Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 0
Saturday, 26th Aug 2000Scottish Premier League
Stevie Crawford (42) 1-0:
Eighth v Eleventh. United had taken only one point from their first four matches, Dunfermline had taken points from three of their five games. After 90 minutes Dunfermline sat fourth and United had dropped to bottom. An important win for the Pars then that gives them a seven point advantage over United.
Anyone not knowing the teams today might have thought that it was Aberdeen against Hibs, but the red team were better than Aberdeen and the green team were just unripened tangerines. Yes it was Reds v Greens at East End Park as both clubs decided on playing in their new alternative strips.
Dunfermline dropped their top goalscorer Stephen Boyle on to the bench, Michel Doesberg and Andrius Skerla returned after missing the Ibrox match, so Brian Reid and Rob Matthaei dropped out.
Dundee United fielded their new Cameroon internationalist striker Alphonse Tchami and ex Dons Stephen Wright and Jamie Buchan were in the starting line up.
Dunfermline kicked off towards the 700 United supporters in the East Stand and not a lot happened as the teams tried to settle. After 9 minutes a Barry Nicholson corner found David Moss but his header was deflected high up into the air and Stevie Crawford was penalised for fouling Combe.
Almost immmediately Justin Skinner had a shot from 25 yards which went off the foot of Jason De Vos for a corner. The Pars had a number of crosses across the six yard box which failed to find the strikers. If they were at the far post the cross was near post etc.
Michel Doesberg was involved in the build up to the next chance when after 14 minutes he played the ball off Junior Mendes to cross. David Moss deflected the cross to Crawford whose shot was turned behind for a corner. A similar cross from the right only three minutes later saw Crawford go inches past from a Mendes cross. Although narrowly missing the ball ended up going out off the corner flag. At this stage the Pars were firmly in control passing the ball around the United half and retaining a large amount of possession.
David Moss was unlucky when a sweetly struck shot from Jason Dair was turned into Moss` path but his header went wide before he had time to adjust. United then won three successive corners and possibly should have scored from the second when De Vos headed down to Aljofree at the far post but somehow the ball was kept out.
An under weighted pass from Ian Ferguson led to United`s best chance of the half which fell to McConalogue but the youngster chose to capitalise on Ruitenbeek`s forward positioning by attempting to chip him. The effort went straight to the Dutchman while Tchami might have made more of it if he`d been sent on by McConalogue.
The match passed through a spell of midfield dominance until the 42nd minute when CRAWFORD scored a spectacular goal for the Pars. Michel Doesberg fed a ball into the penalty box from the right, Mendes latched on to it passing it forward to Crawford who played it down as he turned De Vos and fired low and hard passed Combe. This of course is the classic textbook "best time to score" and Dunfermline went on to prove the theory right.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 0
After Stewart Petrie appearance albeit on crutches to make the 50/50 half time draw, United came out for the second half with all engines firing. For 15 minutes they produced chances and pinned Dunfermline back in their own half. Only one minute into the half Tchami got to the bye line cut the ball back but nobody could slot it away for them.
The United pressure continued as Dair lost possession and another corner resulted. Steven McConalogue got on the end of Davidson`s 49th minute corner from the left and his looping header was touched on to the crossbar and behind by Ruitenbeek.
Jason Dair again caused his own defence problems as his touch effectively let McConalogue round Andrius Skerla and the youngsters cross was unlucky to miss both Tchami and Hannah who got closest as he catapulted himself towards the ball. United were getting deeper and deeper inside the Pars penalty box and Tchami might have done better with a 59th minute header.
On 60 minutes Ian Ferguson had a 25 yard shot that Combe saved before the captain was next involved playing a ball out left for Mendes who struck the ball across the goalmouth but Moss couldn`t connect. Before the danger was cleared Scott Thomson had a shot at goal and Combe did well to keep out the ball after it had taken a touch off one of his own players.
Junior Mendes was fouled as he headed into the United penalty box and a free kick was awarded (correctly) just outside the area. Ian Ferguson`s free kick was just curled over the crossbar. Mendes had another tempting cross from the left that found no takers and Dair had a good shot at goal which the keeper spilled but recovered to collect quickly.
David Moss did well to get the ball through to Crawford on 70 minutes and the striker instead of homing in on goal, turned and looked for support. Moss arrived but his effort bent passed Combe`s left hand post.
Eleven minutes from the end a very good Dunfermline move almost doubled their lead. Lee Bullen who had just come on for his SPL debut headed down to Crawford and Moss was involved as the ball was switched right. Nicholson was picked out and he did well to place the ball to Doesberg. Doesberg chipped the ball over his opponent into the penalty box and found Stevie Crawford in front of goal. The Pars striker`s shot came off Combe`s backside and spun towards the goal line but not across it. A great pity because the move was excellent and deserved a goal.
Only a minute later a Doesberg free kick was headed narrowly over the crossbar by Skerla. United pushed for an equaliser during the last ten minutes and the following three of added time. Hannah headed a Tchami cross just wide. Steven Thompson had a header that was dipping under the bar but Ruitenbeek saved and then there was a scramble at the resulting corner but the Pars held out to win the three points.
SUBS NOT USED: Thomson (GK), Potter, May, Boyle. Score
SCORERS: Crawford (42)
DUNDEE UNITED: Alan Combe; Stephen Wright, Jason De Vos, David Partridge, Hasney Aljofree; Hugh Davidson (Neil Heaney 64), Jamie Buchan, David Hannah, Jim Paterson (Stephen Thompson 68); Alphonse Tchami, Stephen McConalogue (Craig Easton 75).
SUBS NOT USED: Pat Onstad, David McCracken
YELLOW CARD: Tchami (85)
REFEREE: Mike McCurry
WEATHER: Overcast, warm
ATTENDANCE 4980
NEXT MATCH: v Motherwell (home) Wednesday 6th September 2000
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