DAFC v Inverness Caley Thistle
Sunday, 1st Nov 2015Little Big Shot Youth Cup: only eligible for players born after 1st January 1996, Lewis Spence (2) 1-0; Ali Stark (90+2) 1-1; Chris Brown (107) 1-2
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/_CB_9680_4315.jpg)
DUNFERMLINE 1 INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE 2 AET
Players eligible for this the SFA Youth Cup must be born on or after 1st January 1996. These sides played out a 0-0 draw in early October, eight players on either side returned to start.
John Potter's Youth Cup team was boosted by starting places for first team squad players, Shaun Rooney and Lewis Spence. Cammy Gill was in goal behind a back four of Reece Duncan, Rooney, Stuart Morrison and Jordan Orru. In midfield Spence was joined by Cammy McClair, Brandon Luke and Johnny Galloway and in the striker roles were Paul Joseph Crossan and James Thomas.
Dunfermline kicked off into bright November sun and Cammy Gill was forced into making two saves within the first thirty seconds, firstly parrying away at full stretch Struan MacArthur's shot and then holding a Blair MacLennan drive. When the Pars mounted their first attack they scored. Galloway laid the ball off to SPENCE on the left side of the Inverness and with the defence expecting a cut back he squeezed the ball in from an acute angle. One minute 14 seconds 1-0.
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/CBP_8706_5779.jpg)
It was the ninth minute a Stephen rennie cross created danger but when the cross came in from the left it was just too high for the leaping Jaimie Wilson to head home. When MacLennan tripped up Spence in 16th minute Thomas was able to flight the 25 yard out free kick in for Galloway but he headed over the bar.
Next Crossan did remarkably well to fight off challenges and round the right side of the Caley Thistle defence. He cut the ball back nicely but there was no one waiting in the striking position to accept the chance.
Inverness made the best of a 26th minute corner even though Wilson again failed to get his head to the delivery from the left. MacLennan swung back in the defended ball and full back Calum Howarth headed over the crossbar.
After the referee allowed play to continue after Thomas was chopped down, Galloway hit the opportunity over the top. Wilson edged a Howarth ball wide of the Pars goal and in 31 minutes MacLennan hit a loose ball wide of target from the edge of the box.
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/_CB_9912_0177.jpg)
Inverness had progressively more of the possession but the Dunfermline defence was coping well. Lewis Spence was putting himself about and showed much maturity and superior strength as he commanded from midfield.
It was worrying then when he was caught by Wilson and required physio Kenny Murray's attention. After a lengthy amount of treatment Lewis was fit to continue but not after being shown a yellow card, no doubt for sweet talking the referee.
Caley Thistle were down to ten men as Ali Stark received treatment on his shoulder after coming off second best in an attempt to halt another Crossan delivery in from the left, when Rooney headed wide and then in the second minute of added time Spence with a majestic stroke, hit the left goalpost from 20 yards out.
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/_CB_9860_6015.jpg)
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 0
The Highlanders had a plan from the restart and a fast flowing move immediately won them a corner but the Pars defended that with Crossan creating the counterattack but his final ball to the overlapping Spence was swept clear by his tracker Ali Sutherland.
Four minutes into the second half the game stopped for an injury to Jordan Orru and again Kenny Murray was called upon. The left back continued nursing a sore right foot.
Orru fed Spence in 53rd minute and he then released Duncan on the right but the full back sliced his cross and a bye kick resulted. Play halted again two minutes later as Rennie felt the effects of a Duncan challenge but both the midfielder and play quickly resumed.
MacArthur, Sutherland and Rennie put together some neat play as the Pars were given plenty to deal with before in 59th minute MacArthur came in late on Crossan and both were shown yellow cards, PJ's for his reaction. Rooney blocked a Wilson shot but still ICT pressed for the equaliser.
It was the home team that should have scored however from a quickly taken 66th minute free kick. When expected top lob a ball into the box, Spence took it short to McClair who then directed his pass for Thomas at the far post. The striker hit the left post and then his follow up was remarkably kept out by Stark.
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/_CB_0109_2653.jpg)
Gill kept Caley Thistle out with a good fisted clearance and again the visitors were nearly caught out on the counter this time Duncan picked out on the right side of the box and Thomas just failing to convert the chance from his squared pass.
There was just sixteen minutes to go when Sutherland got in on the left side of the Pars box, he got an on target shot away despite Rooney's close attentions but Gill beat the ball out.
Morrison under pressure in his box was happy to concede a 77th minute corner and again it was the Pars who threatened from it when Crossan broke away. He has Thomas to his right when Wilson arrived from behind him and completely downed the Pars player. Referee Farmer shown the Caley man a red card and if they were to get back into the cup tie they would have to do it with ten men.
The referee awarded a 89th minute free kick 22 yards out for Spence's challenge on Howarth. MacLennan took the first attempt but Spence blocked and was shown a second yellow card for encroaching. Second time around the blocked shot fell to Cameron Gilchrist at the right post, his effort after the ball was kept out by the post was they deflected over by Gill.
It wasn't all over though from the corner STARK was able to squeeze in the equaliser in the second minute of added time. 1-1 Extra time was to follow, 10 v 10 with both sides missing their most influential players.
![](https://backup.dafc.co.uk/files/_CB_0200_7034.jpg)
Full Time: Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 1
Robbie Crawford replaced Brandon Luke five minutes into the first half of extra time and certainly fresh legs would be welcome as both sides appeared to have given their all.
The tie remained competitive and tough but the pace had dropped. Rooney was shoved by sub Chris Blacklett relieving the defence of the danger from a breakaway and in the final minute of the first extra 15 minutes Galloway received treatment for cramp.
Half Time in Extra Time: Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 1
Gill had to parry away a Caley Thistle shot almost straight away from the restart but he had little chance in the second minute of the second period of extra time when left back Howarth cut the ball across the face of goal for right back BROWN to slot home. 1-2
With five minutes remaining Rooney pushed up and forced a free kick on the right 20 yards out but when McClair floated that in keeper Hoban was presented with an elementary take.
The clock ran out for the Fifers and despite another McClair free kick Caley survived and progress to the next round.
- - Listen to Coach John Potter`s post match analysis
SUBS NOT USED: John James Henderson, Callum Smith, Josh Dunn (GK)
SCORERS: Spence (2)
YELLOW CARD: Spence (44), Crossan (59), Rooney (90+4)
RED CARD: Spence (89)
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Daniel Hoban, Christopher Brown, Calum Howarth, Alasdair Stark, Cameron Gilchrist, Stephen Rennie (Christopher Blackett 80), Blair MacLennan, Struan MacArthur (Kane Hull 106), Andrew Macrae, Alasdair Sutherland, Jaimie Wilson
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan McRitchie, Cameron Mackay (GK)
SCORERS: Stark (90+2), Brown (107)
YELLOW CARD: MacArthur (59)
RED CARD: Wilson (78)
REFEREE: Garry Farmer
WEATHER: Sunny 14C
ATTENDANCE 170
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League: (home) v Hibernian, Tuesday 3rd November 2015, kick off 1.00pm at Spartans
Views : 11,253
ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.
Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.