U20s v Dundee United
Friday, 14th Apr 2017SPFL Development League, Friday 14th April at Station Park, Forfar. Louis Appere (31) 1-0: Stuart Morrison (59) 1-1: Brad Smith (69) 2-1: Reece Duncan (84) 2-2
- - Listen to coach John Potters post match thoughts
DINDEE UNITED 2 DUNFERMLINE 2
It was a young side that John Potter took to Forfar for the SPFL Development League match against Dundee United. Following the coach`s brief appearance in the last match it was Callum Fordyce who provided the experience in this match. Sixteen year old Josh Robertson and 15 year old Matt Todd started.
Jordan Garden, United no.9 got the match underway but Dunfermline were first to threaten with Todd getting a shot in after just 46 seconds. It came from a good break from Callum Smith who got the better of Gavin Ritchie and squared the ball to Robbie Crawford on the edge of the box. He was denied a shot so slipped it left but the High School pupil`s shot was blocked.
United keeper Brett Long dropped to his right to hold a Smith effort in seven minutes before the opposition forced two corners that did not trouble the Fifers defence.
In 18 minutes a sweet move switching left to right from Brandon Luke through Evan Horne to Crawford and then the overlapping Duncan, let the right back swing over an inviting ball but the defence cleared. A good opportunity immediately opened up for the hosts but the close tracking of Robertson meant that Chalmers` shot went across the face of goal.
Todd`s lay off to Luke in 25th minute was deflected behind for a corner on the right but the ref blew up play as the corner came in for Fordyce`s overeagerness to reach the delivery. Next minute a superb defence bursting pass from Galloway put in Duncan on the right side but Long was out fast and pulled off a fine save.
Dunfermline were then denied a penalty after Galloway`s pass sent Crawford to the right byeline and his attempt to cross into the six yard box was blocked by a United arm. Then a bit like the first team at Tannadice on Tuesday night, United went up the park and scored. Dominic McMeekin sent in the pass from the right and there seemed to be a delay as the keeper and the two central defenders waited for each other to react. That was enough time for Louis APPERE to nip in and turn the ball into the net. 1-0
Dunfermline were unmoved by going behind and they tried hard to retrieve the situation before the break. Galloway tried to pick out Fordyce from a free kick and crosses into the box by Smith from the right and Todd from the left had to be well defended.
Half time: Dundee United 1 Dunfermline 0
United started the second half with a period of sustained possession in the Pars half but all that came of that was a weak shot from McMeekin that Gill easily held. Duncan produced the Pars first shot of the half in 55 minutes but his left footed effort from the edge of the box was blocked.
A corner from the left four minutes later led to the equaliser. Crawford took it short to Luke and when he chipped the ball over from the left edge of the box Stuart MORRISON met it with a glancing header and the ball went in off the far post. 1-1
Next minute Luke broke in from the left and it took a fine save from Long to deny Dunfermlinr the lead. Garden beat the offside trap in 64 minutes by from an acute angle on the left he sent his shot over Gill`s crossbar.
Back at the other end a Crawford free kick from the right edge of the United box was palmed away by Long with Morrison waiting to finish at the far post. Long was then called upon to palm away another crossed ball and although Horne was able to redirect the ball on target, Garden intercepted and cleared.
Dunfermline then lost a weak goal in 69th minute when Brad SMITH was able to run right down the middle and pick his spot to Gill`s right. 2-1
Owen Andrew was the Pars first sub of the game when he replaced Matt Todd in 72 minutes. After Fordyce had fed Crawford a pass Duncan centred and the sub was well placed to make an immediate impact but as the cross came in from the right he was eased away from the chance as he leapt.
When Luke had his shirt tugged on the edge of the box Fordyce assumed the responsibility for the 79th minute free kick and facing a two man wall, he curled it around them to make the keeper pull off a great save at his right hand post.
It took a fine individual effort from Reece DUNCAN to find the net. His 84th minute run took him to the edge of the box and he launched a great effort past Long to bulge the net. 2-2
John Potter`s side were then the one that went after the winner. There was good possession around the United box without producing a shot. There was then some serious defending to be done as United had their go. Morrison was called upon to defend a counterattack and in the first minute of added time Robertson made a fine tackle to rob Chalmers of glory.
SUBS NOT USED: Brett Young, Kieran Inglis, Ross Hutchison, Scott Banks, Liam Evans
SCORERS: Appere (31), Smith (69)
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Reece Duncan, Callum Fordyce, Stuart Morrison, Josh Robertson: Robbie Crawford, Evan Horne, Johnny Galloway, Matthew Todd (Owen Andrew 72): Callum Smith, Brandon Luke
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Jordan, Lewis Sawers, Cammy O`Donnell
SCORERS: Morrison (59), Duncan (84)
REFEREE: Liam Duncan
WEATHER: Cloudy 11C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League: (home) v Hamilton Accies, Tuesday 18th April 2017, 3.00pm kick off at New Central Park, Kelty
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