Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Celtic

Thursday, 5th Feb 2015

SPFL Development League: Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie; Jamie Lindsay (4) 0-1; Paul McMullan (71 pen.) 0-2, Paul McMullan (84) 0-3

DUNFERMLINE 0 CELTIC 3

The home match in the SPFL Development League was played at the Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie on Thursday afternoon. First team players Andy Stirling, Ryan Thomson, Allan Smith, and Faissal El Bakhtaoui started while John Potter was a late replacement on the bench for James Thomas.

It wasn't a great start however with Celtic being awarded a soft free kick that LINDSAY converted in just the fourth minute. 0-1

In 17th minute Pars keeper Jamie Wilson saved from Jack Breslin after Fisher picked him out with a pass from the right. Four minutes later Paul McMullan had two shots on goal, the first blocked by Wilson and then sending the rebound over the crossbar. Allan Smith was flattened by Fiacre Kelleher to earn the Pars a free kick that Stirling sent over. Keeper Leo Fasan punched out only for El Bakhtaoui to return. A corner followed and from Declan O'Kane's return, Ryan Thomson had the best chance to convert but only a goal kick followed.

There was 27 minutes on the clock when Smith won a free kick on the other side and this time Scott Mercer's free kick was headed wide by Thomson.

Dunfermline forced several corners, El Bakhtaoui had a run down the right to set up Finn Graham but the ball got tangled up in the captain's feet. The French Moroccan followed that up with another run only for Smith to have his shot blocked.

Cammy McClair sent a good chance over the bar, O'Kane hit a shot that was deflected narrowly over and at the othe end Hill too had his sights set too high. It was a first half that took the Pars some time to get into the game but when they did had the better of it.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Celtic 1

Play was fairly balanced up until the hour mark. El Bakhtaoui won a corner off Kelleher allowing Stirling to send the ball over from the right. Graham got a good connection and his fierce shot from 18 yards was palmed away for a corner by the Celtic goalkeeper. From that corner Smith shot wide right.

Celtic were awarded a penalty in 71 minutes which McMULLEN converted, sending the keeper the wrong way. The culprit was Jordan Orru with a foul on the edge of the box. 0-2. Three minutes later Dunfermline were awarded a penalty but Graham allowed Fasan to get his his hand to it.

El Bakhtaoui took advantage of a mistake in the Celtic defence but his shot went narrowly wide left. Another foul on Smith earned O'Connell a yellow card before there was a double substitution for the Pars.

Six minutes from the end a Wilson clearance went straight to new signing Michael Duffy and from his pass Paul McMullan scored: 0-3.

McMullan had another shot blocked by Wilson but by this stage the result had already been determined. It was a performance that did not merit a three goal defeat.

DUNFERMLINE: Jamie Wilson, Scott Mercer, Stuart Urquhart, Declan O'Kane, Jordan Orru; Andy Stirling, Finn Graham (c), Ryan Thomson, Cammy McLair; Allan Smith (Paul Joseph Crossan 82), Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Gavin Macmillan 82)
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill (GK), John Potter.
YELLOW CARD: Thomson (31), O'Kane (92)

CELTIC: Leo Fasan, Fisher, Calum Waters (Aidan McIlduff, 89), Fiacre Kelleher, Eoghan O'Connell, Jack Breslin, Thomson (Hendry 86), Jamie Lindsay, Paul McMullan, Hill, Michael Duffy.
SUBS NOT USED: Colin McCabe, Jamie McCart, Miller, Lafferty
SCORERS: Lindsay (4), McMullan (71, 84)
YELLOW CARD: Breslin (74), O'Connell (81)

REFEREE: Evan Cairns
WEATHER: Sunny 6C

NEXT MATCH: U20s v Cowdenbeath (away)
Saturday 7th February 2015, Central Park, kick off 2.00pm

Next SPFL Development League match: v Rangers (home)
Monday 9th February 2015, Excelsior Stadium, kick off 2.00pm