Reserves v Motherwell
Tuesday, 28th Aug 2018SPFL Reserve League: Lewis McCann (24) 1-0: Jordan Armstrong (37) 1-1:
- - Hear coach Stevie Crawfords post match thoughts
DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 1 MOTHERWELL RESERVES 1
Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Thomson and Aidan Connolly were the first team players included in the Dunfermline Reserves starting eleven to face their Motherwell counterparts on Tuesday afternoon. Motherwell fielded two players from their first team squad, 26 year old Ryan Bowman and 21 year old George Newell, the son of former Blackburn Rovers and Everton forward Mike Newell.
The visitors kicked off and were first to threaten, Bowman with an overhead kick that Cammy Gill read. Lewis McCann earned the first corner of the game but when Higginbotham sent that in the ball skimmed McCann`s head. The same came of Brandon Luke`s eighth minute cross before Matthew Todd had to concede a tenth minute corner that he subsequently cleared with the assistance of Stuart Morrison.
Gill had another save from Bowman before the Fifers turned up the pressure on the Steelmen. Higginbotham looked to pick out Thomson in the box but the pass was unlucky to be intercepted. Then Thomson set up Luke for a cross but he slipped at the crucial moment.Better followed however when McCann won a free kick on the left. Higginbotham`s delivery was cleared only as far as Connolly and when he fired on target the Motherwell keeper Peter Morrison palmed the ball away but McCANN was on hand to nod home from close range. 1-0
`Well almost got a goal back straightaway. Broque Watson`s shot forced Gill into a fine save in 26 minutes and on the half hour gathered a tame effort from Neil McLaughlin. The visitors had more luck when they forced corner after corner in 37 minutes. The first was taken short by Kyle MacDonald but merely led to another. This time Liam Brown`s ball to the back post was met by Bowman but his header was blocked only for Jordan ARMSTRONG to finish 1-1
As often happens the goal gave the visitors a boost and they nearly snatch another. Watson made headway up the right to then pick out Newell at the near post but his headed effort went straight to Gill. The keeper saved at the feet of Watson in 42 minutes and the final chance of the first half was also Motherwell`s but Brown sent his 25 yard free kick high and wide of the Dunfermline goal.
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Motherwell 1
The Premier League club began the second half promisingly with Brown arriving at the back post to meet a ball in from a 49th minute corner. Fortunately for the Pars he sent his attempt wide.
The visitors continued to enjoy most of the pressure. MacDonald sent a low shot wide after a good counter attack by Brown, Adam Livingstone had an opportunity but shot wide and Jason Krone`s powerful header from a 59th minute Rehman corner also went wide.
Morrison made a telling block on a McLaughlin cross to concede another corner before he was subbed by Josh Robertson. The sub was quickly into action heading clear a Newell cross before there was a lengthy stoppage for a nasty ankle injury to Kieran Swanson. The 17 year old defender was stretchered off.
The home side had given `Well keeper Morrison a quite second half but in 77 minutes taking advantage of slackness on behalf of the opposition, Connolly gained ground up the right and cut in sending a low shot that the keeper saved down to his left.
Connolly and Higginbotham were then subbed by Paul Brown and Lewis Crosbie for the final ten minutes plus stoppage time. Brown took an 82nd minute corner to Robertson who worked a route into the `Well box but failed to tee up Crosbie.
Motherwell sub had the best chance of dividing the teams in the fourth minute of added time but was dispossessed in the nick of time. Agyeman headed wide from a corner and the match ended all square after seven added minutes.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Burt (GK)
SCORERS: McCann (24)
MOTHERWELL: Peter Morrison: Kyle MacDonald, Adam Livingstone, Akeal Rehman (T), Jason Krones, Jordan Armstrong, Ryan Bowman, Liam Brown (c), George Newell (Alfredo Agyeman 83), Neil McLaughlin (Jamie Semple 75), Broque Watson
SUBS NOT USED: Yusef Hussain, Dean Corneilius, Robbie Hemfrey (GK)
SCORERS: Armstrong (37)
REFEREE: Duncan Smith
WEATHER: Bright 14°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (away) Monday 3rd September 2018, v Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, kick off 2.00pm
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