Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

Livingston 1 Dunfermline 5

Saturday, 2nd Jul 2016

Pre Season Friendly: Gavin Reilly (20) 0-1. Andy Geggan (31) 0-2. Rhys McCabe (37) 0-3. Josh Mullin (62) 1-3. Joe Cardle (68) 1-4. Gavin Reilly (83) 1-5

The second pre season friendly of the summer of 16 saw Allan Johnston take his squad to the Toni Macaroni Arena to face Livingston. The Lions were relegated after failing to survive the play offs and so the Pars by passed them as they headed for the Championship. The teams have only met in the league in one season in the last seven. In 2013-13 Dunfermline won one, Livingston two and the final game was drawn 2-2.

The temperature on the first Saturday in July was below average for the time of year but still a bright day to get an early glimpse of what the two teams might have to offer in the coming season.

David Hutton, Rhys McCabe and Gavin Reilly started with Sean Murdoch and the two Trialists dropping out of the team that started at Alloa on Wednesday night. Familiar faces in the Livingston team were Shaun Byrne and Liam Buchanan. Listed on the bench for the home side was Craig Reid but not the one who was part of the Pars League championship team last season. The Lions team also included four players that played for Airdrieonians last season Alan Lithgow, Sean Crighton, Liam Watt and Nicky Cadden.

Buchanan got the match underway with Livi defending the goal at the McArthur Glen end.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring from a fourth minute corner. It was taken quickly short from Cardle to McCabe and returned to Cardle to crash the ball into the six yard box where Reilly came preciously close to diverting the ball into the far right of the goal but it escaped just outside the right upright. Reilly quickly had another effort this time from outside the penalty box that was again wide of the same post.

Livingston threatened in seven minutes with Ben Richards-Everton doing well to blot out Buchanan`s burst into the left side of the Pars box. On the quarter hour Hutton was forced to touch a cross cum shot from Josh Mullin over the crossbar but the corner was satisfactorily defended.

In 20th minute a neat passing move from McCabe through Moffat to Williamson forced a corner on the right and again it was taken short for McCabe to cross a dangerous ball into the far post area where REILLY rose to head in off defender Craig Halkett. 0-1

Livingston had an opportunity to strike back three minutes later. A short taken corner on the right was played deep to Mullin and he connected well meaning McCabe damaged several brain cells in stopping the effort with his head.

In 25 minutes Cardle picked out Reilly on the edge of the box and his shot crashed off the left post, then his second follow up attempt was fisted away by keeper Darren Jamieson. The all lime green kitted stopper could do little to stop GEGGAN`s 31st minute tap in. Cardle did all the work gathering a ball chipped into the right side of the box by McCabe then getting to the byeline to smash the ball across the face of goal. 0-2

Talbot`s 33rd minute shot came off Crighton and Longridge for a corner on the right. When that was sent over by McCabe Ashcroft rose to head wide left. Three minutes later Cardle`s fierce shot was blocked as both Halkett and Lithgow dived in.

Then in 37 minutes Rhys McCABE latched on to the ball on the edge of the box and despatched a classy volley into the left side of the net. 0-3

After a cautious start the visitors really took control of the first half with Cardle and McCabe in particular causing Livingston problems.

Half time: Livingston 0 Dunfermline 3

For the second half Lewis Spence replaced Rhys McCabe and for Livi Morgyn Neill and Matthew Knox came on for Jackson Longridge and Shaun Byrne (who was unwell).

A 50th minute home corner from the left was headed away by Geggan then a host of our Pars men were involved before the threat was cleared. Three minutes later a Cardle free kick lofted in from 40 yards out was headed over the Livi bar by the inrushing Lee Ashcroft.

Hutton then won a race with Buchanan after Richards-Everton put insufficient weight on a pass back. At the other end Spence checked on 18 yards and got in a 57th minute shot that Jamieson kept out with his outstretched right foot.

The home side wasted two corners but then one free kick for hand ball against Spence led to another just 20 yards out when Knox was dumped by Talbot. The wee number 34 took the setpiece himself and crashed his effort on to the crossbar. A goal was on the cards and Livi duly delivered when Josh MULLIN headed home a cross from the left in 62 minutes. 1-3

Hutton was forced to save a shot from close quarters from Livi Trialist 14. Next CARDLE accepted a 68th minute pass from Reilly and finished from the edge of the box. 1-4

Dunfermline replaced Moffat with the same Trialist that played upfront at Alloa on Wednesday but it was Hutton who had to save the next attempt this time a snap shot from Knox.

A fifth Pars goal was to come seven minutes from the end. This time the Trialist had been unlucky at the left post but the ball was collected by Cardle who beat a couple of players on the top of the box but then stabbed a pass right for REILLY who cut in and smashed the ball high into the net. 1-5

In 86 Spence picked out Williamson on the right but although his cross to Geggan set up a shot the Pars skipper was denied by the keeper.

A convincing win in the end, good to see the goals going in and nine of the eleven getting a full 90 minutes. Next up is a friendly against Clyde but the squad for Tuesday night will be Under 20s, trialists and first team players who have maybe not played as many minutes as others.

Watch the highlights on Pars TV
LIVINGSTON: Darren Jamieson. Craig Halkett, Alan Lithgow, Sean Crighton (Jack Ogilvie 79), Jackson Longridge (Morgyn Neill HT). Josh Mullin (Trialist 62), Shaun Byrne (Matthew Knox HT), Mikey Miller (Craig Reid 83, Nicky Cadden (Trialist 69). Liam Watt (Jay Willis 83), Liam Buchanan (Ryan Currie 62).
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Mullin (62)

DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton. Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot. Rhys McCabe (Lewis Spence HT), Nat Wedderburn, Andy Geggan, Joe Cardle. Michael Moffat (Trialist 74), Gavin Reilly.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Conner Duthie, James Thomas, Trialist, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Reilly (20, 83), Geggan (31), McCabe (37), Cardle (68)

REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Changeable 12C
ATTENDANCE 600

NEXT MATCH: Pre Season Friendly (away) v Clyde
Tuesday 5th July, 7.45pm kick off at Broadwood

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