SC Heerenveen 1 Dunfermline 1
Wednesday, 28th Jul 2004Pre Season Friendly
Opposition for Dunfermline`s second tour match in Holland came in the shape of SC Heerenveen, the club that finished fourth in the Dutch top flight last season. Having gone a goal behind in the 62nd minute, the Pars, for the second match running, managed to record a 1-1 final score. The opposition and fellow UEFA Cup qualifiers gave the Fifers a severe test and manager Davie Hay was pleased with the performance.
Jamie Langfield was given his first full game in goals, trialist Fabrizzio Stringardi made his second start and Andy Tod came in to partner Noel Hunt up front. It had been a gloriously warm and sunny day in Dedemsvaart in Eastern Holland and at the kick off the temperature was 24C.
The new strike force almost got off to a perfect start with Toddy nodding down a half chance for the advancing Noel Hunt in the 2nd minute. The opposition replied with a diving header from their new signing Klaas Jan Huntelaar but Langfield easily held the effort.
Three minutes later in the 7th minute a Barry Nicholson free kick into the box was destined for Scott Wilson but he was hauled down with the referee choosing to ignore the illegal defensive action. Heerenveen then took control of the game, gaining most of the possession but failed to cash in on this with overhit balls wide of the goals or straight to Jamie Langfield.
Dunfermline managed only a Tod header from a Nicholson cross as the Friesland side continued to take the play deep into the Scots half. Väyrynen sent a useful ball wide to Yildirim who centred for Hestad and Noel Hunt conceded a free kick on the edge of the box. Väyrynen ran over the ball leaving it for Yildirim to drive in a low shot that Langfield saw late but dived low to his left to divert the ball past the post.
Marcel Seip was giving Hunt close attentions but the Irishman broke free of the shackles in the 31st minute to link up with Nicholson who attempted to find Mason at the far post. The Pars won nothing from this but the defence were at least momentarily relieved of the relentless pressure. Hunt kept this up, winning a corner in the next minute and Tod`s header immediately earned another corner.
The visitors had the ball in the net in the 34th minute after Scott Thomson swung in a ball that Andy Tod touched on for Nicholson on the left side of the penalty box and Noel Hunt headed home the cross. Unfortunately he was offside. This brought the Pars back into the match and Greg Shields pushed forward winning a free kick in a dangerous position. Hunt continued to push up the left to pose Heerenveen some new problems.
Three minutes from half time a Nicholson throw-in midway inside the opposition half went off the head of the referee into the path of Mika Vayrynen who switched play left to Edman. The official must have been relieved when the Heerenveen player`s shot was taken by Langfield who got down on one knee to gather.
The home crowd showed their disgust in the 44th minute when Edman played a nice ball out to the right for Hakansson to swing over into the edge of the six yard box but there were no takers as far as Heerenveen were concerned. Right on the interval really neat close passing between Nicholson, Thomson and Stringardi put Barry Nic down the left to win a corner. Barry`s high ball in found Hunt and then Mason to be cleared only as far as Dempsey on the edge of the box but his well struck shot was touched over the crossbar by keeper Waterman.
The Friesland hosts made three half time substitutions (no official team sheet, so don`t know who they were) but Dunfermline stuck with the same eleven and five minutes into the second half a flighted ball through towards the Heerenveen penalty box was nicely taken by Barry Nicholson. He looked up as he ran forward and let the ball run into his path before touching it across the six yard box for Andy Tod, but a defender stepped in to prevent the goal.
At the other end, Yildirim shot narrowly wide after Väyrynen and substitute Youssouf Hersi worked a good chance. Stefan Selakovic also put one wide from 10 yards out before Dunfermline had another chance in the 59th minute. The ball was played from Sheilds through Nicholson to Dempsey out on the right and his cross was deflected onwards by Tod to Mason but his shot was only half hit and the keeper collected easily.
Heerenveen introduced Yuri Rose, their new signing from Heracles Almelo in the 65th minute and two minutes later he marked his debut with an excellently struck left footed shot that gave his side the lead. Väyrynen advanced through the left side of the Dunfermline defence before picking out his new team mate with a simple ball over Gary Dempsey that ROSE smacked into the centre of the Dunfermline net, giving Langfield little chance.
Five minutes later Dunfermline brought on Simon Donnelly in place of Barry Nicholson and it took the Dunfermline substitute only three minutes to notch the equaliser. A free kick on the left was sent over into the top of the penalty box when Tod headed on, the keeper came out but only managed to play the ball onto DONNELLY and the ball was diverted straight into the net. This was Simon`s first goal for Dunfermline and one doubts whether he will be gifted such similar chances in future.
Scott Wilson who by this time was in possession of the captain`s armband sent another good ball into the right side of the Heerenveen penalty box for substitute Derek Lyle but his shot only won a corner. There were few further chances to affect the scoreline with possibly Dempsey`s 81st minute free kick being the most dangerous, but Waterman dealt well with the effort from 25 yards.
So it was another good showing from the Pars against quality opposition. The defence dealt well with almost everything that Heerenveen could throw at them and the management must have been pleased to see Tod`s qualities up front. He is unlikely to replace Craig Brewster, but he did demonstrate that he can be used in a forward role.
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Rose (67)
DUNFERMLINE: Jamie Langfield: Greg Shields, Andrius Skerla, Scott Wilson, Stringardi; Gary Dempsey, Scott Thomson (Darren Young 60), Gary Mason, Barry Nicholson (Simon Donnelly 72): Noel Hunt (Cannizaro 65), Andy Tod (Derek Lyle 76).
SUBS NOT USED: Billy Mehmet, Derek Stillie (GK)
SCORERS: Donnelly (78)
REFEREE:
WEATHER: Sunny 22°C
ATTENDANCE 1000
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