Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Kelty Hearts

Saturday, 16th Jul 2016

Kelty Hearts Tournament: Brian Ritchie (6) 1-0: Scott Dalziel (69) 2-0

- - Listen to John Potters post match thoughts

KELTY HEARTS 2 DUNFERMLINE 0

The final of the Kelty Hearts Tournament was played between Kelty Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic under 20s. After the Pars defeated Dundonald Bluebell 5-1 the previous day, the hosts went one better seeing off Cowdenbeath`s under 20s 6-1 to set up the final.

Pars coach John Potter made three changes to his team for the Sunday afternoon match, no Callum Fordyce and Euan Spark picked up a knock against Dundonald. Callum Smith dropped to the bench as in came Brandon Luke, Stuart Morrison and Robbie Crawford

Tam Courts Kelty Hearts player / manager included new signing Neil "Cabey" McCabe from East Stirling and former Pars Stephen Husband, Garry Leighton and Kyle Allison. It was the home side that kicked off attacking the goal at the north end. Kelty pressed from the start and took the lead from a sixth minute free kick sent in from the right. Brian RITCHIE met the delivery with a powerful header 1-0

There was a let off when `Cabey` McCabe latched on to a weak back pass and shot the ball past Cammy Gill but fortunately Reece Duncan slid in to clear off the line. Morrison got first touch on a Kelty corner on the quarter hour and `Cabey` McCabe snatched a chance off him but drove wide left.

The Pars first chance fell to trialist Scott Lochhead midway through the half but his shot was deflected behind for a corner that Neil McCabe cleared. A through ball from Evan Horne into the area on the left side of the Kelty Hearts box was intercepted before it could reach the inrunning Crawford.

There was more encouragement for the Pars when Luke successfully sent James Thomas in on the left side but the striker unluckily drove his shot into the sidenetting.

Six minutes from the break Luke turned his marker on the edge of the box after the ball had been smartly switched on from Thomas through Horne to him but unfortunately the shot went wide left. At the other end a Husband free kick reached the head of Ritchie again but this time the ball went straight to Gill.

The Pars finished the half strongly Lochhead racing on to a Duthie through ball and winning a free kick when Carstairs pulled him down. From the setpiece Duthie`s cross was deflected on towards Potter whose looping header was headed out from under the crossbar by former Cowdenbeath striker Scott Dalziel.

Half time: Kelty Hearts 1 Dunfermline 0

Kelty made two substitutions for the restart, Jason Penman and Josh McPhie replacing Stephen Husband and Neil McCabe. First opportunity was from a 56th minute free kick that Thomas touched right for Horne. He connected well but cleared the bar, the fence and the hedge.

An Archie Campbell in from the left was headed away by Horne and then when the ball was returned Potter neatly flicked it away. Dunfermline were put under pressure but broke on the counter with Thomas attempting to find Galloway just 25 yards out but Jacobs dived in and earned himself a yellow and the Pars a free kick that Duthie belted narrowly wide left.

Then in 69 minutes a Campbell corner from the left was held by Gill but he dropped the ball as a result of being blatantly pushed in the back by DALZIEL who managed to succeed in getting the ball across the line. 2-0

Dunfermline`s response came from sub Callum Smith benefiting from Potter winning possession in the Kelty half and the Pars no.12 rattled the right upright.

As the minutes ran down Kelty came back into it forcing corners and Ritchie showed useful skills in getting in for a 84th minute shot. Gill then held a Kelty shot and next time booted the ball into the school yard.

It had been a hard and physical match for John Potter`s young team but a well worth exercise in introducing them to the realities of competitive action.

KELTY HEARTS: 1 Kyle Allison 2 Devon Jacobs 3 Garry Leighton 4 Murray Carstairs 5 Tam Courts 6 Neil McCabe (14 Jason Penman HT) 7 Brian Ritchie 8 Stephen Husband (15 Josh McPhie HT) 9 Scott Dalziel 10 Archie Campbell (18 Stuart Cargill 76) 11 Neil Cabey McCabe (16 Jack Wilson 64)
SUBS NOT USED: 12 Sean O`Neill 17 Conrad Courts 20 Kyle Marley
SCORERS: Ritchie (6), Dalziel (72)
YELLOW CARD: Jacobs (69), Dalziel (74)

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Reece Duncan, John Potter, Stuart Morrison, Conner Duthie: Robbie Crawford (Callum Smith 65), Brandon Luke, Johnny Galloway, Evan Horne, Trialist, James Thomas.
SUBS NOT USED: Jack McClair, John James Henderson, Josh Robertson, Owen Andrew
YELLOW CARD: Duthie (63)

REFEREE: Lee Finnie
WEATHER: Overcast 14C
ATTENDANCE

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