Reserves v Aberdeen

Wednesday, 3rd Jan 2007

Goals!! Phinn is the first Pars goalscorer of 2007 as Reserves beat Aberdeen.

ABERDEEN 1 DUNFERMLINE 2

Dunfermline travelled to Links Park, Montrose on Wednesday afternoon to play a re-arranged SPL Reserve fixture and got 2007 off to a great start with a 2-1 win.

Nick PHINN put the Pars into an early lead with a third minute strike. Calum Woods made a strong positive run down the left, leaving two defenders in his wake, and crossed from the byeline for his team mate to shoot under Fraser Stewart at the far post.

Iain Williamson`s run and squared ball set up Phinn again eight minutes later but this time his attempt was high. At the other end Pars keeper Sean Murdoch held a 24 yard free kick from the Dons before another good build up from the Fifers produced the second goal. Again it came from the left with Alan McDonough making the run before swinging over a fine left footed cross that Phinn headed back for WILLIAMSON to despatch from six yards.

Aberdeen worked their way into the game forcing their first corner of the match in 20 minutes but their veteran striker Craig Brewster turned and shot inches over the crossbar. Dunfermline were pegged back however, and in the next minute Aaron Labonte was forced into conceding a free kick that allowed Aberdeen to fire a dangerous ball into the Pars box but they eventually cleared the problem.

Stewart was tested by McDonough in 35th minute but the keeper saved the 25 yard effort. Then two minutes later Aberdeen made the best of a long ball down the middle. Andy Tod`s back header was not strong enough to prevent Chris MAGUIRE latching on to the chance and round Murdoch to score.

Dunfermline might have restored their two goal advantage before the break when Greg Ross and Calum Smith combined well on the right to produce a cross for Williamson at the far post and his lay off to Derek Howie failed to have a happy ending.

In the 11th minute of the second half Clark Kay was adjudged to have impeded Maguire. A penalty was awarded and Maguire assumed the responsibility himself but Sean Murdoch dived to his left to pull off a fine save.

Despite playing into the blustery wind, Sandy Clark`s Aberdeen were enjoying more of the possession as the half went on. Under pressure Murdoch came to his side`s salvation coming out to cleanly take some useful crosses.

Dunfermline always threatened danger on the break and when Calum Smith dispossessed his marker he was unlucky with a chip that slipped over the top. Before the end Williamson created a fantastic opportunity for Phinn but the youngster`s effort as he slid in was blocked by the Dons defence.

The Fifers maybe didn`t create all that much in the second half but defended well against a strong Dons team on a heavy pitch to hang on for a well deserved victory.

ABERDEEN: Fraser Stewart, David Donald, Dan Smith, Jamie Winter, Karim Touzani, Mark Thomas, Andrew Bagshaw, Stuart Smith, Dyron Daal, Craig Brewster, Chris Maguire.
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Paton, Brian Neill, Neil McVitie, Lamberty.

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch; Aaron Labonte, Andy Tod, Calum Woods (John McCulloch 78); Nick Phinn, Derek Howie, Greg Ross, Calum Smith; Iain Williamson, Alan McDonough (Sean Muhsin 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Charlie Bradshaw, Kris Maxwell, Greg Paterson (GK)

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