Dunfermline 3 Hearts 1
Tuesday, 27th Jul 2010Pre Season Friendly: Nick Phinn (46) 1-0: Joe Cardle (58) 2-0: Cardle (69) 3-0: Calum Elliot (85) 3-1.
For the visit of Hearts Jim McIntyre went with a new look side, giving a start to those who had played least during pre season. Kyle Allison was in goals, the former Clyde duo Neil McGregor and Chris Higgins in central defence, Ryan Thomson and Joe Cardle were in midfield and upfront Andy Kirk made way for Steven McDougall.
Hearts kicked off and created a fantastic chance in just under two minutes. A low cross from the right was dumied by the red booted David Obua and David Templeton smashed a powerful shot just over the crossbar.
Dunfermline won the first corner of the evening and keeper Jamie McDonald had to fist that away as Cardle`s inswinger dropped into the goalmouth. Play switched rapidly back to the home end with Obua hitting a wild effort into the McCathie Stand.
Steven McDougall got in the Pars first shot on target when he managed to wrong foot both Jonsson and Zaliukas and hit a low shot to the near post but McDonald turned that behind for a ninth minute corner. The next promise came from a Cardle run down the left four minutes later; He hit a good cross ball but Paul Willis`s header failed to find McDougall and McDonald held.
Hearts continued to create chances, hitting wide and then winning a corner from a deflected shot. But it was Dunfermline who had the better chance in 17 minutes following a good run by Woods after a neat flick by Willis. Woods` shot was headed away only as far as McDougall and his shot from 15 yards just slipped an inch wide of the left goalpost. Phinn complained about not receiving a simple pass for a tap in but in that case the midfielder would probably have been offside.
Mrowiec fired well outside the right post and then Templeton got behind the defence to send the ball into the six yard box but McGregor slid in to clear. Templeton received an overhit corner as the first quarter ended but he popped the ball over the bar from 20 yards.
Darren Barr looped a neat ball through for Kari Arkivuo to run on to in the box but McGregor`s intervention removed the danger. Hearts continued with a cross that McGregor had to head over his own bar. Ten minutes from the break Obua was very close to getting on the end of Templeton cross but the 26 year old Uruguayan was just short.
McDougall sprang the Hearts offside trap to get wide left in 40 minutes but Willis couldn`t get enough purchase on his header from the cross to trouble McDonald. Obua was subbed by Suso Santana and it was he who threatened next bursting through the middle on a quick counterattack but Allison was out well to save at his feet. It had been an entertaining end to end first half and only the addition of some Dunfermline goals could have improved the night.
Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Hearts 0
Two subs for the Pars at the start of the second half, meaning that they had four centre halves on the park, and a quick goal. 37 seconds after kicking off Nick PHINN took advantage of a dozy defence that lost the ball to him in the centre of their own penalty box. The Pars goalscorer possibly now inspired having been given the captain`s armband, dragged the ball right to beat the advancing keeper.
In 49 minutes a Templeton cross from the left was blocked by Alex Keddie and Arkivuo was denied by Allison. four minutes later a quickly taken free kick picked out Elliot on a run and his cut back for Templeton was neatly turned away by half time sub Andy Dowie.
A fine counter by Willis sent McDougall up the right and he delivered a low cross that Pat Clarke drilled at the Hearts keeper. In 58 minutes with the away supporters growing unhappy with the way Dunfermline were holding possession, Willis threaded another ball down the right flank. McDougall beat the offside trap, drove into the right side of the box and put in a superb ball that CARDLE had merely to direct home to give the Fifers a two goal lead.
That was to become three in 69 minutes when McDougall fed the ball out to the left side of the box. CARDLE received and hammered the ball between McGowan and Barr giving McDonald no hope.
A triple substitution from the Pars then saw Phinn, Clarke and McDougall replaced by Mason, White and Kirk. Hearts made Allison pull off a good save and then forced a corner off McGregor but they were not looking nearly sharp enough for a Dunfermline side that was keen to impress.
A quick counter in 78 minutes allowed White to square to Cardle on the other wing and he was unlucky not to notch his hat-trick as the ball was sent whizzing past the left post. Joe then became provider laying off a good chance that Willis drove just over the bar.
In 81 minutes everyone thought Hearts must score. Ian Black put Santana through but Allison parried the Englishman`s drive and McGregor slid in bravely to deny the two Hearts players who were sizing up the tap in. By the time Hearts scored their consolation, five minutes from the end, half of the Edinburgh supporters had left. Templeton was on the right wing to send in an early ball that ELLIOT swept on in at the far post.
Kirk had an opportunity at the other end after Thomson`s header reached him on the left edge of the six yard box. Cardle swung over a good ball in 89 minutes that Willis headed wide right from 8 yards. Cardle skinned McGowan again at the death but sent his shot wide. This was a much better performance from Jim McIntyre`s team and they really should have won by more.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Phinn (46).Cardle (58, 69)
HEARTS: Jamie McDonald; Craig Thomson (Ian Black HT), Eggert Jonsson, Adrian Mrowiec (Ryan McGowan HT), Darren Barr, Marius Zaliukas, Kari Arkivuo (Arvydas Novikovas,59), Ryan Stevenson (Ismael Bouzid,73), Calum Elliot,David Obua (Suso Santana,41), David Templeton
SUBS NOT USED: David Kucharski, Marian Kello (GK).
SCORERS: Elliot (85)
REFEREE: John McKendrick
WEATHER: Fine 18°C.
ATTENDANCE 2195
NEXT MATCH: (home) Co-operative Insurance Cup v Arbroath
Saturday 31st July 2010, kick off 3.00pm
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Dunfermline vs Hearts
Tue, 27th Jul 2010
Match Photos To Follow.
