Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Hearts

Tuesday, 1st Sep 2015

SPFL Development League: James Thomas (3) 1-0; James Thomas (85) 2-0

Dunfermline 2 Hearts 0

For the first home match of this season's SPFL Development League, coach John Potter was able to field first team squad players Shaun Byrne, Ryan Wallace and David Hopkirk. Lining up alongside them and the youths were two trialists, Shaun Rooney and Rhys McCabe.

The Pars were to get off to the best of possible starts with James THOMAS scoring from a low Rooney cross in the third minute. 1-0

Dunfermline had most of the early play and ten minutes later a David Hopkirk cross evaded Ryan Wallace. Wallace then turned provider from a free kick but this time it was Rooney who was unlucky. A Dunfermline corner on 19 minutes and a free kick two minutes later changed nothing but a Byrne shot at the midway point in the first half was turned around his right hand post by keeper Kelby Mason.

Hearts had forced one corner but in 27 minutes their next was punched by Pars keeper Cammy Gill. The Pars keeper then picked out a dangerous cross before Byrne sent Rooney down the right but he was halted by the Hearts defence as he threatened a shot.

Good passing in midfield allowed Hopkirk to send a cross in from the right but it was cleared and Hearts raised alarm when Dario Zanatta found Lewis Moore but the Jambos shot did not bother Gill.

Wallace sent a 41st minute shot over the crossbar before at the other end Callumn Morrison did the same. So a good first half performance saw the home side deservedly ahead but on possession they possibly should have been further ahead.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Hearts 0

The sides resumed with their starting elevens but Hearts put on Flanagan for Moore after just five minutes. Hopkirk produced the first danger of the half gathering a Wallace pass to shoot from the edge of the box but Mason saved comfortably.

Then in 58 minutes a fine pass from Wallace towards Thomas just slipped away from him and a goal kick was all that resulted. When Thomas was fouled two minutes later just yards outside the box Wallace fired the free kick into Hearts defensive wall.

Hearts came more into the game but the Pars still bossed possession. The visitors best opportunity came in 80 minutes when Zanatta got through on goal, Gill dived at his feet and the Hearts man was penalised for fouling Gill as he made the save.

The result was sealed with another THOMAS goal just five minutes from fuill time. It came from a Wallace free kick and the young striker headed home from the edge of the six yard box.

- - Listen to John Potter`s post match thoughts

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill, Shaun Rooney [Trialist](Johnny Galloway 70), Cammy McClair, Jordan Orru, Stuart Morrison, Shaun Byrne, Paul Joseph Crossan (Scott Sutherland 79), Rhys McCabe [Trialist], Ryan Wallace, James Thomas, David Hopkirk (Robbie Crawford 86)
SUBS NOT USED: Brandon Luke
SCORERS: Thomas (3, 85)
YELLOW CARD: Rooney (67)

HEARTS: Kelby Mason, Liam Smith, Aaron Reid, Leon Jones, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Sean McKirdy, Callumn Morrison, Liam Fox, Dario Zanata, Ian Smith (Russell McLean 74), Lewis Moore
SUBS NOT USED: Dale Baxter, Nathan Flanagan, Daniel Baur, Jordan Brown (GK)

REFEREE: Steven Reid
WEATHER: Cloudy 14C
ATTENDANCE 142

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (away) v St Mirren
Tuesday 8th September 2015, kick off TBC

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