Reserves v Hearts
Tuesday, 4th Dec 2018SPFL Reserve League: Kallum Higginbotham misses penalty (13): Cammy Gill saves penalty (57): Rory Currie (90) 0-1.
- - Listen to Stevie Crawford`s post match comments
DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 0 HEARTS RESERVES 1
For the visit of Hearts, Stevie Crawford`s young reserve side was bolstered by the inclusion of first team members Mark Durnan, Lewis Martin, Kalum Higginbotham and Tom Beadling.
Lewis McCann kicked off the first half for the Pars and it was the home side who forced the first corner in five minutes. A good diagonal ball from Higginbotham allowing Brandon Luke to force the setpiece. Durnan was at the back post to meet the ball from the corner but he could only send it over.
At the other end Dunfermline keeper Cammy Gill made a great save to deny Leeroy Makarova after he dispossessed Stuart Morrison. Luke threaten inside the Hearts box but slipped at the vital moment as Lewis Sawers picked him out.
Then in 12th minute Alex Petrov grabbed hold of Sawers inside the box and referee Jordan Curran pointed to the spot. Higginbotham assumed the responsibility but sent his effort over the bar.
Dunfermline continued to press with Josh Robertson winning a corner on right but Higginbotham struck that through the box and out for a throw in on the opposite side. Beadling lined up a shot midway in the Hearts halfbut was dispossessed just as he was about to shoot by Ritchie.
At the midway point of the first half a Higginbotham free kick caused problems in the Hearts defence but eventually they get the goal kick. For Hearts Makarova fired wide of Gill`s goal before Sawers looked likely but lost control and Silva had the goal kick. Next McCann was dispossessed by Ritchie outside the Hearts box but play was going in the right direction.
Robertson and Higginbotham link up well on right, Higgy`s ball was too strong but Luke picked up on left side. McCann and Luke combined but Hearts made the clearance.
Hearts forced a corner that Smith sent over from the right and Morrison headed clear. Linking up with Higginbotham, Sawers was upended on the edge of the Hearts box and ten minutes from the interval the Pars had a free kick on corner of box. Durnan got his head to the delivery but the referee saw something and blew for a free kick.
There was still time for chances at both ends. Beadling fired a shot wide of goal after receiving pass from McCann and then Durnan blocked a Makarova attempt for a corner on left. Josh Robertson cleared Smith`s corner and his return was wide of goal.
Half Time: Dunfermline Reserves 0 Hearts Reserves 0
Mark Durnan was replaced by Gregor Jordan for the second half and the young centre back was soon absorbed into the match as the Jambos started the stronger. Their 56th minute corner saw Morrison penalised and Hearts awarded a penalty kick. Pars keeper Cammy Gill dived low to his right to save Danny Amankwaa`s effort.
Just over five minutes later Hearts earned two corners the first when Smith appeared to fir wide. A Petkov header eventually ended up in Gill`s arms before McCann won corner on the right. Again the Hearts keeper successfully gathered under pressure, Higginbotham`s cross.
Ritchie cleared from another Higgy`s corner and a shot from Sawers was saved by Silva after great pass from Higginbotham. High ball into the box by McCann was not strong enough for Todd at the back post. Next minute however Lewis McCann added a second yellow to the one he had collected 17 minutes earlier and Dunfermline would have to play out the remaining 19 minutes with just ten men.
Hearts set out to make their opponents suffer for their disadvantage and it required great play by Robertson to halt a Hearts attack through McGill. Hearts forced a corner, it was cleared and then they had another on right when a shot went wide of goal.
In 80th minute there was another good interception by Robertson and Hearts earned a corner on left which Robertson cleared. Hamilton felt the force of a Higginbotham shot at close range and continued after receiving treatment.
Robertson cleared from a Makarova cross into the box before sub Paul Brown ran on to a back header from Higginbotham but was unable to control and the chance of a shot was lost
Hearts hit the cross bar with Smith attempt with four minutes remaining and Moore was caught offside for Hearts. Just when it looked as though a draw could be achieved Hears scored an 90th minute winner.
Hearts goal came after the Pars attacked. Sawers picked up a loose ball and passed to Todd but Hearts blocked Matt`s cross before Crosbie could get a shot away. Rory CURRIE was able to net the winner. It had been a pretty even game and Stevie Crawford`s team was unlucky to lose at the death.
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Josh Robertson, Stuart Morrison, Mark Durnan (Gregor Jordan HT), Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham (Lewis Crosbie 89), Paul Allan, Tom Beadling (Matthew Todd 65), Brandon Luke (Paul Brown 77): Lewis McCann, Lewis Sawers.SUBS NOT USED: Kieran Swanson, Craig Burt (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McCann (54)
RED CARD: McCann (71)
HEARTS: Kevin Silva: Jamie Brandon, Aaron Hickey, Cameron Logan, Christopher Hamilton (Scott McGill HT), Alex Petkov, Connor Smith, Dean Ritchie (Rory Currie 76), Leeroy Makarova, Euan Henderson (Lewis Moore 65), Danny Amankwaa
SUBS NOT USED: Kelby Mason, Dino Leddie
SCORERS: Currie (90)
YELLOW CARD: Makarova (45)
REFEREE: Jordan Curran
WEATHER: Sunny 4C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League: (away) v Aberdeen, Monday 17th December 2018, kick off 2.00pm at the Balmoral Stadium, Cove.
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