U19s v Hearts
Saturday, 29th Oct 2011U19s desperately unlucky to take nothing away from Riccarton.
HEARTS 1 DUNFERMLINE 0
MATCH PICTURES
The Pars had Shaun Byrne back to captain his team for this Saturday morning match against the league leaders at Riccarton. Although they lost the game to a penalty that would be described as soft, the team can take great comfort from their performance. Dunfermline had the better chances and pressed Hearts for the whole game.
Chances were scarce in the early action but Dunfermline were giving as good as they got. Scott Mercer controlled a good pass from Fraser Moncrieff to power a 16th minute chance over the bar as former Pars youth player Kevin McHattie closed him down. Hearts were always dangerous with the speed of their breaks and David Smith in particular had a good first half providing several chances. Full back Ryan Stewart put in a strong run in 22 minutes that saw him collect Smith`s pass on the right and send over a fine chance for Jamie Walker that was blocked.
Ryan Goodfellow held a Chris Kane rocket from 25 yards while at the other end Moncrieff got into a good position for a shot but hit it wildly high. Then in 28 minutes Byrne who had been electric with some of his touches won possession in the middle of the park. His touch allowed Blair Henderson and Allan Smith combine to split the Hearts defence and send Byrne through on goal but his shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide left.
A Mercer cross in 42 minutes created problems for the Hearts defence and both Henderson with a header and Smith at the far post were unlucky to be kept out. Hearts had their chances too as they tried hard to find an opening before the break. Goodfellow intercepted a Jason Holt cross, then next Holt troubled the defence again feeding Walker the ball on the edge of the box who was very fortunate to get a free kick decision against Ross Millen. Walker blasted the setpiece twice into the Pars wall and the sides went in all square.
Half Time: Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0
The Fifers dominated the third quarter of the match and were to pay dearly for not finishing any of the chances that came their way. Ross Drummond`s forward ball for Smith was headed down and Moncrieff latched on to the second ball. He switched the ball right for Mercer on the edge of the penalty box to take a touch and make Jack Hamilton hold a powerful shot.
There was then a Pars shot that was blocked and went behind but no corner for some reason. In 57 minutes Smith robbed Brad McKay and advanced on goal but Hamilton was out fast to smother the ball. Next minute a Millen corner was met by Scott Campbell`s head but the netbound ball hit off a defender`s head. Moncrieff forced his way through the Hearts defence again but smashed his shot over the bar.
After this period of sustained Pars pressure Hearts edged back into things when Campbell was penalised for his challenge on Holt but Goodfellow held the free kick as it was smashed through the defensive wall. Decisions had not been going the visitors way and in 76 minute Billy King took on both Munro and Mercer in the box with the latter adjudged to have brought the sub down. KING took the penalty and gave Goodfellow no chance as he put Hearts 1-0 up.
The Dunfermline youngsters tried hard for an equaliser and nearly grabbed it from a corner in added time. Drummond returned the first cleared ball and Campbell was still up to feed Henderson the opportunity but his shot was turned over the bar by Hamilton. Really tough for Hamish French`s side to take nothing from this game but if they can do this well against the team that`s setting the pace then success will surely follow against others.
HEARTS: Jack Hamilton; Ryan Stewart, Kevin McHattie, Brad McKay, Jordan McGhee, Chris Kane (c), Jamie Walker (Billy King 71), Calum Tapping (Calum Paterson 71), David Smith, Jason Holt, Sam NicholsonSUBS NOT USED: Fraser Mullins, Dale Carrick, George Scott, Adam King, Blair Carswell (GK)
SCORERS: King (76 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Holt (50)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Goodfellow, Ross Millen, Grant Munro, Scott Campbell, Ross Drummond; Scott Mercer, Shaun Byrne, Andy Ritchie, Fraser Moncrieff (Chris Hackland 87); Allan Smith, Blair Henderson
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Birnie, Jordan Brown, Callum Howie
YELLOW CARD: Mercer (76)
REFEREE: Lorraine Clark
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: U19 League v Inverness Caley Thistle (away)
Tuesday 8th November, 2:00pm kick off at the Highland Soccer Academy
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