U20s v Hibernian

SPFL Development League: Geggan, El Bakhtaoui, Thomson and Stirling start. Sam Stanton (5) 1-0; Taylor Hendry (23) 2-0; Neil Martynuik (62) 3-0; James Thomas (78) 3-1; James Thomas (82) 3-2.

HIBERNIAN 3 DUNFERMLINE 2

Ainslie Park, the home of Spartans FC was the venue for this Development League match against Hibernian. John Potter did not appear to be flush for choice given that he only named four substitutes including himself.

First team players Andy Geggan, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Thomson and Andy Stirling were given their chance to impress the manager as they started in an otherwise young Dunfermline team.

Hibs kicked off and immediately swept forward with Cody Mulhall causing Cammy Gill to pull off a great save after just 15 seconds to keep out a strike from the edge of the box. The hosts won a fourth minute corner and when that came over from the left the defence could only knock the ball down for Sam STANTON to smash into the net from ten yards. 1-0

First shot at Kleton Perntreou's goal was in eight minutes when Geggan connected well from 25 yards out but the keeper dived to his right to hold. Six minutes later another Hibs corner from the left should have provided the second of the night but Taylor Hendry's diving header at the back post sent the ball over the crossbar.

Faiss started and finished a good move in 19th minute receiving the ball on the right touchline and then playing it off James Thomas before taking it back and driving a shot on target that the keeper turned around his left hand post.

At the midway point in the half HENDRY's first attempt from another corner was deflected behind but from the ensuing corner his header at the back post was to hit the target. 2-0

Thomson met a Stirling corner but his header was taken by the keeper and then in 31 minutes Stirling cut in from the left and tried a right footed shot that was off target to the left of goal. Stirling's cross in the next minute was weakly defended out to Thomson but his shot from 20 yards out was wayward.

It was a first half in which the Pars had their moments but Hibs looked dangerous every time they got anywhere near Gill's goal. The keeper pulled off a fine 44th minute save from Connor Duthie's free kick to retain the two goal deficit at the interval.

Half time: Hibernian 2 Dunfermline 0

At the start of the second half John Potter made two tactical substitutions bringing himself and Cammy McClair on in place of Jordan Orru and Paul Joseph Crossan. First opportunity came the visitors way in 52 minutes when Geggan rose high to get his head on a Stirling cross from the right but the ball sailed high over the top.

Two minutes later El Bakhtaoui sent a Stirling cut back on to the right upright and pressure was maintained with a corner for the all red Fifers as well. Playing into the wind, it was looking much better for Dunfermline and Kleton Perntreou was at full stretch to hold on to a good effort from McClair in 58 minutes.

Then yet another corner from the left for Hibs and another goal. This time Duthie's delivery was met by the head of Neil MARTYNUIK and he powered it home from six yards. 3-0

Geggan got a half chance immediately after the goal but again headed over the bar. The Pars then survived a goalmouth scramble as Stanton came close and then in 70th minute Gill turned a shot from the Hibs man on to his right hand post.

A Mercer free kick from the right was belted on target by O'Kane but he could only secure a corner. When that came in it was defended out as far as McClair who evaded two tackles to find Potter still on the edge of the box. He touched it left for Stirling and when he drove the ball through the six yard box THOMAS was there to stab in the goal. 3-1

Four minutes later THOMAS notched a second to give the Pars the sniff of a possible point. The goal came after good work on the right by El Bakhtaoui whose cross was not cut out cleanly by the defence and the young striker made no mistake from 15 yards.

Gill pulled off a fine save from sub Gareth McCaffrey in 87th minute to preserve the opportunity for a dying minutes equaliser but it was not to be. Thomas was denied a penalty despite some strong arm defending and McClair hit the final chance over the bar in added time.

HIBERNIAN: Kleton Perntreou; Aaron Dunsmore (Ben Sterling 62), Callum Crane, Neil Marynuik, Jordan McGregor, Cody Mulhall, Scott Martin, Connor Duthie, Lewis Allen, Taylor Hendry (Gareth McCaffrey 78), Sam Stanton
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Brennan (GK)
SCORERS: Stanton (5), Hendry (23), Martynuik (62)

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Finn Graham, Jordan Orru (John Potter HT), Declan O'Kane, Scott Mercer; Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Andy Geggan, Ryan Thomson, Andy Stirling; James Thomas, Paul Joseph Crossan (Cammy McClair HT).
SUBS NOT USED: Gavin MacMillan, Jamie Wilson (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Geggan (41), Thomson (64)
SCORER: Thomas (78, 82)

REFEREE: Lorraine Clark
WEATHER: Dry 3C
ATTENDANCE: 132

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Motherwell
Tuesday 27th January 2015, kick off 7.00pm

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