U19s v East Stirlingshire

Sunday, 16th Nov 2008

Cannon, Hiroz and White score but only three goals in commanding victory.

DUNFERMLINE 3 EAST STIRLING 0

MATCH PICTURES
Having been held to a goalless draw by Montrose last Sunday, this week Dunfermline threatened to score a barrowload but with few of their great many first half chances actually being on target, it was a relief when the goal famine was eventually broken in 49th minute of this match.

The Pars `home` game was played at Beath High School in Cowdenbeath and Hamish French, no doubt with an eye on a reserve fixture on Tuesday, rested his full timers Stuart Dearden, Paul Willis and Scott McBride.

The first 45 was a catalogue of misses and saved shots.  Ryan Thomson was first to test Ian Stewart in the East Stirling goal but his third minute shot from a Jordan White lay off just wasn`t strong enough.

Lee Graham headed a John MacDonald free kick in from the right back outside the right post. Rees Smith played a fine one two off Lewis Turner as he broke up the left wing in 11 minutes but his cross was turned behind for a corner.

Stewart held a Turner drive from 12 yards three minutes later and dropped to his knees to hold a Smith shot in 17th minute. The very next minute it looked as though Dunfermline just had to score.  MacDonald made an impressive break up the right before delivering a quality pass for Cannon who had made plenty time and space for his shot but he pulled the effort wide left.

Cannon then reversed the roles, his break down the left providing MacDonald with a good opportunity to rifle the ball on target but unluckily his sights were just too high. It took 25 minutes before the visitors endangered Bauld`s goal at the other end. Running almost the full length of the park Alan McLachlan exchanged passes with David Black before crossing for Jordan Brown to direct the ball at Bauld.

East Stirling were then nearly caught out on the counterattack; Jed Hiroz lifted the ball through the middle for White to pound on to but a defender managed to hook the ball away before the tall 16 year old could strike.

Cannon was wide left with a shot, Smith`s 25 yard effort cleared the crossbar and White`s low shot was held by the keeper. Three minutes from the break Graham was on target with a headed at a Turner corner from the right side but the defender on the left goalpost chested the ball away. 

The half ended with East Stirling`s first corner of the game.  That changed nothing but the Pars half time talk must have included a demonstration of just where the net was.

The breakthrough took only four second half minutes.  Turner crossed from the left and Lawrie CANNON`s glancing header from eight yards out found the net low at the near post.

Seven minutes later Dunfermline were awarded a free kick a yard out from the left corner of the penalty box.  Jed HIROZ confidently fired home from the setpiece to double the Pars lead.

Playing continued to flow towards the East Stirling goal White headed another Turner corner beyond the left upright and Thomson powered a shot wide right. Then in 65 minutes another Turner corner was inadequately dealt with by the visitors.  There was head tennis with Graham and Thomson keeping the ball bobbing around the visitors box before WHITE headed in from almost under the crossbar.

Nico Gibson replaced John MacDonald for the final quarter of the game.  The sub flicked a Smith pass to Thomson and he drove at the keeper.  In 80 minutes Gibson forced Stewart to save again, then both Thomson and Gibson further tested the keeper. Graham headed over the crossbar and Smith popped another at the keeper but there was not to be a fourth.

DUNFERMLINE: Craig Bauld; Blair McWhirter, Steven Lynch, Lee Graham, Rees Smith; John MacDonald (Nico Gibson 67), Ryan Thomson, Jed Hiroz, Lewis Turner; Jordan White, Lawrie Cannon
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Willis, Scott McBride, Stuart Dearden, Danny Gunn (GK)
SCORERS: Cannon (49), Hiroz (56), White (65)

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE: Ian Stewart; Gary O`Hara, Martin Nediolkov, Craig Stewart, Scott McInnes, Mark Law, Alan McLachlan, David Black, Willy McLachlan, Jordan Brown (Willie Hassings HT), Steven Page (Dillan McGowan 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin Gillan, Phil Hughes, John Kennedy

REFEREE:
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: (away) v Stirling Albion, Friday 21st November 2008

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