SFA Youth Cup v Rangers
Sunday, 6th Dec 2009Paul Willis started for Pars but goals from Hemmings (28) and Hutton (31) meant Rangers lead 2-0 at half time. Campbell made it 3-0 from the spot.
SFA Youth Cup - 4th Round
DUNFERMLINE 0 RANGERS 3
Rangers Tommy Wilson watched Dunfermline last Sunday at Dalgety Bay but the U19 side showed three changes from the one that defeated East Stirlingshire 4-2 that day. Still eligible at this U19 level, Paul Willis was brought in with John MacDonald and Aaron Scott the other changes as the Pars took on Rangers, In previous rounds Dunfermline had dispensed with Morton and Dumbarton, both by 3-0 scorelines but it was likely that these Clydesiders might be a different story.Rangers kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie stand end and their shot at goal from the kick off went wide left giving Craig Bald a very early touch from a goal kick.
In the first five minutes the SPL club started strongly. A third minute free kick on the right midway inside the Pars half was floated over by Greg Wylde and Chris Scott won the second ball to shoot over the bar from close range. Two minutes later Kane Hemmings made a break through the middle before sliding the ball right for Kyle Hutton who sent a shot rolling across the face of goal and out at the far post.
Dunfermline worked hard to get themselves well into the game. Blair McWhirter picked out Willis and he then sent Stefan Scougall scurrying down the left. Several challenges came in but his tenacity almost paid off but the visitors defence eventually cleared. Next John MacDonald threaded a fine pass into the path of Willis but despite the linesman signalling the corner the referee didn`t agree.
The Pars were allowed to play a bit and for a short spell looked like they were going to be tough opponents. Rangers were pinned back and Leslie was unlucky to be caught offside after Ryan Thomson`s header was sent on by Lewis Turner.
Gordon Dick had headed over from a corner before Harry McGregor sent the ball behind for another corner when Max Wright had threatened to dribble his way around the entire defence. This all signalled that Rangers had absorbed Dunfermline`s push and were ready to pounce.
In 26 minutes Hemmings failed with an overhead kick right in front of goal but two minutes later HEMMINGS got the rub of luck when he and McGregor went up for a through ball. The ball rebounded off the Rangers player`s back and let him in to slip the ball past Bald. 1-0 Rangers.
Within three minutes a corner gave Billy Kirkwood`s Gers a second goal. Wylde delivered the ball from the right and Kyle HUTTON rose in line with the left post to head downwards into the centre of the net.
Hutton saw his shot blocked and then Bald saved from Wright in the same move. Pars left back Rees Smith had a good effort from 25 yards but sadly it was the ballboys who had to pick it up from behind the goal. Rangers continued to put the pressure on Dunfermline with Dick and Hemmings heading good opportunities over the bar.
Three minutes from the interval the base of the right goalpost denied Dunfermline a goal that might just have changed fortunes. Aaron Scott swung the ball in towards the far post and Willis`s header back across goal was very unlucky to meet the woodwork.
Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Rangers 2
The floodlights were on as Leslie and Willis got the second half underway. MacDonald put over a good cross but Rangers defended well then in 53 minutes Turner got a shot at goal from 18 yards but didn`t have the power in the shot to test Grant Adam in goal. Willis was taken down by Darren Cole as he threatened to penetrate the centre of the opposition defence but when he took the resultant free kick he pumped that narrowly over the crossbar.
A bit like the first half Rangers allowed Dunfermline a bit of scope. Perhaps content to sit on a 2-0 lead the Gers did threaten on the break. When Hutton tried to waltz around defenders Rangars won a free kick on the edge of the box but Wylde launched his attempt into the defensive wall.
Dick dispossessed Aaron Scott in 64 minutes and this sent sub Archie Campbell through on Bald but the keeper pulled off a good save to preserve the scoreline. Next minute Scott drove wide at the other end but then in 69 minutes a somewhat needlessly conceded penalty handed the visitors the opportunity to finish the contest.
Hemmings was going away from goal on the right side of the box as Bald dived at his feet and the referee had an easy decision to make. CAMPBELL took responsibility for the spot kick and drilled it into the middle of the goal.
Thomson headed a Willis corner over the bar while at the other Bald was forced into turning a couple of efforts over his. In 84 minutes Willis made Adam save at his near post with his feet and from the corner Scott drove into the red kitted keeper`s hands.
The final five minutes did nothing to alter things and so Dunfermline Athletic`s interest in the SFA Youth Cup is over for another season. A bit of a shame perhaps because this Dunfermline squad is in contention at the top of the SFL Youth League and is possibly the best that Dunfermline have had for several seasons. At the end of the day the greater physical size of the Rangers players and their full time focus against a Pars team that boasted just three full timers told.
DUNFERMLINE: Craig Bald; Blair McWhirter, Ryan Thomson, Harry McGregor (c), Rees Smith; John MacDonald (Scott McIntosh 66), Aaron Scott, Lewis Turner, Stefan Scougall (Kevin McHattie 75); Steven Leslie (Conner Schivone 59)SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Thomson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McGregor (90)
RANGERS: Grant Adam; Rhys McCabe, Greg Wylde, Darren Cole, Chris Scott, Jamie Ness (c) (Archie Campbell HT), Kyle Hutton, Kamil Wiktorski (Scott Durie 76), Kane Hemmings, Max Wright, Gordon Dick
SUBS NOT USED: Dylan McGeouch, Mark Weir, Kyle McAusland
SCORERS: Hemmings (28), Hutton (31), Campbell (69)
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