Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2

Tuesday, 5th Aug 2008

Pars at the double in the Co-operative Cup on their first ever t

 
Peterhead were unchanged from the eleven that defeated the men from Methil on Saturday as they took on the other end of the Kingdom. Dunfermline showed one change as they brought in Andy Kirk for his first start in place of Iain Williamson to line up in a 4-4-2.

The hosts kicked off but the Pars were first to raise the hopes when Graham Bayne made the opposition defence look sluggish and cut the ball back for Andy Kirk. The defence recovered however to deny the chance. At the other end Scott Wilson rose timely to head clear a Donald cross.

Next a Kevin Harper cross found Kirk at the near post but his effort was deflected off a defender for a corner right. Glass and Harper worked a short one but Wilson`s header was cleared and Nick Phinn was wild with the return. Dunfermline were pushing up but got caught offside four times in the opening dozen minutes.

In 14 minutes Austin McCann passed right across field to Greg Shields and from his connection Harper sent another bal into the centre of the Peterhead box but none of the attackers could capitalise.

The 21st minute brought a fantastic save out of Mikel Kula. Phinn burst into the right side of the box and his cut back was left to roll perfectly to Glass but the save was the equal of the shot. Bayne collected the rebound but Glass` second bite was deflected wide.

Gallacher`s first save was called upon four minutes later when Craig Gunn`s sweep into the Pars box was turned by Martin Bavidge to the drilled low into the keeper`s hands.

Phinn was next to find chances. From 25 yards he made the keeper save diving to his right and then it was him on the end of a Harper ball but his header was inches over the crossbar.

Stuart McKay broke down the right to pick out Gunn in the box and when the tussle for possession gave Peterhead the break it was McKay`s shot that was deflected wide right. Dunfermline in true cup tie fashion quickly had the action back in front of Kula.

In 33rd minute Kirk came awfully close to turning in a Phinn shot after the midfielder had swung the ball wide right for Harper and then met the return. Peterhead responded with Mann winning the ball on halfway to send Graeme Sharp down the right and Gunn was desperately close with the shot that just cleared the bar.

At the break the match remained without goals. Dunfermline had looked very capable of winning through but its goals that count so there was everything to play for in the second period.

Half time: Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 0

From the kick off the ball was played back to Shields who launched the ball up the right. Bayne`s knock on was latched on by Kirk and his shot though blocked by the Polish keeper rebounded for PHINN to ram home. The Blue Toon had gone six and a half matches this season without conceding a goal but there was no stopping the Pars with just 14 seconds of the second half gone.

Peterhead might have been luckier from a Bavidge blast but that ended up narrowly wide left. Then the Pars struck again in 50th minute. Phinn picked out KIRK and the new boy smashed the ball passed the keeper from 16 yards.

Andy Kirk on his starting debut

Within minutes the Fifers created another great chance. Phinn laid the ball back for Burke to belt at goal from the edge of the area and Bayne was unfortunate to see his deflection slip wide. In 61 minutes Austin McCann race up the left wing before sending a good delivery into the centre of the box but Kula just touched the ball away from the onrushing Kirk.

Three minutes McCann repeated the supply and this time the keeper held Kirk`s direct header. Scott Wilson had to go off holding his right leg, Calum Woods came on at right back and Shields moved into the centre of defence. Peterhead`s best try was a Sharp stab over the bar.

Graeme Holmes came on for Nick Phinn with 17 minutes remaining and his first touch on his competitve football was a release that just cleared the bar. Gallacher saved brilliantly from Bavidge but then in 79 minutes sub Davie Ross accepted a poor connection from the red shirted keeper. With the whole goal open Ross amazingly shot just wide of the right post to prevent the keeper`s face matching his top.

Dunfermline continued to worry the Toon defence, Williamson hitting wide and then Holmes with a rocket of a shot in 88 minutes that Kula turned over his bar.

The impressive second half start ended this game as a contest and for the final 40 minutes there was little doubt that Dunfermline`s name would be in the draw for the next round. The Fifers looked a sound unit with Nick Phinn a stand out and well worthy of the Co-operative Insurance Man of the Match award.

PETERHEAD: Mikel Kula, Davie Donald, Bobby Mann, Martin Skinner (Callum MacDonald 54), Daniel Moore; Neil McVitie, Graeme Sharp, Craig Gunn (Davie Ross, 70), Martin Bavidge, Stuart Anderson (Donnie Munro 54), Stuart McKay.
SUBS NOT USED: Dean Cowie, Paul Jarvie (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Anderson (19)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Greg Shields, Scott Wilson (c) (Calum Woods 65), Scott Thomson, Austin McCann; Kevin Harper, Nick Phinn (Graeme Holmes 73), Stephen Glass, Alex Burke; Andy Kirk (Iain Williamson 79), Graham Bayne.
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Muirhead, Callum Reidford (GK)
SCORERS: Phinn (46), Kirk (50)
YELLOW CARD: Wilson (40)

REFEREE: George Salmond
WEATHER: Dry 17°C
ATTENDANCE 1291

NEXT MATCH: (home) SFL v Queen of the South
Saturday 9th August 2008, kick off 3.00pm

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