Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v St Johnstone

Friday, 12th Feb 2016

SPFL Development League: Ainslie Park, Edinburgh kick off 1.00pm. Stuart Morrison (9) 1-0; Greg Hurst (33 pen.) 1-1; James Thomas (36) 2-1; Evan Horne (79) 3-1; Kyle Lander (89) 3-2; PJ Crossan (90) 4-2

- - Listen to John Potters Post Match Comments

DUNFERMLINE 4 ST JOHNSTONE 2

With East End Park being saved for the important League One meeting with Ayr Uniterd the next day, this home match in the SPFL Development League was played at Spartans' Ainslie Park in Edinburgh. Dunfermline kicked off against fifth placed St Johnstone and forced a corner within 30 seconds. That was only half cleared a Robbie Crawford earned a free kick on the right edge of the box and another corner followed but that one was adequately cleared.

It was all Dunfermline and it was doubtful if keeper Cammy Gill had touched the ball when the Pars took a ninth minute lead. A corner from the left was headed on target by James Thomas and his header was cleared off the lined by a defender but only for Stuart MORRISON to crash the ball home from 8 yards. 1-0

St Johnstone settled down and enjoyed more possession for a spell. Morrison headed away a Alistair McCann cross before a 22nd minute free kick allowed the Perth side to attempt another offensive but Greg Hurst tried to pass the ball into the Pars box only for Jordan Orru to intercept and clear.

Gill was quickly out to smother a through ball before Saints Paul Esslemont could reach it and then a long ball out of defence by Reece Duncan picked out PJ Crossan and his 27th minute shot from 20 yards was kept out by the left upright.

In 33rd minute there was no dispute when referee Duncan Smith awarded the visitors a penalty kick. Ewan O'Reilly was played into the right side of the penalty box and Orru's challenge was of a clumsy nature sending Saints number seven sprawling. Greg HURST sent the spot kick low to the keeper's left for the equaliser. 1-1

Dunfermline were to restore their lead just three minutes later. It was a classy backheeler from Martin to McClair in the left corner that allowed a lofty cross to THOMAS at the far post and his downward header down gave the Saints keeper little chance. 2-1

Paul Simpson's good play in the Pars box set him free to find Bradley Sinclair in good central position but his shot was scooped over the crossbar. At the other end Crossan set up Crawford but his shot from just eight yards out was blocked by the keeper.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 St Johnstone 1

Both teams made one substitution before the second half started; Jack McClair came on for Lewis Martin and Kyle Lander for Greg Hurst. First threat came a Thomas free kick in 53 minutes after Eughan McCawl was yellow carded for his late tackle on PJ but the Pars striker drove the 25 yard free kick into the St Johnstone wall.

John James Henderson replaced Robbie Crawford on the hour and twice within his first five minutes on the park the sub fed Crossan chances to shoot, his second chance narrowly sent wide right. Then a JJ shot was blocked only for keeper Ben McKenzie to dive at the feet of Thomas to mop up.

A quickly taken 69th minute corner on the left from Crossan to McClair led to a cross that Thomas met on the right side but his on target effort was blocked by Thomson.

The fine afternoon lasted only until 75 minutes and heavy rain then dampened the proceedings. Gill made a good stop when Greg Page got a close range header in at the left goalpost before Evan HORNE scored Dunfermline's third in 79 minutes after playing a neat one two off Crossan. 3-1

Crossan drove a cross into the area in front of goal but the pace pole axed Duncan preventing the full back the chance of number four. The two McClairs linked well on the left in 87th minute and Galloway just failed to finish from Jack's cross.

St Johnstone snatched a second after Cammy McClair's yellow card hand the visitors an 89th minute free kick. LANDER rose to loop a header into the right side of the net. 3-2

The Pars response was to go up the pitch and score again. Henderson played the ball to Horne who in turn fed CROSSAN who netted from the edge of the box. 4-2

A good entertaining match and the 20s first win in seven games.

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Reece Duncan, Jordan Orru (c), Stuart Morrison, Lewis Martin (Jack McClair HT); Robbie Crawford (John James Henderson 59), Johnny Galloway, Evan Horne, Cammy McClair; Paul Joseph Crossan, James Thomas
SUBS NOT USED: Brandon Luke, Scott Sutherland, Callum Smith, Josh Robertson.
SCORERS: Morrison (9), Thomas (36), Horne (79), Crossan (90)
YELLOW CARD: Morrison (59), C McClair (88)

ST JOHNSTONE: Ben McKenzie; Alistair McCann, Cameron Thomson, Daniel Jardine, Eughan McCawl, Greg Page, Ewan O'Reilly (Jamie Docherty 73), Paul Simpson, Greg Hurst (Kyle Lander HT), Bradley Sinclair (Morgan Miller 81), Paul Esslemont
SUBS NOT USED: Cameron Lumsden, Ben Quigley.
SCORERS: Hurst (33 pen), Lander (89)
YELLOW CARD: McCawl (53), Simpson (60)

REFEREE: Duncan Smith
WEATHER: Bright 6C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League: (away) v Celtic, Monday 15th February 2016, kick off 7.00pm at Cappielow

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