Reserves v Queen of the South

Monday, 19th Aug 2019

SPFL Reserve League: Josh Coley (43) 1-0: Gabby McGill (58) 2-0: Benjamin Luissint (61) 2:1: Gabby McGill (67) 3-1: Cammy Graham (80) 4-1:

DUNFERMLINE 4 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1

Greg Shields took his Reserve team to Keirs Park, Hill of Beath for their opening SPFL Reserve League match against Queen of the South on Monday afternoon. His starting eleven included Lewis McCann, Josh Coley and Danny Devine while his bench included two subs from Celtic Park on Saturday - Matthew Todd and Gabby McGill.

The visitors kicked off just as a shower rain began to pelt down. It was dry by the time the home side created the first decent chance of the match. In 13th minute Cameron Graham fed the ball to Lewis Sawers on the right and Graham came close but could not get the touch to finish as the ball was returned across the face of goal.

That was quickly followed by a strong low shot from McCann that the keeper blocked after Paul Allan had controlled and teed up the shot from a Devine ball into the left side of the Queens box.

The Queens keeper Burns had to hold a decent 20th minute effort from Paul Brown after Coley had sent the skipper down the left. For a while the on loan Norwich City player seemed to be involved in everything but although play was predominantly towards the Queens goal there were few clear cut chances to shoot.

McCann did manage a shot on target from the edge of the box in 32 minutes but it was never going to be enough to beat the keeper. Then a Coley cross into the six yard box hit off Liam Douglas and was net bound until Burns stopped it on the line. Maybe just as well the defender touched it since Graham was well placed beyond Douglas for the conversion.

Four minutes from the break Dunfermline came very close to scoring the opener. Allan drove forward down the left channel and picked out Graham on the edge of the box. His shot came back off the right post and Coley sent his follow up from close in wide left. A goal followed from the next attack. Sawers set Josh COLEY up for a shot from 15 yards out and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net. 43 minutes gone 1-0.

The half time lead was deserved since the Pars had enjoyed the majority of the possession while not over taxing Burns in the Queens goal.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 0

Four Pars substitutes were introduced for the restart. Off went Danny Devine, Tom Lang, Josh Coley and Lewis McCann to make way for Gregor Jordan, Matty Bowman, Matthew Todd and Gabby McGill. Queens made one sub, Arran McKie for Ewan Gourlay.

There were numerous chances in the opening five minutes of the second half. The visitors keeper has a good fisted clearance before Todd sent in a dangerous ball from the right that broke out off two Queens defenders for Graham to crash at goal but his effort was blocked. Todd got his head to a cross from the left but could not prevent his attempt going over the crossbar.

A second goal duly materialised in 58 minutes a simple finished with McGILL rising above everyone to head into the far corner, Bowman’s delivery from the right. 2-0

The two goal advantage lasted only three minutes when slackness in the home defence let Benjamin LUISSINT break through the middle and slot the ball past the advancing Gill. 2-1

The free scoring continued with McGILL scoring his second goal midway through the second half when he slotted in a Todd cross after good work by Bowman on the right. 3-1.

Chances continued to come Dunfermline’s with Bowman on the right and Sawers on the left providing dangerous crosses. The fourth goal came ten minutes from the end when Todd’s cross found GRAHAM and from the middle of the box his shot was deflected and looped over the defence to drop in the goal. 4-1

McGill was again denied his hat trick as he sent a header over and next Jordan met a 85th minute Brown free kick but powered his header over too.

There was one final chance when McGill broke in the second minute of added time but Sawers was prevented from reaching the ball and the Fifers had to settle for a 4-1 score line.

- - Listen to coach Greg Shields assessment

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Josh Robertson, Danny Devine (Matthew Bowman HT), Tom Lang (Gregor Jordan HT), Paul Brown (c): Lewis Sawers, Paul Allan (Kiran Mitchell 59), Lucas Berry, Josh Coley (Matthew Todd HT): Lewis McCann (Gabby McGill HT), Cameron Graham.
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran Swanson, Craig Burt (GK)
SCORERS: Coley (43), McGill (58, 67), Graham (80)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Craig Burns: Danny Irving (Aidan Moffat 61), Chris Newbould, Liam Douglas, Adam Gordon, Ewan Gourlay (Arran McKie HT), Ross Irving, Benjamin Luissint, Mikey Williamson, Alberto Vezza, Connor Potts (Harry Hay 75).
SUBS NOT USED: Ally Ferguson (GK)
SCORERS: Luissint (61)
YELLOW CARD: Luissint (68)

REFEREE: Jordan Curran
WEATHER: Changeable 16C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: Fife Cup Final (home) v East Fife. Tuesday 27th August 2019, 7.45pm kick off at East End Park

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