U20s v Partick Thistle
Tuesday, 11th Mar 2014Dunfermline took a point from this U20 League game played at East End Park on Tuesday night but really it should have been three.
MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline took a point from this U20 League game played at East End Park on Tuesday night but really it should have been three. After going ahead in just sixteen minutes, Thistle got it back level from the penalty spot early in the second half but after the visitors were reduced to ten men for the last twenty minutes when player manager Alan Archibald was shown red for saying the wrong thing to the referee, the Pars pummelled the Thistle goal. The defence lived a charmed life and with the help of the woodwork held out for a draw.
The Fifers were impressive in the first half but should have scored one than just the one goal. Ryan Wallace had two good chances, one from a free kick before Lewis SPENCE netted after Ryan Wiliamson`s cross was defended out to him. Scott Mercer had a long range effort that keeper Marc Watters parried away for a corner before his Pars counterpart Ryan Goodfellow had to punch away a Declan McDaid attempt.
Then in 26 minutes Alex Whittle was put through, he cut from the right and released a shot when a lay off to Ryan Thomson might have had a better outcome. Williamson made all the ground on the right to set up a good opportunity but there was no one there to accept it.
Allan Smith had a run in on goal from the left but his shot was blocked by Watters and a corner resulted. Smith soon had another chance from the right but the sting was taken out of the shot and trickled to Watters. Wallace was replaced by Gavin McMillan before the interval but the Pars did hold the lead.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 0
It looked likely that John Potter`s side would add another in the opening minutes of the second half. First Williamson and then Mercer sent over good balls but again there were no takers. Whittle executed a dangerous shot from the edge of the box that was punched clear but the Liverpudlian injured his foot in the process and was immediately substituted by James Thomas.
The Pars then paid for their failures in front of goal when Finn Graham conceded a penalty and David WILSON converted from the spot. As the match entered the final quarter the Pars stepped it up yet again. Thomson was subject to several fouls and from an ensuing Mercer free kick Declan O`Kane headed wide.
In 68 minutes a similar Mercer free kick found the head of the in running Thomas and he made the keeper save. Archibald`s red card then stunned everyone and as the Pars piled on the pressure Partick managed to keep the ball out. There was one almighty stramash in 72 minutes with firstly Thomson`s netbound shot being blocked, Thomas follow up hitting the post and then Thomson having his second shot stopped on the line.
Four more minutes passed and another two chances went adrift. Firstly Smith played a neat one two off Williamson but his swish failed to send the ball on target. Next minute Thomson had a glorious chance from 8 yards but sent the ball over the top.
James Thomas heads on goal
In 84 minutes McMillan burst into the Thistle box on the left and fired a good shot on target that Watters took the sting out off and successfully managed to turn and grab the ball before it crossed the line. There were several more good opportunities all from Mercer free kicks delivered in from the left.
On 86 minutes the free kick won a corner that was sent across the face of goal only to be cleared. Two minutes later from just seven yards out from the Thistle line, Mercer`s cross met Smith`s head but he failed to glance enough of the ball and it hit the sidenetting. In the final minute a Smith cross was headed down by Gabriel Piccolo but when it dropped for Thomson he hit the loose ball over the crossbar from five yards.
A home win was just not to be. A good performance but the finishing could have been better.
Ryan Thomson sends last chance over the bar
Listen to John Potter`s summary of the match
MATCH PICTURES
SUBS NOT USED: Adam Forrest, Anthony Laing, Scott Sutherland, Jamie Wilson (GK)
SCORERS: Spence (16)
PARTICK THISTLE: Marc Watters; Ross Meechan, Michael Mullen, Gabriel Piccolo, Alan Archibald, David Wilson, Declan McDaid, James Hamilton, Christopher Duggen (Kevin Nesbitt 84), Jordan Leyden, Lee Gallacher
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Basalaj, Simon Colina, Neil McLaughlin
SCORERS: Wilson (pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Leyden (30)
RED CARD: Archibald (70)
REFEREE: David McNiff
WEATHER: Fine cool 5°C
ATTENDANCE 66
NEXT MATCH: SPFL U20 League (away) v Hearts
Friday 14th March 2014 at Newtongrange Star, kick off 7.00pm
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