U20s v Celtic
Tuesday, 27th Dec 2016SPFL Development League: David Hopkirk (48) 0-1: Gavin Reilly (52) 0-2: Michael Paton (70) 0-3
- - Listen to John Potters post match comments
CELTIC 0 DUNFERMLINE 3
For the Development League match against Celtic on the Lennoxtown Astro, John Potter`s U20s side was strengthened with the addition of first team players Ryan Williamson, Michael Paton, Lewis Spence, Gavin Reilly and David Hopkirk.
Reilly got the match underway but it was Celtic and in particular their no.7 Mikey Johnston that took the game to the visitors. Scott Lochhead and Ryan Williamson had surging runs before in four minute Paton had a chance to shoot from 30 yards out but Jamie McCart turned the on target effort out for the first corner of the night. Unfortunately that was overhit.
Play went from end to end and in ninth minute the Pars threatened when Reilly broke. Faced with two defenders he laid the ball off for Lochhead but he failed to get the shot away and it was Conner Duthie who created the chance but his cross from the left flank was just too far ahead of his attackers.
Stuart Morrison blocked a Johnston shot in 13th minute and next Paul Allan and Morrison again stopped shots from Hill and Hendry. A 17th minute corner gave Celtic the opportunity to crash an effort at goal but Jack Aitchison powered his attempt over Cammy Gill`s bar.
The Pars were soaking up some pressure and luck was with them when Anthony Ralston crossed a quick ball across the Pars box. There was a very brief respite when the Fifers went up the park but Paton`s cross from the right corner flag was too strong.
Celtic had taken a considerable grip of the game and even when the Fifers won the ball they were forced into misplaced passes and were caught in possession. Duthie made a fine tackle to rob Ralston as he embarked on a powerful run down the right and at the other end Hopkirk`s attempt to drive through the Celtic defence was stopped by Calvin Miller.
A Celtic corner in 32 minutes was played deep and when that was pumped into the Pars box by Miller it was taken away by Hopkirk. Next minute Lewis Spence pulled up and was unable to continue. Evan Horne came on to replace the midfielder.
Josh Kerr headed a 37th minute corner wide and there was defending successfully completed at both ends before Duthie made the Celtic keeper Aiden McAdam dive at full stretch to keep his shot out. The chance came about after Williamson won back possession on the right and Paton`s pass inside to Galloway was switched left to the left back. He cut inside and released a fine right footed shot from the edge of the box.
Despite their dominance Celtic had not managed to test Gill and that save from McAdam was the only real save of the half.
Half time: Celtic 0 Dunfermline 0
Celtic started the second half strongly and immediately had Dunfermline pinned back but Reilly came back and fought for possession and then threaded a low ball up the left. HOPKIRK ran on and having checked then from the left corner of the box, slotted the ball into the far corner of the net. 0-1
The 48th minute opener was followed up with a second just four minutes later. Having survived a close thing from a Celtic corner when Morrison and Williamson miraculously kept the ball out the Pars went up the park and scored again. This time it was REILLY who hit an opportunist`s strike from 25 yards out. 0-2
Next Luke Donnelly looked certain to score but Gill pulled off a fine save and then in 57th minute Hendry got through on goal only for Gill to keep the ball out with his outstretched right leg.
On the hour Celtic forced two more corners on the right. Johnston had his first effort deflected behind and the Pars got the second one away. Hendry hit a good attempt in 64th minute but again Gill pulled off a good stop.
Celtic had made a double substitution withdrawing Johnston and Donnelly who made way for Theodore Archibald and the former Pars youth, PJ Crossan. Callum Smith then became the visitors second sub of the night taking the place of Scott Lochhead.
With twenty minutes remaining PATON smashed in a third Dunfermline goal when Reilly took advantage of an unsuccessful attempt by Celtic to head the ball away and set up his teammate. 0-3
Celtic did not give up and they caused Dunfermline to concede further corners. Miller thrashed a shot wide and Williamson saw PJ run out of pitch up the left. Morrison made a brilliant tackle in 86 minutes to deny Crossan a shot on the end of a long ball through the middle.
This was a very good performance from Dunfermline whose three second half goals gave them the three points that take them above their opponents into seventh place in the league.
SUBS NOT USED: Leonardo Fasan, Sam Wardrop, Wallace Duffy, Aidan McIlduff
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Ryan Williamson, Paul Allan, Stuart Morrison, Conner Duthie: Lewis Spence (Evan Horne 34), Michael Paton, Johnny Galloway, Scott Lochhead (Callum Smith 65): Gavin Reilly, David Hopkirk (Ciaran Lafferty 88)
SUBS NOT USED: Reece Duncan, Robbie Crawford, Brandon Luke
SCORERS: Hopkirk (48), Reilly (52), Paton (70)
YELLOW CARD: Galloway (81), Horne (90+1)
REFEREE: Graham Grainger
WEATHER: Dry 6C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Ross County, Tuesday 24th January 2017 venue and kick off TBC
Views : 7,198
Related Stories
ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.
Match Photos To Follow.
