Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

U20s v Dundee United

Tuesday, 29th Nov 2016

SPFL Development League: at New Central Park, Kelty. Lewis Spence returns to Pars action. Callum Smith (55) 1-0

- - Listen to coach John Potters post match thoughts

DUNFERMLINE 1 DUNDEE UNITED 0

United kicked off this SPFL Development League match played at Kelty on Tuesday afternoon and there was little to mention until six minutes when Robbie Crawford pumped in a ball that was just too strong for Callum Smith and keeper Brett Long gathered the ball just inside his box.

Next minute Smith had a better chance when Harvey Dailly slipped but Jordan Hornby covered to clear the danger. United`s response was a high ball from Cammy Ballantyne that was intended for Louis Appere but Stuart Morrison cleared.

Evan Horne had a cross into the box that was cleared and Johnny Galloway had a shot that was blocked. Euan Spark shielded out the ball for a goal kick after Ali Coote and Graham Taylor had tried to work their way towards goal. Next Paul Allan cleared a Logan Chalmers ball into the Pars box.

Dunfermline then had two good attempts. Smith got himself into a promising position in 17th minute but was dispossessed before he could shoot. Next minute United`s Cammy Smith`s fouled Crawford and Spence assumed responsibility for the free kick from 28 yards out but that was tipped over the bar by the lime green kitted keeper.

Two Dunfermline corners ensued but they came to nothing and the home side kept up their challenge. Smith had an attempt blocked and Spark`s cross was headed behind by Scott Allardyce for a 27th minute corner. Spark appealed for a penalty claiming that he was held as Crawford`s corner came in but nothing was given.

When United forced a corner next minute they were penalised for pushing when the delivery came in. The visitors then created further danger as a result of good play between Coote, Chalmers and Appere but the Fifers defence cleared. Appere was then caught offside before Cammy Smith broke through but his final let him down and Paul Allan stepped in to clear.

Ten minutes from the interval Horne hit an effort over the bar and there was a further Pars push with Smith on the break and then a 30 yard free kick lifted into the box by Spence being headed clear by Ballantyne. A good ball from Reece Duncan to Callum Smith brought about a Pars corner but Long held Spark`s headed attempt.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Dundee United 0

United started the second half better forcing several corners that Hornby dropped into danger areas but it was his 50th minute cross that provided the best chance but that was head wide and the Pars had a goal kick. Morrison cleared a Chalmers cross and then the same United player tried a snap shot from distance that sailed over the bar.

The visitors had threatened plenty but it was Dunfermline who scored what turn out to be the decisive goal in 55th minute. Crawford supplied the cross from the right and SMITH rose above the United defence to head home. Long did get a hand to the ball down to his left but he couldn`t stop the ball going into his net. 1-0

It was Coote who tried hardest to get United back on level terms. He fired a shot high and wide before in 64 minutes seeing his shot blocked by Duncan only for Appere to follow up and send the ball wide. In between Ballantyne had to head away a Duncan cross and Crawford was dispossessed before he could release a shot.

At the midway point in the second half United made a triple substitution taking off Taylor, Appere and Chalmers to introduce Dominic McMeekin, Jordan Garden and Matty Smith. Gill tipped over a Cammy Smith attempt on 70 minutes and four minutes later Brad Smith was unlucky when Davie just couldn`t get on the end of the chance.

There was a further danger when Garden`s header bounced around the Pars box before at the other end Spence locked on to a Duncan cross but Long made a good save down to his left. Another opportunity fell for Dundee United in 83 minutes when McMeekin came close to converting.

The Pars could have wrapped it all up two minutes from time but Smith lost his footing and the chance was gone. That could have proven costly since in the second minute of added time a Hornby free kick from just inside the Pars half was not taken by Gill and United`s shot travelled wide.

It had been a pretty even match but the home side scored the all important goal. With their fifth consecutive home win, Dunfermline remain seventh in the league, six places above their opponents.

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill, Reece Duncan, Paul Allan, Stuart Morrison, Euan Spark: Johnny Galloway, Robbie Crawford, Evan Horne, Lewis Spence, Callum Smith, Brandon Luke.
SUBS NOT USED: Matthew Todd, Josh Robertson, Owen Andrew, Josh Dunn (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (55)

DUNDEE UNITED: Brett Long: Cammy Ballantyne, Jordan Hornby, Logan Davie, Scott Allardyce, Harvey Dailly, Graham Taylor (Dominic McMeekin 68), Brad Smith, Louis Appere (Jordan Garden 68), Ali Coote, Logan Chalmers (Matty Smith 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Gavin Ritchie, Aaron Murrell

REFEREE: Evan Cairns
WEATHER: Cold 5C
ATTENDANCE 68

NEXT MATCH: SFA Youth Cup (away) v Ayr United on Sunday 4th December, kick off 1.30pm at Somerset Park

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