U20s v Rangers
Tuesday, 17th Dec 2013Tuesday
MATCH PICTURES
John Potter`s U20s team took on their Rangers counterparts at East End Park on Tuesday evening. Since qualifying to face Rangers in the SFA Youth Cup the young Pars side have lost two away games to Hibs and St Mirren so this was a chance to restore some pride into the squad.
Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal at the Cowdenbeath end and it was the Rangers keeper who was given the first save to make when Faissal El Bakhtaoui drove a low shot on target in fifth minute. The visitors produced some good passing play to look the more comfortable in the opening quarter of an hour however. Ryan Goodfellow was in regular action but mainly clearing back passes.
A Barry McKay free kick was sent in to the mid right of the Pars box and worryingly Callum Gallacher was given a free header but fortunately the ball sailed over the bar. At the other end El Bakhtaoui nicked in a neat pass to the near post for Thomson that awarded the Fifers the first corner of the game in 17 minutes but when Scott Mercer floated that over from the left, Rangers cleared without any difficulty.
Four minutes later El Bakhtaoui kept up the pressure on Rangers, turning Kristen Gibson deep down the right to send over an inviting ball. Ryan Ferguson couldn`t get a shot away but turned it back for Allan Smith who was hurried and his attempt went wildly wide. Finn Graham was next to provide a chance but Mercer couldn`t get enough on it and then Lewis Spence had a pop that went narrowly wide left.
In 27 minutes when Smith crossed from the right corner flag, keeper Liam Kelly held a header from El Bakhtaoui. Next the 21 year old French Moroccan sent in a dipping shot in low from 20 yards out that Kelly turned around his post. Powerful play from Darren Ramsay set up Rangers and Goodfellow had to save stretching left to turn a powerful Gallacher shot around his post. Charlie Telfer then lined up for another shot at Goodfellow but his attempt was blocked.
Gallacher`s shot is saved by Goodfellow
When play switched back to the other end El Bakhtaoui picked out Smith and his shot was kept out by the keeper at the near post. Mercer then won possession and laid the ball off for Thomson to play El Bakhtaoui in on the right but again the keeper saved.
Dunfermline had the bulk of the first half chances but were fortunate to go in level since in the final minute of the half Andy Murdoch fed McKay on the left and his dangerous cross through the six yard box was only just missed by Gallacher.
Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Rangers 0
The visitors went ahead in just the fifth minute of the second half. It was a simple ball in from the left that found MURDOCH unmarked at the top of the box and he found the net with his shot . 0-1
Daniel Stoney then sent a shot just outside the right post but the Pars had an opportunity from a 55th minute free kick after Craig Halkett took down El Bakhtaoui but Mercer`s dangerous ball into the box would be adequately defended. Three minutes later Ross Drummond put in a fine cross to the back post where Smith was unlucky to send his header round it.
In 62 minutes a McKay corner from the right was met by the head of Halkett and it took a fine intervention by Mercer to head the ball over the bar. Rangers continued to look dangerous but El Bakhtaoui provided some respite but shot just outside the right post. Then on 72 minutes Bakhtaoui turned the ball back for Drummond to cross high into the area in front of goal. Rangers` clearance went straight to Ferguson but he blew the chance by hitting it over the bar from the edge of the box.
A 25 yard shot from Stoney then hit the Pars right upright before a strong run from Bakhtaoui ended with Thomson backheeling the ball into the six yard box but it was an oppostion player who collected.
It was a good Dunfermline performance but they were to lose an 88th minute goal after a powerful run from GALLACHER and he netted well to compound the Pars misery. They hadn`t played badly but were taught a lesson in how to finish chances.
MATCH PICTURES17/12/13: Listen to John Potter Post Rangers U20s Match
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Orru, Scott Russell, Robbie Crawford, Scott Gray, Cammy Gill (GK)
RANGERS: Liam Kelly; Craig Halkett, Ryan Sinnamon, Kristen Gibson, Luca Gasparotto, Charlie Telfer, Barry McKay (Jamie Mills 63), Andy Murdoch (c), Callum Gallacher, Darren Ramsay, Daniel Stoney
SUBS NOT USED: Adam Wilson, Junior Ogen, Ryan Hardie, Alan Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Murdoch (50), Gallacher (88)
YELLOW CARD: Murdoch (47)
REFEREE: Gavin Ross
WEATHER: Fine 7°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL U20 League (home) v Ross County
Tuesday 7th January 2014, kick off 1.00pm
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