Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Celtic

Tuesday, 6th Sep 2016

SPFL Development League: Tuesday 6th September 2016, Josh Kerr (64) 0-1

- - Listen to John Potters post match thoughts

DUNFERMLINE 0 CELTIC 1

Ciaran Lafferty, John Herron and Paul Joseph Crossan lined up against their former team mates in the SPFL Development League match played at East End Park on Tuesday evening. Celtic made three changes from the side that lost 5-1 to Livingston in the Irn-Bru Challenge Cup on Saturday while the Pars fielded a strong team including first team squad players Jason Talbot, Nat Wedderburn and new signing Farid El Alagui.

Celtic had much of the early play with PJ getting a glorious chance of making an early mark when through one on one with Cammy Gill within twenty seconds but the keeper did well to stop the shot.

Then in the third minute Calvin Miller received a pass from Theodore Archibald and having exchanged passes with Mark Hill drove the ball narrowly wide left of target. A fifth minute Celtic corner created further danger, the ball coming in from the left, not cleared and then letting Sam Wardrop a free header that sneaked outside the right goalpost.

The Pars first attempt at goal followed in six minutes when Conner Duthie was able to get in a shot from 30 yards out but keeper Ross Doohan held comfortably. A bit of slick passing from Lafferty through El Alagui saw Herron get in for a shot but he was wide right.

As the half went on the home side gained in confidence and were able to give as good as they got. Scott Lochhead was next to shoot at goal but his 22nd minute effort from 25 yards out was off target. Lochhead`s corner from the right two minutes later was bravely punched away by Doohan but before Celtic could clear Lochhead was able to thrash a shot to the keeper`s left post and the purple kitted stopper turned the ball out for another corner that again he was to punch clear.

In 28 minutes with John Potter howling "stop the cross" Anthony Ralston got the ball over from the right byeline for Gill to parry and Euan Spark to boot away the danger. A corner from the left was successfully defended before neat play from Lafferty took the Pars back to the other end. Lafferty then combined with Herron to set up Duthie and his powerful effort was palmed over his bar by Doohan. The corner was taken short for Spark to run on to but his marker came with him preventing the shot.

The visitors were forced into making a 38th minute substitution after centre back Sam Wardrop had to be replaced by 18 year old Josh Kerr. Daniel Higgins picked out PJ but the far side linesman agreed with the cries of "he is off". There was still time for one more header from PJ but Gill again gathered that. A good first half from the Pars against the Premiership club.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Celtic 0

El Alagui created a good opportunity in just the third minute of the second half. Herron and Lafferty had made the opening with a good interchange but the French Moroccan was unlucky after twisting and turning his way into the left side of the Celtic penalty box to have his final execution blocked and go behind for a corner.

On 50 minutes Spark picked out Lafferty and he drove a fierce effort from the edge of the box just outside the right post. Five minutes later a slip on the right of the Pars defence let Archibald break through, he picked out the unmarked Miller as Spark went to cover Aitchison but Gill pulled off another fine stop to keep Celtic out.

Duthie swung the ball over from deep on the left and Archibald pushed El Alagui over in the box. The referee ignored claims for a 58th minute penalty and stopped play for treatment to Duncan who lay 15 yards inside the Pars half.

On the hour PJ beat off the challenges of Duthie and Talbot, advanced into the right side of the Pars box and it looked as though Miller had to score given a free shot at goal from 15 yards but Gill stuck out his left peg to pull off a remarkable save.

The Pars defensive wall kept out Archibald`s drive from a 63rd minute free kick 25 yards out but from a Regan Hendry corner in the next minute KERR ran in to meet the delivery and net with a downward header. 0-1

Celtic pushed again with Aitchison sending Miller in on the left but Duncan slid in and took the ball. Brandon Luke and James Thomas replaced John Herron and Farid El Alagui for the final quarter of an hour. The subs injected urgency but Thomas` early attempt was blocked out by the close attentions of two defenders.

A long ball from Luke to Thomas was cut out by Jamie McCart but the 83rd minute corner was too easily defended, indeed to took a good stop by Talbot on the edge of his box to prevent Celtic punishing the Pars on the counterattack.

With the Pars up again for an 86th minute free kick, Miller scurried away with Duthie`s delivery but clearly tired as he reached the Pars box. Still he managed to slide the ball to Aitchison to his left but again Gill pulled off a fine save.

The Fifers finished the game trying hard for the equaliser and swift passes from Galloway to Thomas and then Luke teed up Galloway for an attempt from 18 yards but it travelled straight to the keeper`s arms.

A 93rd minute free kick was sent in by Duthie but Spark`s header sent the ball skywards and Doohan held. There were two further chances one headed over the Celtic bar by their own defender and then from the corner the ball ricocheting around the box before eventually being cleared.

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Reece Duncan, Jason Talbot, Euan Spark, Conner Duthie: Nat Wedderburn, Johnny Galloway, John Herron (Brandon Luke 75), Scott Lochhead: Farid El Alagui (James Thomas 75), Ciaran Lafferty (Callum Smith 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Evan Horne, Robbie Crawford, Matthew Todd, Josh Dunn (GK),

CELTIC: Ross Doohan: Anthony Ralston, Theodore Archibald, Jamie McCart, Sam Wardrop (Josh Kerr 38), Daniel Higgins (Michael Johnston 68), Regan Hendry, Mark Hill, Paul Joseph Crossan (Brandon Payne 85), Jack Aitchison, Calvin Miller
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan McAdams, Wallace Duffy, Daniel Church, Aidan McIlduff.
SCORERS: Kerr (64)

REFEREE: Duncan Smith
WEATHER: Dull 20C
ATTENDANCE 155

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (away) v Ross County. Tuesday 13th September, kick off 6.00pm

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