U20s v St Johnstone

SPFL Development League at McDiarmid Park. Kyle Lander (20) 1-0; Dylan Easton (36) 2-0; John Potter (82) 2-1

ST JOHNSTONE 2 DUNFERMLINE 1

Coach John Potter started again for the second consecutive Development League match and marked this with his first competitive goal since January 2004! Andy Geggan, Alex Whittle and Allan Smith were the only other players with any measure of first team experience.

Within two minutes a long pass from Whittle allowed Geggan an early shot but he was high and the ball sailed over the bar. Eight minutes later Cammy McClair worked his way through on the left side, his cross towards Gavin MacMillan was intercepted before any damage could be done. Geggan then had another chance to deliver from the left but this too was blocked.

Sorel Chemin was caught offside in the next attack but was undisputedably offside. The home side were denied in 17 minutes when Jordan Orru cleared. A Pars free kick then started an intricate passing movement that ended up with McClair sending a shot wide right from the edge of the box.

St Johnstone took the lead in 21 minutes when Scott Wilson created the chance that Kyle LANDER sent low into the Pars net. 1-0

Four minutes later Chemin was dispossed by Wilson and his attempt was blocked by the Pars keeper to concede a corner to St Johnstone that Gill fisted away. Gill beat Thomson to a through ball in 32 minutes before a free kick for the home side led to another shot that ended up wide left.

Next a throw in sent Whittle down the left but Alex Gilchrist stopped the cross for the awaiting McClair.

In 36 minutes Thomson was deemed to be fouled on the left edge of the Pars box. Dylan EASTON took charge of the free kick and dispatched it into the net to Cammy Gill`s right. 2-0

In added time at the end of the first half Easton got another pop at goal from a free kick on the right but this time sent it high into the stand.

Half time: St Johnstone 2 Dunfermline 0

For the second half Paul Joseph Crossan replaced Cammy McClair who was suffering from a dead leg. Just four minutes into the half the sub worked the ball on the right to get in a cross towards Chemin. The Frenchman turned cleverly and produced a fine shot that keeper Mark Hurst was able to parry away to his right.

In 51 minutes Geggan, Whittle and Chemin combined to feed Crossan but the promising move was blotted out before a shot could be executed. Then a Chemin corner from the right targeted a dangerous area but Hurst punched away. A Pars corner from the left then allowed Scott Mercer to try and find Geggan but the defence held firm. Mercer was quickly in action at the other end making a timely intervention to deny the Saints.

Geggan got his head to a Chemin cross but to no avail before in 65 minutes he was subbed to make way for Johnny Galloway. The Pars looked like they might net after a Smith run down the right produced a cross that Crossan sent just outside the left upright.

A Crossan shot midway through the second half was deflected for a corner and Chemin shot wildy over, before Orru took the full force of a shot at the other end.

In 82 minutes Smith won a corner on the right and when that was crossed POTTER netted with low shot to get a long deserved goal. 2-1

Sub Scott Sutherland was the only Pars player to create the chance of an equaliser after that but he lost the ball on the edge of the box.

It was an improved Pars performance in the second half, they had a lot more of the play but did not work the opposition goalkeeper enough and duly failed to get the equaliser.

- - Listen to John Potter`s post match thoughts

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