U20s v Ross County
Tuesday, 7th Jan 2014Thomson and Smith start. Gavin McMillan (29) 1-0; Declan O`Kane (68) 2-0; Allan Smith (83) 3-0.
MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline faced Ross County in an U20s League match at East End Park on Tuesday afternoon. It was second bottom v bottom with both teams seeking to add to their 11 league points, Ross County with one less on goal difference.
Ryan Thomson returned to competitive action and Craig Dargo joined Allan Smith as a forward strikeforce. With a shortage of centre halves Chris Kane started for just his second match ever in that position alongside captain Declan O`Kane.
It was all Dunfermline from the kick off, Allan Smith heading on to a Craig Dargo cross from the left and then Thomson managing a powerful shot from the edge of the box but the sting was taken off that by a defender and Sean McCarthy clutched it before it went behind for a corner.
The visitors countered with former AZ Alkmaar forward, Kevin Luckassen firing high and then Mikey Grimes made Ryan Goodfellow turn the ball around his right hand post for an early corner.
Back at the other end, Scott Mercer free kick in tenth minute curled around the Ross County wall but into the arms of keeper McCarthy. Mercer then called McCarthy into action nine minutes later with a good right footed effort.
Smith was next to try a shot in 25 minutes but that hit the right sidenetting. Then four minutes later a Ross Drummond corner from the right produced the opener. Gavin McMILLAN timed his run in to the far post perfectly to head forcefully into the County net. 1-0
The Staggies came forward but their attempts were wild. On 45 the visitors were unlucky not to benefit from playing advantage. Instead referee Lorraine Clark awarded them a free kick that Dutchman Marc Klok fired wide right from 20 yards.
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Ross County 0
Dunfermline re-started strongly with Drummond bidding his time to beat his marker and get in a cross from the left cornerflag that McCarthy took from in front of Thomson. In 51 minutes Smith robbed a County player on the right side of the penalty box but his cut back in search of Thomson was booted behind. Kane got his head to the subsequent corner but not enough to trouble the keeper.
Luckassen rolled a shot narrowly outside the left post and followed that up in 56 minutes with one wide on the other side. The Pars bounced back with corners and crosses into the box. A 66th minute Mercer free kick created more opportunities in the County box but none could be taken. Then from the right touchline eight yards out, Drummond lifted in a left footed cross that dropped perfectly for O`KANE to head home from five yards out. 2-0.
A good strong run from Smith forced a corner on the right and when Drummond sent that over Thomson`s header was directed wide left. Then in 82 minutes Smith broke through on the left side and his on target shot took a deflection for another corner that McCarthy held. It was a Dargo shot that led to the third Pars goal just one minute later. The 36 year old made it all on the left side but his netbound shot was beaten away by the keeper only for SMITH to slot home from ten yards. 3-0
A good win for John Potter`s young side and the U20s first league win since 14th October.
Listen to John Potter Post Ross County Comments
MATCH PICTURES
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: McMillan (29), O`Kane (68), Smith (83)
YELLOW CARD: McMillan (71)
ROSS COUNTY: Sean McCarthy; Gordon Finlayson, Stephen Miller, Mark Klok, Adam Porritt, Ross MacKillop, Kyle MacLeod, Mikey Grimes (Cameron Crown, 81), Kevin Luckassen, Tony Dingwall, Liam Hutchison (James Beeston 73).
SUBS NOT USED: Duncan Corbett, Connor Hall (GK)
YELLOW CARD: MacKillop (76), Klok (89)
REFEREE: Lorraine Clark
WEATHER: Overcast
ATTENDANCE 47
NEXT MATCH: SPFL U20 League (away) v Motherwell
Tuesday 21st January 2014, kick off 7.00pm
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