U20s v St Mirren

SPFL Development League: Lewis McLear (8) 0-1; James Thomas (36) 1-1; Conor O'Keefe (60) 1-2

DUNFERMLINE 1 ST MIRREN 2

James Thomas made a return from a training ground thigh strain to feature for the first time since making a scoring debut in the first team. Ryan Thomson too made a return from injury while Declan O'Kane started in defence although still on loan to Montrose.

The visitors caused the first threat in fourth minute although it was from a slack pass back by O'Kane that had Ryan Goodfellow racing out to deny Ross Caldwell. A ball into the box four minutes later could not be cleared by Ross Drummond, Conor O'Keefe won possession and released the chance for Lewis McLEAR to net from ten yards. 0-1

On the quarter hour Thomson was booked as he gave away a free kick that was deflected off the defensive wall for a corner which was subsequently cleared by Urquhart. A couple minutes later, Ross Caldwell set up Lewis Morgan but Goodfellow blocked the shot for a corner that Mark Barrowman headed over.

Three more St Mirren corners came before the midway point of the first half. All were cleared one way or another before Sorel Chemin had a shot cum cross from the left that keeper Mark Ridgers held. Next minute, 26th, a run and dink by Morgan created an opportunity but the ball narrowly cleared the bar.

Five minutes later a Thomson run through the middle was harshly stopped on the edge of the box but when Smith got the chance from the loose ball it went straight to the goalkeeper. Chemin was then caught offside when Thomson sent the ball forward.

Ten minutes before the break a run from just outside his own penalty box took Drummond deep down the left and his cross in was headed into the net by THOMAS who dipped to connect. 1-1

Saints had a couple of chances after that and Thomas was offside when O'Kane played the ball through.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 St Mirren 1

The second half started off fairly evenly with Sorel Chemin switched from left to right wing. The visitors however regained the lead on the hour after a strong run from Barry Cuddihy set up Conor O'Keefe who slotted past Goodfellow to find the far corner of the net. 1-2

Chemin was back on the left six minutes later to send over a cross that Thomas headed over from around the penalty spot. The Frenchman then popped up on the right to send a diagonal box through the Saints box that Drummond got nearest to but still couldn't get the touch to convert.

A Thomas header was deflected for a Pars corner before a double substitution Paul Joseph Crossan and Gavin McMillan came on for Allan Smith and James Thomas. Time was running away from Dunfermline and St Mirren comfortably curtailed their opponents efforts.

Drummond crossed for Thomson with a minute remaining but he was rather far out and Ridgers gathered. A nice move in the third minute of added time saw the left back burst through, play the ball off sub Reece Duncan before firing the final attempt of the evening over the bar.

DUNFERMLINE:
Ryan Goodfellow; Scott Mercer, Stuart Urquhart, Declan O'Kane, Ross Drummond; Cammy McClair (Reece Duncan 83), Finn Graham, Ryan Thomson, Sorel Chemin, Allan Smith (Paul Joseph Crossan 73), James Thomas (Gavin McMillan 73).
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORER: Thomas (36)
YELLOW CARD: Thomson (15)

ST MIRREN: Mark Ridgers; Mark Williams, Jordan Stewart, Barry Cuddihy, Mark Barrowman (Darren Whyte HT), Jack Baird, Conor O'Keefe, Adam Brown (Jack McMahon 83), Ross Caldwell, Lewis McLear (Andrew McDonald 88), Lewis Morgan
SCORERS: McLear (8), O'Keefe (60)
YELLOW CARDS: Brown (52), McLear (61), Williams (69), Cuddihy (80)

REFEREE: Mike Roncone
ATTENDANCE: 100
WEATHER: cool, breezy 6C

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (away) v Dundee United
Tuesday 28th October 2014, kick off and venue to be confirmed

DIARY DATE: Scottish Youth Cup (home) v Clyde
Monday 3rd November 2014, kick off 7.00pm, East End Park

With John Potter on paternity duty after the birth of his third son, Blair on Monday, the warm up was taken by Josh Falkingham. Potts arrived in time for the kick off but the stand in "coach" gave his views after the match:-
- - Listen to Josh Falkingham`s Post Match Comments

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