Dunfermline 2 Morton 0

Saturday, 26th Jan 2008

Pars get back on winning track with goals from Simmons and Glass.

Danny Murphy served his one Cup match ban in midweek and serves another SFL match ban after 2nd February so he returned to make his final appearance for the Pars against Morton. Scott Morrison dropped out to make way for him. Morton made two changes from the team that lost 3-0 at home to Queen of the South. Stewart Greacen and Kevin Finlayson came in for Peter Weatherson and Jamie Stevenson.

All in yellow, Morton kicked off and in the opening minutes pressed forward meaning that Paul Gallacher was the first keeper to touch the ball. He was required to punch away a Scott McLaughlin free kick in from the left before a Stephen Simmons interception allowed the home team to build up an attack. Mark Burchill exchanged passes to eventually tee up Kevin Harper for a cross into the penalty box that the Morton defence were able to deal with.

In 10th minute Jamie McAllistair conceded a throw in down near the right corner flag but Calum Woods throw to Jim Hamilton was taken away by one of the two Greenock men that were policing him. Four minutes later a Harper cross turned into a shot and McGurn turned the ball over his crossbar for the first corner of the match but unfortunately that was all too easily defended.

Another was won two minutes later. This time Stephen Glass` delivery found Scott Thomson eight yards out but he headed wide of target. There was 21 minutes on the clock when Danny Murphy centred for Burchill to head down on target but David McGurn had no problem in gathering the ball.

Dunfermline were finding it hard to break down the solid Morton defence but in 25 minutes a McIntyre cross from the left byeline caused McGurn some concern as it dipped into him but he touched that clear to his left only for Harper to follow up with a cross that Hamilton headed down but McGurn pulled off a great save to tip the ball away to his left.

On the half hour Burchill laid a nice ball into the path of Harper on the edge of the D but McIntyre just couldn`t quite connect with the final pass and the chance was gone. Morton could not get near to the Pars box and Chris Millar was forced to shoot from 25 yards out on the right but was well off target.

Murphy was dumped by Millar midway into his opponents half but Jim McIntyre headed Glass` free kick over the crossbar. Burchill had a pop at goal but was high and the route to the net was proving difficult to find.

A 41st minute corner kick was fisted away by McGurn and after surviving a long ball to Iain Russell that left Wilson and Gallacher wondering who was taking it the score remained goalless at the break. Former Scotsport commentator Arthur Montford was here in his capacity as Morton director but sadly there was nothing to describe in his vocabulary as a `stramash`.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Morton 0

It took the second half four minutes to heat up. Ryan Harding was twice instrumental in thwarting Burchill`s efforts and then a Simmons drive on a Murphy cross came back off McLaughlin with the Morton no.3 knowing little about it. The home support broke into song and they were soon to have plenty more to cheer about.

David McGurn was responsible for keeping the Pars out in the first 45 but he could do nothing to stop a SIMMONS volley in 51st minute. Again Murphy provided the opportunity swinging in a diagonal ball from the left and the ex Hearts man finished in style from ten yards out.

The rain poured down as Peter Weatherson came on up front for the visitors but the Pars should have increased their lead in 61 minutes when a Glass corner from the left landed nicely for Simmons. Running in at the far post he tried to place the shot instead of blasting it and the ball was cleared off the line.

Morton tried hard to get back at Dunfermline sending their big men up for a 70th minute corner that almost caused problems when Glass` clearance came back off McAllister. McLaughlin was left an opportunity from 20 yards but shot wide left. Nick Phinn then replaced Jim McIntyre and Jamie Harris soon after came on for Scott Thomson.

Murphy fed the ball to Burchill 25 yards out, he turned and shot inches over the Morton crossbar. While Dunfermline looked comfortably ahead the small margin of advantage gave the home support some anxiety as the Clydesiders kept up the offensive. All that dissolved when Stephen GLASS notched goal number two in the 84th minute.

It was a nice move from the Pars. Sub Stevie Crawford squared the ball to Phinn who played the ball off Burchill to feed the goalscorer. The shot went in off the right post and although Morton cleared the ball away the Assistant Referee on the North Stand side was in no doubt signalling the goal as he raced back to the centre.

Burchill wide of target by the narrowest of margins. On 90 minutes Gallacher required treatment but otherwise the match drew to a satisfactory conclusion.

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson (Jamie Harris 76), Danny Murphy; Kevin Harper (Stevie Crawford 82), Stephen Simmons, Stephen Glass, Jim McIntyre (Nick Phinn 72); Mark Burchill, Jim Hamilton.
SUBS NOT USED: Tam McManus, Sean Murdoch (GK)
SCORERS: Simmons (51), Glass (84)

MORTON: David McGurn; David MacGregor (Peter Weatherson 57), Barry Smith, Ryan Harding, Stewart Greacen, Scott McLaughlin, Kevin Finlayson, Ryan McGuffie, Jim McAllister, Chris Millar, Iain Russell (Brian Graham 76).
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran McAnespie, Jamie Stevenson, Lee Robinson (GK)

REFEREE: Eddie Smith
WEATHER: Rain 10°C
ATTENDANCE 3594

NEXT MATCH: (away) SFL v Hamilton Accies, Saturday 9th February 2008, kick off 3.00pm

Views : 4,424

ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.

Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.

Preview Morton

Friday, 25th Jan 2008

In the last twelve meetings the Pars have only won three times as opposed to Morton`s five.

Former Par Chris Templeman (left) and Scott Thomson

After two consecutive defeats Jim McIntyre and his team will be desperate to get their recovery back on track.  Morton are the visitors and although they won on their last trip to West Fife they have only won once since the beginning of December. That solitary win was against foot of the table Stirling at New Year but those who made the trip to Cappielow on Boxing Day will recall how hard they made it for Macca`s men to win 1-0 that day.

Pars v Morton: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End	34	19	8	7	68	35
At Cappielow	33	13	11	9	41	35
Division One (up to 1975)	20	10	5	5	38	22
Division Two (up to 1975)	16	7	5	4	27	22
Premier League (since 1975)	4	3	1	0	10	3
First Division (since 1975)	26	12	8	6	34	22
TOTALS	67	32	19	16	109	70

Morton`s win at East End Park in August came courtesy of a Peter Weatherson goal in 21 minutes.   The best performance came in February 1965 when two goals each from Jackie Sinclair and Alex Ferguson, and one each from John McLauchlin and Bert Paton set the record league win over Morton at East End Park.

Milestones v Morton (Home)
Last League Victory	21/08/99	2-1	SFL
Last League Defeat	11/08/07	0-1	SFL
Best League Victory	29/01/66	6-0	Div 1*
Worst League Defeat	1953/54	1-3	Div 2*
*Pre league reconstruction

In the last twelve meetings the Pars have only won three times as opposed to Morton`s five. There have been four draws.

Last Twelve Matches v Morton
26/12/07	A	W	1-0	Scottish Division One
11-08-07	H	L	0-1	Scottish Division One
06-05-00	A	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
12-02-00	H	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
11-12-99	A	L	3-0	Scottish Division One
21-08-99	H	W	2-1	Scottish Division One
10-08-99	H	D	2-2	Scottish League Challenge Cup
19-03-96	A	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
02-03-96	H	W	4-1	Scottish Division One
25-11-95	H	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
23-09-95	A	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
23-04-94	A	D	2-2	Scottish Division One

The Pars form was excellent until St Johnstone came along but Morton have very little to celebrate of late.

Dunfermline	Morton
Current League Position
6	8
Form last six league matches
WWWWDL	DLLWLL
League Points
28	24
Goal Difference
-8	-14
Home/Away Record
P11, W4, D2, L5	P10, W4, D3, L4

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: (v Partick Thistle)
Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Morrison; Kevin Harper (Tam McManus 65), Stephen Simmons, Stephen Glass; Mark Burchill, Jim Hamilton.
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Murdoch (GK), Stevie Crawford, Nick Phinn, Iain Williamson
SCORER: Wilson (49)
YELLOW CARD: Woods (45+2), Burchill (50), Wilson (86)

MORTON: (v Queen of the South)
David McGurn; David MacGregor, Barry Smith, Ryan Harding, Jamie Stevenson (Brian Graham 73), Scott McLaughlin, Ryan McGuffie, Jim McAlister, Peter Weatherson, Iain Russell
SUBS NOT USED: Stewart Greacen, Kieran McAnespie, McGeogh, Lee Robinson.

Referee for the match will be Eddie Smith who fans and players will remember from the Challenge Cup Final against St Johnstone.

C`mon Ye Pars!

Views : 4,631