead as Irons set up ex Celt Chris HAY for number two.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Huddersfield Town 2
The second half started with Hay weaving his way into the home penalty box to win a corner. Scott Thomson hit a free kick over the crossbar before Hay almost capitalised on a Doesburg mistake to win another corner. From the corner Gray laid the ball back to Thornley whose shot crossed the face of the goal before going wide of Ruitenbeek`s left hand post.
New Dutchman Rob Matthaei`s free kick found Lee Bullen but he shot over. Then in 66 minutes Stewart Petrie carried the ball down the left wing winning a challenge with the right back before crossing to the unmarked Stevie CRAWFORD who coolly slotted home past Vaesen. 1-2
Wijnharb teed a shot up for Iwan 6 minutes later but his shot ended up in the stand. With substitutes being thrown on Dunfermline seemed more likely to score as they adapted to the disruptions better. However the last chance of the match two minutes from time saw Beech?s shot hit the post with Sub Thomson beaten.
Manager Calderwood said that this match would be a fair test for the Pars. On this showing there was no successes in the test.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Templeman, Keir Nicol
SCORERS: Crawford (66)
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Nico Vaesen: Steve Jenkins, Chris Lucketti, Kevin Gray (Jon Dyson 77), Craig Armstrong (Delroy Facey 82); Iwan, Kenny Irons (David Beresford 62), Chris Beech, Ben Thornley (Scott Sellars 62): Chris Hay, Clyde Wijnharb (Rob Edwards 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Martin Smith, Martyn Margetson, Chris Holland, Dean Gorre
SCORERS: Wijnharb (27), Hay (37)
REFEREE: Tom Brown
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 2535
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