Reserves v Dundee United
Tuesday, 10th Aug 2004DUNDEE UNITED 3 DUNFERMLINE 0
With the first team squad at home packing their bags for the trip to Iceland it was a young and inexperienced side that was fielded in the opening Reserve League fixture of the season at Tannadice on Tuesday evening.
United kicked off kicked off and in the opening ten minutes forced five corners. The closest United came from them however was a Kenneth`s header over the crossbar. The Pars were up attacking a Hunter corner in the 17th minute when a big clearance sent Samuel into the visitors half. Ian Campbell failed to stop the Trinidad & Tobago striker and when Sean Murdoch raced out the big number 11 rounded him and was left with an open goal but he shot into the left sidenetting.
Four minutes from the interval Aaron Conway got around Craig Wilson to advance into the left side of the Pars penalty box and cut back for BELL to squeeze in from 7 yards with a diving header. Immediately after that the Dundee United lead was almost doubled Paul Ritchie making his first competitive appearance in the tangerine strip found O`Donnell and his 1-2 with Bell set him up for a fine strike from 25 yards that rattled off Murdoch`s crossbar.
Ian Campbell collected a yellow card for his tug on Samuel`s shirt in the 53rd minute and he redeemed the situation clearing the free kick off the line after O`Donnell`s ball into the box was directed on target from Kenneth. The young Pars survived a 65th minute scare when McLaren hit the post and then a strong Gary Greenhill run created a shooting chance for Wilson but his 18 yard effort was tipped over by the trialist Canadian keeper.
Stuart Duff had a howler of a miss at the far post in the 71st minute as he met Conway cross from the left but he sent a fine ball right into the path of Colin Samuel three minutes later and the striker stylishly swept passed Murdoch from 12 yards. McLaren might have made it three in the last minute when he failed to connect with another fine delivery through the six yard box from Samuel.
One minute into stoppage time the Pars defence failed to properly clear a corner from the right and new boy Paul RITCHIE slotted hope with a simple shot from the edge of the box.
Well defeated but at times there was some good passing moves from the young hopefuls. Gary Greenhill stood out with his tireless efforts in midfield but Patrick Scullion and Ian Campbell gave good accounts of themselves.
SUBS NOT USED: Callaghan, Jarvie (GK)
SCORERS: Bell (41), Samuel (74), Ritchie (91)
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch; Greg Ross, Craig McKeown, Pat Scullion, Iain Campbell; Wilson, Gary Greenhill, Smith, Hunter (Clark Kay 80); Pat Clarke (Armour 61), McLeod (McGuire 77).
SUBS NOT USED: Robertson, Phinn
YELLOW CARD: Campbell (53)
REFEREE:
WEATHER: Mainly Dry 18°C
ATTENDANCE 120 est
NEXT MATCH: (home) v Aberdeen, Tuesday 24th August afternoon
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