U20s v Dundee

Tuesday, 24th Nov 2015

SPFL Development League: Skelly (45+1) 1-0

DUNDEE 1 DUNFERMLINE 0

It was a young Dunfermline side that John Potter took to Montrose to play Dundee in the SPFL Development League on Tuesday night. Lewis Spence was the oldest player in the Pars side with Shaun Rooney the only other player from the first team squad.

It was Spence who sent the ball wide for Robbie Crawford to send in the first dangerous cross of the game but the Dee defence cleared. Johnny Galloway was next with a delicate touch that played Crawford in but he was blocked out on the top of the box.

The Fifers midfield worked hard and played most of the opening 20 minutes in the Dundee half. Spence and John James Henderson had pops at goal but none that really got to test keeper Kyle Gourlay. The keeper was out briskly to take the ball from the feet of Galloway on the half hour after a nice pass from Paul Joseph Crossan.

Rooney headed away a Dylan Carriero cross and then embarked on a solo run after dispossessing the same Dundee player. After travelling quickly to the opposition half he played in Spence and Henderson but then lost the momentum and the chance was gone.

Cammy Gill had a header to save from Skelly but really he must have been getting cold between the sticks. Four minutes from the break a Reece Duncan cross was met by Galloway but the Dundee keeper held the header at his right hand post. Two minutes later Spence provided a great ball into the left side of the Dundee box but the in running Cammy McClair's header was disappointing.

The half was in added time when the home side were awarded a penalty of the soft variety. On the right edge of the penalty box just six yards from the byeline, Carreiro went down as Rooney breathed down his neck. Referee pointed to the spot amidst strong protests and Josh Skelly stepped up to take the penalty. It seemed justice had been done when Gill saved but SKELLY followed up to net.

Half Time: Dundee 1 Dunfermline 0

Dunfermline kicked off the second half and showed greater determination. There was a let off in 54 minutes when across from the left led to Colquhoun heading against the right goalpost and Gill gathering off the woodwork.

On the hour breaking from their own half, the Pars produced a great footballing move involving Spence, Crawford and Duncan that ended with Duncan getting in a shot from the right side but straight at the keeper.

That was followed up by a strong run by Crossan whose cross from the right picked out Henderson but his effort was blocked. The youngster was then subbed with Scott Sutherland coming on in his place and he made an immediate impact with a cross from the right corner flag that Crossan met but his shot was deflected behind.

Skelly had a couple of fair chances from outside the box, the first scooped on to the roof of the net, the second held by Gill. Dundee had three bites at the cherry in 75th minute, Gill saved, Orru blocked and then there was another.

Potter then made his second change of the evening bringing on Stuart Morrison in defence and moving Rooney to midfield at the expense of Brandon Luke. Dundee were having the better of the second half however and they directed another good opportunity just wide of Gill's left hand post.

Next Carriero rather selfishly sent in the next shot but from the edge of the box the ball travelled tamely wide left. Dunfermline's best attempt was a powerful 40 yarder in 87 minutes that Rooney sent straight at the keeper.

Ben Priest was yellow carded for taking out McClair giving Spence an opportunity from a free kick 25 yards out but he scooped that over the bar.

The Pars maybe should have got more out of the first half, Dundee did better in the second half and threatened to score more but the Fifers defence did well.

- - Listen to John Potter`s Post Match Comments

DUNDEE: Kyle Gourlay, Greg Warwick, Sam Dryden (John Black HT), Ben Priest, Kerr Waddell, Calvin Colquhoun, Kyle Clark, Taylor Berry, Josh Skelly, Dylan Carriero, Ryan Gemmell (Liam Gibb 53)
SUBS NOT USED: Luke Bolland, Bailey Steele, Mark Smith, David Beattie (GK).
SCORERS: Skelly (45+1)
YELLOW CARD: Priest (88), Waddell (92)

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Reece Duncan, Shaun Rooney, Jordan Orru, Cammy McClair; Robbie Crawford (Callum Smith 84), Lewis Spence, Brandon Luke (Stuart Morrison 77), John James Henderson (Scott Sutherland 64), Paul Joseph Crossan, John Galloway
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Dunn (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Crossan (68), Spence (70), Orru (93)

REFEREE: Steven Traynor
WEATHER: Dry 5C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League, (home) v Ross County. Tuesday 1st December, kick off 1.00pm at Spartans, Edinburgh

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