U20s v Motherwell
Tuesday, 19th Jan 2016SPFL Development League: Five first team squad players start. David Hopkirk scores twice.
- - Listen to Coach John Potter give his post match thoughts
MOTHERWELL 2 DUNFERMLINE 2
Having seen their League One match on Saturday postponed due to a frozen pitch it was no surprise that the Dunfermline team that travelled to play Motherwell in Tuesday night's SPFL Development League match contained five from the first team squad. Motherwell listed two first team squad players in defender Kieran Kennedy and 30 year old striker David Clarkson.
Motherwell kicked off but the first chance fell to David Hopkirk who took advantage of a defensive slip but he hit the ball high over the 'Well bar. Next Ryan Wallace sent in a cross but James Thomas could not control ball in the box and chance was lost. A minute later in eighth of the game Mickael Antoine-Curier challenged the keeper for a high ball in the box with after good play by Wallace.
The Fifers had earned the lead when they went ahead three minutes later. A great pass from Thomas for HOPKIRK who slotted the ball into the right corner of the net. 0-1
A 16th minute corner was sent in from the left by Wallace but it was cleared out. Then a Cammy McClair cross was headed clear and an equally good cross into the box by Hopkirk suffered the same fate.
Impressive play from Thomas won a 20th minute free kick but Motherwell cleared the cross and Hopkirk followed that with another to win a corner on left. When Wallace delivered Thomas was unlucky in the box.
It was the midway point of the half before the home side got in a shot at goal. Cammy Gill saved Dominic Thomas' low shot after a Luke Watt run had set up the chance.
Jordan Orru next cleared for a corner to Motherwell and Hopkirk headed the ball away before Gill pulled off a fantastic save from a Kennedy effort and pushes the ball onto and over the bar for a Motherwell corner. A second resulted after Thomas' delivery was flicked on by Clarkson only for Gill to tip that one over as well. This time Hopkirk clears.
Dunfermline tried to hit on the counter with Hopkirk the threat but his shot across goal went narrowly wide. At the other end a dangerous ball across Pars box by Watt evades everyone.
Motherwell finished the half strongly David Ferguson hit a free kick that Gill held and Watt struck a shot from distance well wide. Just before the break a Wallace pass was played through Hopkirk to Shaun Byrne but his shot went straight to the keeper.
Half time: Motherwell 0 Dunfermline 1
Dunfermline kick off this second half and no changes to the team. Gill continued to keep his side in the lead with another great save and then Kennedy headed a Motherwell corner wide of goal.
Play stopped in 56th minute for Hopkirk to receive treatment from physio Kenny Murray after taking a knock just outside Dunfermline box when going for a header. Hoppy was okay to continue and when back on the park took the pass wide from Wallace that allowed him to get inside Kennedy as he runs in on goal and slots it away. HOPKIRK 0-2
Hopkirk with another shot but high before on the hour the Premier League club made two tactical changes. They won a corner on the right and a header cleared the ball off line for another corner. Gill saved at the next but their pressure paid off.
Motherwell's 66th minute goal came after Campbell had sent Chris Cadded down the right and CLARKSON was able to receive the pass and finish. 1-2
'Well could have hit again next minutre but Mackin's shot was blocked and Thomas' dangerous cross went wide of Gill's goal.
Thomas and Wallace get in each other's way and a 70th minute chance was lost even after keeper Morrison dropped ball. Hopkirk next shot from distance but keeper saved after great pass from Wallace. With quarter of an hour to go Wallace and Hopkirk were withdrawn and Johnny Galloway and PJ Crossan came on.
There was then a strong appeal for a Motherwell penalty when Robbie Leitch's cross went for a corner on the right off McClair. From the corner Kennedy's header the Pars defence managed to clear but with help from the post.
In 80th minute Mickael Antoine-Curier was subbed by schoolboy Scott Sutherland. Gill continued to frustrate the opposition with another great save, then Leitch hit the ball over the bar. The Fifers were not able to hold out however and conceded an equaliser with three minutes remaining. It was Dylan MACKIN who converted a Cadden cross to spoil the Pars night. 2-2
Things could have got worse but Gill made another good save low down when Mackin tried for another. Motherwell won a corner on right that was cleared. Sutherland and then both McCabe and Byrne all had chances before Mackin headed a good final opportunity to win it for his team by heading wide from a corner.
It was a hard fought game with chances for both sides. Just a pity the Pars couldn't hold on for the win!
SUBS NOT USED: Brett Long, Josh Moore, Dylan Falconer, Barry Maguire, Ross MacLean
SCORERS: Clarkson (66), Mackin (75)
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Reece Duncan, Jordan Orru, Stuart Morrison, Cammy McClair; Ryan Wallace (Paul Joseph Crossan 75), Shaun Byrne, Rhys McCabe, David Hopkirk (Johnny Galloway 75); Mickael Antoine-Curier (Scott Sutherland 80), James Thomas
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Crawford, Brandon Luke, Josh Dunn (GK)
SCORERS: Hopkirk (11, 57)
YELLOW CARD: Duncan (27), McClair (92)
REFEREE: Chris Graham
WEATHER: Foggy 2ºC
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Dundee United, Tuesday 26th January 2016, Spartans and kick off 2.00pm
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