U19s v Raith Rovers
Sunday, 25th Apr 2010Pars not good enough at St Andrews
RAITH ROVERS 1 DUNFERMLINE 1
MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline played their final match in their section of the U19 League Cup at St Andrews Juniors Recreation Park. The home team were Raith Rovers and the winners would be assured qualification for the competition semi finals. A draw would see Raith progress since they had a superior goal difference - +6 to the Pars +3. With the match into added time and Dunfermline 1-0 up ten men Raith snatched an equaliser to qualify the Kirkcaldy side.
The Pars had three good chances in the opening eleven minutes . Steven Leslie provided Scott McIntosh with a fifth minute shot on target that keeper Ross Laidlaw blocked and then five minutes later Leslie again set up the striker but this time the ball cleared the crossbar. Next minute McIntosh persevered on the right side of the opposition box, carving out an opportunity to shoot but Laidlaw parried that away.
In 18 minutes a Lewis Turner delivery let McIntosh have another crack at goal and this time Laidlaw`s feet kept the ball out. Raith encouraged by Manager John McGlynn standing in the crowd, gradually saw more of the ball and chances came their way too. When Jamie Birnie was penalised for a crude tackle on McKechnie, Jamie Mackie fired a 25 yard free kick off the left upright.
Back at the other end A Turner corner found the head of Lee Graham and again the Rovers keeper pulled off a fine save. Lyle Shaw drove a low shot at Bald before Rees Smith carried the ball up the left to release a shot at the keeper whose parry broke for McIntosh but he hit the return wide right.
In 34 minutes Donaldson fouled Macdonald to give the Pars another chance from a free kick but Aaron Scott`s shot soared over the bar. Rovers finished the first 45 with their best spell of the half. Bald had to beat away Mackie`s attempt from a corner from the right, then Donaldson powered the next over the top. Bald saved from Lyle Shaw and then Shaw hit the sidenetting.
Half Time: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0
Playing down the hill the Rovers started the second half strongly with Chris McDougall unlucky not to get on the end of a McKechnie ball in from deep left. MacDonald had a fierce shot beaten away as Dunfermline continued to create the better opportunities.
In 65 minutes Turner misjudged a cut back when he might have struck for goal. At the the other end Raith were restricted to long range efforts and the Pars turned up the heat as they went for the winner. A McIntosh cross found Leslie in 78 but his effort was easily taken by Laidlaw. Then three minutes later a fantastic run by MacDonald took him storming into the left side of the Raith box and his cross looked a certainty for Leslie but his shot from close in crashed back off the crossbar.
It felt like it just wasn`t going to be Hamish French`s side`s day but Mackie`s challenge on Scott handed his side a 30 yard free kick in 84th minute. Smith went to strike but then stopped for TURNER to step up and drive the ball through the Raith defence to hit the net.
Mackie was yellow carded for persistent fouling on 88 minutes and within 60 seconds collected another as he bulldozed Scott down. Against the ten men Leslie failed with an effort on the second ball at a Smith free kick but then one minute into added time a long throw from the right into the centre of the Pars penalty box was not dealt with. Andrew WALLS was the first to react and he rammed the ball home to the utter despair of the Pars team.
Dunfermline went out on inferior goal difference in a match where they passed over umpteen good chances to seal the result.
RAITH ROVERS: Ross Laidlaw; Reece Donaldson, Scott Main, Jamie Mackie, Kevin Brown, David Lowe, Lyle Shaw (Jamie Stewart 63), Graeme Beveridge, Chris McDougall, Andrew Walls, Jordan McKechnie
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Malley.
SCORERS: Walls (91)
YELLOW CARD: Donaldson (69), Mackie (88)
RED CARD: Mackie (89)
DUNFERMLINE: Craig Bald; Jamie Birnie, Lee Graham, Stewart Thomson, Rees Smith; Lewis Turner, Aaron Scott, Stefan Scougall (Jordan Glennie 81), John MacDonald; Scott McIntosh, Steven Leslie
SUBS NOT USED: Craig McManus, Danny Gunn (GK)
SCORERS: Turner (84)
REFEREE:
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: The U19s have two outstanding league matches to play against Cowdenbeath and Montrose.
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