U20s v Hibernian

SPFL U20 League Match. Callum Booth (60) 0-1; PJ Crossan red card (83)

DUNFERMLINE 0 HIBERNIAN 1

For the Under 20s first home league match of the season Dunfermline welcomed Hibs to East End Park. The three Pars subs at Stranraer on Saturday were all given starts.

After just 5 minutes Connor Duthie hit the post from a shot inside the box. Eight minutes later Crane had a shot at the Pars goal, but to no avail. Hibs were having the majority of the play and in 18 minutes Callum Booth crossed from the left and Lewis Allan’s shot hit a defender and when Crane got the rebound, he hit it high over the bar. Minutes later Duthie’s shot was deflected for a corner.

Allan Smith had the ball in the net for the Pars in 26 minutes after good work by Andy Stirling on the left, but was deemed to be in an offside position. The Pars were beginning to come back into the game and James Thomas had a shot that he put over the bar. Next a good run and cross by Stirling was punched clear by Perntreou.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Hibernian 0

In 49 minutes, Stirling crossed from the left for Smith, but his cheeky flick was cleared. On the hour Hibernian went ahead from a free kick.

BOOTH scored at the retake, after his initial shot went wide of the goal. His second chance was deflected into the net off the Pars wall.

Three minutes later Smith had a shot saved by keeper Kleyton Perntreou after a good run and cross by Mercer. In 78 minutes Stuart Morrison’s header from a cross was netbound until Martin popped up to clear off the line. Goodfellow had a couple of good blocks and then in 83 minutes PJ Crossan was sent off for an off the ball incident with a Hibs defender.

The last notable action of the game was a free kick by Stirling which was cleared over the bar by Hendry. From the resultant corner Page could not get his head properly on the ball and it went for a goalkick.

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC: Ryan Goodfellow, Scott Mercer, Gavin McMillan, Stuart Urquhart, Jonathon Page, Finn Graham, Cammy McClair (Stuart Morrison 28), Shaun Byrne, Allan Smith, James Thomas (Paul Joseph Crossan 69), Andy Stirling.
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill; Johnny Galloway, Brandon Luke.
YELLOW CARD: Graham (54);
RED CARD: Crossan (83)

HIBERNIAN: Kleyton Perntreou, Aaron Dunsmore, Callum Booth, Neil Martynuik, Paul Hanlon, Scott Martin, Connor Duthie, Callum Crane, Lewis Allan (Tom Gardiner 90), Jake Sinclair (Taylor Hendry 79), Max Todd (Gareth McCaffrey (59)
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Brennan; Jordan McGregor
SCORER: Booth (60)

REFEREE: Scott Lambie

Coach John Potter gave his thoughts to the website after the narrowest of defeats:-

“I was disappointed first half. I thought they started better and we struggled a wee bit, so we changed it round and sat off them a bit and tried to counter attack. I was happy to get in at half time because I didn’t think we were great.

"Second half I thought we started a bit better. I was disappointed with the goal from a free kick. We took too long to organise and they got it given again and the ball kind of broke and I was disappointed with that. After that I thought we were excellent, we changed the shape again and brought a sub on and I thought we were good. We were pushing the last 25 minutes and that is the way we normally play, but we weren’t really at it for the first half.

Potts was disappointed with the red card for PJ Crossan and felt that the decision was harsh. He have his thoughts to the website after the game:-

“I didn’t intend to play Stuart but Cammy McClair wasn’t feeling too well, so had to come off. Stuart had played 90 minutes on Sunday for the Fife Elite team and came in today and played right back where he had never played before and I thought he was excellent. He is only 15.

"Gav McMillan played left back and it was a bit unnatural, we have no fit left backs in the club, so we had to move things around. I thought we looked more comfortable when we went three at the back and got at them a wee bit and maybe we should have started that way, but that is the decisions you make.

“I thought Andy Stirling took a wee while to get into the game, he looked a bit nervous, but once he got into the swing of things in the second half, he got stronger and stronger and it was good for him to get 90 minutes.

"We could do the same on Saturday and there is another 20’s game on Tuesday. The more minutes that he can get along with Allan Smith, Stuart Urquhart and Jonathon Page, it will push them back into the Manager's thoughts."

PJ Crossan and Cammy Gill have been selected for Scotland U17 squad and playing a game at Airdrieonians Wednesday 3rd September.

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