Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

SFA Youth Cup v St Johnstone

Sunday, 7th Dec 2014

McDiarmid Park, Perth. Ally Gilchrist (76) 1-0; Kyle Lander (80) 2-0.

ST JOHNSTONE 2 DUNFERMLINE 0

Dunfermline kicked off this newly sponsored Scottish Youth Cup - to be known for the next four years as The Little Big Shot Youth Cup.

St Johnstone forced the first corner but it was the visitors who had the first chance of the tie on three minutes. Gavin Paterson collected the ball on the right side of the Saints box took a touch to put the ball on to his left foot blasted his shot well wide.

Craig Thomson caused the Pars defence some problems with his controlled runs in from the left and Lewis Spence did a great job of sweeping up as it looked like Paul Simpson might have a good opportunity.

Declan O'Kane looked like he had headed the Pars into the lead in 12th minute. Scott Mercer flight a free kick in from the left but the centre back was deemed to have been offside. The home side turned the pressure on to the Pars defence with right back Alex Kitchen making a surging run up the right.

There were several misplaced passes before Rhys Evans run up the left and delivered a dangerous cross that Brodie Gray met but had his effort deflected behind. It was only 1.20pm but in the gathering gloom the floodlights were switched on. Thomson broke in from the left and sent another chance over the top.

A 25th minute corner created another good chance for the Pars when Mercer's cross from the right was again met by O'Kane's head but somehow the defence kept that out. Back to the other end and Thomson created further problems evading both Mercer and O'Kane before powerfully driving his shot wide left.

On 34 minutes Stuart Morrison started a move that was switched right through Thomas and Spence to McMillan but he took a touch instead of getting in the shot and the opportunity was blocked out.

Greg Kerr fired the ball into the net six minutes from the interval but the yellow and orange chequered flag was raised for offside. The first half stats, if there had been any, would have credited the home side with the majority of possession and more shots but Dunfermline had had some good chances too and had defended well.

Half Time: St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 0

A Kitchen run made the first opening of the second half, shrugging off the attentions of Cammy McClair to get deep and cross for Kerr but he couldn't finish. Cammy Gill pulled off a fine save from Simpson after the Saints midfielder launched a good effort from 25 yards.

Fantastic close control from Thomas out on the right saw him past two opponents and his cut back was perfect for Paul Joseph Crossan but he pinged his shot wide at the near post. That was his last involvement and he was subbed by 15 year old Scott Sutherland in 61 minutes.

Simpson got another shot on target but fortunately Gill held. The Pars keeper then held a Simpson free kick that Evans got close to clipping past him. Spence made a break in 74th minute but his shot from 25 yards out was blocked.

Then in 76 minute St Johnstone got a break that they were to score from. A clearance out of the Pars box came back off a Pars player and dropped at the feet of Saints captain Ally GILCHRIST. He just hit the ball on the swing to beat Gill. 1-0

Four minutes later Kyle LANDER basically finished the Fifers off. Gill came out for the ball but collided with one of his own players. the ball again landed nicely for St Johnstone and the striker stuck the ball inside the right upright. 2-0

- - Listen to coach John Potter`s post match thoughts

ST JOHNSTONE: Jordan Millar; Alex Kitchen, Jason Kerr, Ally Gilchrist (c), Rhys Evans; Brodie Gray, Paul Simpson, Matthew Buchanan, Craig Thomson; Kyle Lander, Greg Kerr (Matthew Aitken 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Stevenson, Bradley Sinclair, Paul Esslemont, Mark Hurst (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Buchanan (55)
SCORERS: Gilchrist (76), Lander (80)

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Scott Mercer, Stuart Morrison, Declan O'Kane, JOrdan Orru; Finn Graham (c), Lewis Spence, Gavin McMillan (Johnny Galloway 81), Cammy McClair (Reece Duncan 81); James Thomas, Paul Joseph Crossan (Scott Sutherland 61).
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Wilson (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Finn Graham (81)

REFEREE: Barry Reid
WEATHER:Rain 2C

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Aberdeen
Tuesday 16th December 2014, kick off TBC