U20s v Inverness CT

SPFL Development League: James Thomas (48) 1-0; Ross Millen (80) 2-0; James Thomas (85) 3-0; Gavin McMillan (86) 4-0; Ross Millen (90) 5-0

DUNFERMLINE 5 INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE 0

The fans that did turn up to watch the Under 20s on a damp and dark September evening were rewarded with an impressive performance by a young Pars team who ran in five goals after a frenzied finish against their Premier League opponents.

John Potter’s team included 15-year old Stuart Morrison playing in central defence and another 15-year old Johnny Galloway on the bench. The ‘experience’ came in the shape of Ross Millen after he missed out on first team duty on Saturday through suspension, and other first team squad players Shaun Byrne, Allan Smith, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Andy Stirling.

This game may have finished explosively but it took until 6 minutes before there was any action of note. Stirling won the first corner of the game but the cross found no takers. Much more promising was Finn Graham’s run down the right two minutes later and his low cross that El Bakhtaoui hit first time only for Cammy Mackay in the Inverness goal to save with his feet.

Inverness got their first shot of the match in the ninth minute but Baptie’s long-range effort was never going to trouble Jamie Wilson in the Pars goal. Dunfermline were beginning to take control and in 15 minutes the lively Allan Smith sent a ball across the 18 yard box to El Bakhtaoui who looked as if he had curled his shot into the corner, only to find Mackay making another good save to his left to claw the ball away. Two minutes later Stirling was fouled in a central position outside the box. He quickly slipped the ball through to Smith who put the ball into the net but was deemed to be offside.

Stuart Urquhart became the first name in the book in 21 minutes when he rather too vocally disputed referee Peter Stuart’s decision to make Dunfermline re-take a free kick. Three minutes later Millen tried a pop from fully 30 yards after Dunfermline were awarded another free kick for a foul on El Bakhtaoui but his ambitious effort went straight to the keeper.

Dunfermline had been showing some nice slick passing movements but now it was Inverness’s turn to come into the game. In 26 minutes they won their first corner which Wilson punched away effectively, then a long-range effort was securely held by the Pars keeper. But really it was all Dunfermline and they very nearly got the breakthrough they deserved in 33 minutes. El Bakhtaoui was tripped as he made a run along the edge of the penalty box in front of goal. Once again Millen took the kick and this time was very unlucky to see his powerful effort rattle off the keeper’s right hand post. El Bakhtaoui fired in the rebound but it was deflected for a corner which came to nothing.

Faissal and Ryan Baptie had been having a few words with each other, so when Baptie scythed the Pars striker down in 35 minutes the ref had no choice but to book the Inverness centre half. Dunfermline continued to press for the opener but it wasn’t to be and, somewhat unjustly, the teams went in level at the break.

Half-time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Dunfermline’s opener came just after the restart, and it was half-time substitute James THOMAS who opened the scoring with one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score. In 48 minutes Millen sent an overhit cross from the right that Inverness keeper Mackay, under no pressure, appeared to have under control. The unfortunate keeper only succeeded in dropping the ball in front of the waiting feet of Thomas who had a simple tap in from four yards out. 1-0

Dunfermline continued to dominate while Inverness managed to get another two players booked – Sutherland for a foul on Byrne, and then just six minutes later Wilson for another foul on Byrne. Scott Mercer came off to be replaced by Cammy McClair, and then Inverness had their best effort of the match as they tried to break quickly. Left back Calum Howarth fired in the final shot which took a deflection but was comfortably saved by the watchful Wilson in the Pars goal.

Dunfermline got their second of the night in 80 minutes after Inverness skipper Jason Brown committed one foul too many just in front of the box for which he earned a yellow card. MILLEN as ever lined up to take the kick but this time managed to curl it superbly around the wall and low into Mackay’s left hand corner. 2-0

Gavin McMillan immediately replaced the hard-working Smith and was soon in the thick of the action. In 84 minutes his shot won Dunfermline a corner, and when Stirling’s clever kick came over THOMAS scored his second of the evening with a front post header from close range. 3-0

By now Inverness were tired and in some disarray. Dunfermline won the ball very quickly from the kick-off and from the resultant attack, McMillan hit the upright. Remarkably just one minute later McMILLAN got on the scoresheet with his third attempt in as many minutes after a sweeping move saw him fire home a left foot shot from ten yards. 4-0

But amazingly it wasn’t to end there. A Graham piledriver was deflected for a Dunfermline corner, and then Stirling won another corner after a run. Just as we expected the final whistle, Inverness keeper Mackay appeared to lash out at Thomas after clearing the ball upfield. The incident was seen by the far-side Assistant Referee and Mackay received a straight red card while the game was brought back to give Dunfermline a penalty kick. A confident MILLEN made no mistake in what was the final act of an enthralling encounter. 5-0

This was a great team effort in which Dunfermline confirmed their right to be playing Under 20s football at this level. The Pars defence had little to do but Urquhart showed good strength and composure when it was required which augurs well for the future, while Millen gave the kind of confident Man of the Match performance to show just how much he has progressed over the summer.

Dunfermline’s midfield controlled almost all of the game, and up front Smith and El Bakhtaoui perhaps deserved a better return for their hard work in the first period. And for as young as they all are, Dunfermline’s three 17-year-old second half subs all made a really good impact on this game. It must all have been very pleasing to see for an interested observer, manager Jim Jefferies!

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC: Jamie Wilson, Ross Millen, Jordan Orru, Stuart Urquhart, Stuart Morrison, Finn Graham (c), Scott Mercer (Cammy McClair, 65), Shaun Byrne, Allan Smith (Gavin McMillan, 80), Faissal El Bakhtaoui (James Thomas, 45), Andy Stirling.
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill (G/K), Johnny Galloway.
SCORERS: Thomas (48, 85); Millen (80, 90), McMillan (86)
YELLOW CARD: Urquhart (21)

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE: Cammy Mackay, Ali Stark, Calum Howarth, Ryan Baptie, Jason Brown (c), Blair MacLennan (Lewis Grant, 77), Jamie Wilson, Ali Sutherland, Calum Ferguson, Chris Blackett, Kane Hull (Andrew Macrae, 80).
SUB NOT USED: Ally Velzian.
YELLOW CARDS: Baptie (35); Sutherland (57); Wilson (63), Brown (80)
RED CARD: Mackay (90)

REFEREE: Peter Stuart

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (away) v Rangers
Tuesday 30th September 2014, kick off to be confirmed

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