U20s v Ross County

SPFL Development League: Allan Smith (16) 1-0; Terry Dunfield (35)1-1; Ryan Williamson (42) 2-1; Ryan Thomson (44) 3-1;

DUNFERMLINE 3 ROSS COUNTY 1

There was added interest in the performances in this SPFL Under 20s match given Jim Jefferies promise of changes for Saturday`s team selection against Stirling Albion. John Potter was yet again able to field a strong side including no fewer than six of the first team squad. Ryan Thomson and Andy Stirling in midfield, Gozie Ugwu and Allan Smith up front and underage defenders Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin at the back.

It was a two o`clock kick off to accommodate the visitors but very acceptable in not clashing with the televised Scotland v England international.

Dunfermline kicked off this match but it was Ross County who had the first chance of note, when Maatsen shot wildly over the bar. Next it was Dunfermline’s turn when from a corner by Scott Mercer on the left after Ryan Williamson`s run and cross on the right, Ryan Thomson had a header which went over the bar.

Ross County then had a corner on the left when Williamson and Martin combined to dispossess Macleod. Ferries and Beeston combined to allow Ferries to shoot from the edge of the box, but was blocked by Cammy Gill in goal and subsequently cleared.

In 16 minutes, after a run down the right by Williamson, his cutback into the box was put away by Allan SMITH into the right hand corner of the net. Eight minutes later Gozie Ugwu put in a good cross, but there were no takers. Next it was Smith who had a good run and shot from the right. Just a minute later, from a Mercer free kick on the right, O’Kane’s header went wide left. Then it was a Thomson’s downward header from a Sorel Chemin cross that just cleared the bar.

In 35 minutes Ross County were awarded a free kick outside the box after a foul by Declan O’Kane and DUNFIELD hit it into the bottom right of Gill’s goal.

Smith had another couple of chances immediately after that before the Pars went ahead again. After another WILLIAMSON run on the right, he cut into the box and fired in a low shot which ended up in the far side of Reguero’s goal. Two minutes later Williamson was again the instigator when his run and cross low into the box was put into the net by THOMSON.

There was another let off for the the County goal when after a move between Thomson and Ugwu, Gozie hit the crossbar and when the ball came down, Thomson was unlucky to see his attempt go wide of the goal.

Half Time: Dunfermline 3 Ross County 1

In 50 minutes, Gozie had a shot that went straight to the goalkeeper. Smith had a run on the right, but his cross was just behind Ugwu. Reguero then had to dive to his left to make a save from Mercer’s deflected shot. Next it was Chemin’s turn to have a shot at goal. In 63 minutes a good pass from Andy Stirling to Smith was just too far in front of the young striker before Reguero gathered. County’s Morrison then had a shot but it was straight at Gill.

In 68 minutes Stirling was booked for an alleged dive in the box. Gozie then tried to put Thomas through, but the ball ended up with Chemin. His cross to Stirling gave the Pars another shot at goal, but this time it was wide right.

In 82 minutes a good run and cross on the left by young Jordan Orru was just between Thomas and Crossan and the chance was lost. Three minutes later Thomson had another downward header from a Williamson cross that was tipped over the bar. From Chemin’s corner on the right, Martin’s header was blocked by the goalkeeper and cleared.

Thomson had another shot, but this time straight to the goalkeeper. Next it was another Jordan Orru cross for PJ Crossan that resulted in yet another corner. Stirling’s cross was unlucky not to find a Pars taker.

The Pars carried on where they left off last week at Dundee and it was yet another story of numerous chances, not all of which were taken.

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill, Ryan Williamson, Lewis Martin, Declan O`Kane, Scott Mercer (Jordan Orru 71); Finn Graham, Andy Stirling, Ryan Thomson, Sorel Chemin. Chigozie Ugwu (Paul Joseph Crossan 70), Allan Smith (James Thomas 66).
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy McClair, Gavin McMillan, Jamie Wilson (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (16), Williamson (42), Thomson (44)
YELLOW CARD: Stirling (68)

ROSS COUNTY: Ross County: Antonio Reguero, Stephen Miller, Conner Lyall, Ross MacKillop, Stephen Saunders, James Beeston, Darren Maatsen, Terry Dunfield (Colin McRae 65), Kyle MacLeod, Greg Morrison (Ally Mackinnon 72), Scott Ferries.
SUBS NOT USED: Danny Kelly, Sean McCarthy (GK).
SCORER: Dunfield (35)
YELLOW CARD: MacLeod

REFEREE: Scott Love
ATTENDANCE: 59

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League v Partick Thistle
Tuesday 25th November 2014, 2.00pm kick off at the Excelsior Stadium

ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.

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