Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Rangers

Tuesday, 1st Nov 2016

SPFL Development League: New Central Park, Kelty - Callum Smith (48 pen.) 1-0

- - Listen to the post match thoughts of Coach John Potter

DUNFERMLINE 1 RANGERS 0

Callum Fordyce continued in the centre of defence for the Development team against Rangers on Tuesday afternoon. The match, played at New Central Park, Kelty also saw the return to competitive action of midfielder John Herron.

Pars keeper Cammy Gill was forced to make a great one handed save from Atakayi in just the second minute and the Rangers corner was duly cleared by Fordyce. Two minutes later a good pass from Herron picked out Callum Smith but Rangers cleared the danger. Herron continued to make his presence felt winning a free kick 30 yards out that he took and Ciaran Lafferty`s header was tipped over the bar by Rangers stopper Kieran Wright.

Robbie Crawford delivered the corner in but eventually the visitors cleared. Then in eight minutes Scott Lochhead won a free kick that Fordyce headed on to the crossbar from another Herron setpiece this time slightly nearer.

Dunfermline pressed again in tenth minute, Smith seeing his effort from a Conner Duthie pass, blocked and then Lochhead presented with the ball from a poor Wright clearance was dispossessed before he could cause any danger. Meanwhile Rangers attempt from Barjonas sailed high over Gill`s crossbar and back at the other end Lochhead too was off target.

Johnny Galloway was felled in his own box by a Duthie clearance and it was Duthie who headed away from an 18th minute Rangers free kick out on the right touchline. Gill was kept involved cutting out a Jeffries cross.

An injury to Lafferty midway into the opposition half caused the striker to retire from the match, Brandon Luke coming on in his place with just 25 minutes on the clock. Four minutes later a Herron free kick sent in from the left was turned behind for a corner by Bates but that was returned too deep by Crawford for Fordyce.

Bates then had a header at the Pars goal but hit the sidenetting. Treatment was required for Ashmore and Galloway in separate incidents before the half came to an end following two added minutes.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Rangers 0

The second half was only in its second minute when SMITH won a penalty when fouled on the edge of the box and he assumed responsibility himself for the spot kick to put his team into the lead. 1-0

As Rangers tried to reply Fordyce cleared two potentially dangerous crosses while upfront Crawford had a blast at goal and then next young Robbie was fouled midway into the opposition half. Rangers dealt with Herron`s ball from the dead ball situation before he forced a 64th minute corner following a fine cross field pass from Duncan. Wright made a good save from Crawford and the Pars had another corner but the second one was too strong.

Midway through the half Gill had a couple of pieces of routine gathering to keep him deployed. Duthie drove over the bar in 73 minutes and immediately Rangers caused Gill to take a dangerous low cross.

Sub Allan made a timely tackle on Gibson to rob him on the edge of the Pars box. As the clock ran down Smith had a couple of chances to add to his tally but was wildly high with a 77th minute shot and unlucky two minutes later not to control a Fordyce free kick.

Both sides had further corners but the greatest danger came from an 86th minute free kick after Atakayi was shown yellow for taking out Duthie. Duthie sent the free kick low to the near post but Wright saved.

After three added minutes the final whistle heralded a deserved win from a good all round team performance in the second half.

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill, Reece Duncan, Stuart Morrison, Callum Fordyce, Conner Duthie: Robbie Crawford, Johnny Galloway (Evan Horne HT), John Herron (Paul Allan 70), Scott Lochhead: Callum Smith, Ciaran Lafferty (Brandon Luke 26).
SUBS NOT USED: James Thomas, Josh Dunn (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (48 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Lochhead (90+2)

RANGERS: Kieran Wright, Jordan Houston, Lewis White, Jamie Barjonas (Jordan Thomson 75), David Bates, Aidan Wilson, Serge Atakayi, Max Ashmore, Amin Abaradan (Zak Rudden 63), Josh Jeffries, Ross Lyon (Jordan Gibson 63)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Bradley, Sam Jamieson, Ursene Mouanda, Robby McCrorie (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Atakayi (86)

REFEREE: Chris Fordyce
WEATHER: Sunny 9C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: SFA Youth Cup (away) v St Mirren Sunday 6th November, 2.00pm kick off at Paisley 2021 Stadium

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