Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

Reserves v Motherwell

Monday, 23rd Sep 2019

SPFL Reserve League Cup: Jamie Semple (32) 1-0: Jamie Semple (87) 2-0:

MOTHERWELL 2 DUNFERMLINE 0

This was the first tie in this season’s SPFL Reserve League Cup which will also see the Pars take on Celtic, Dundee and Morton. Greg Shields took his team to Broadwood to face Premier League club, Motherwell on a cloudy Monday afternoon. His side included Danny Devine and Stuart Morrison at the centre of the defence with Josh Coley and Harry Cochrane also featuring. Upfront sixteen year old Quinn Coulson was partnered by Matty Todd.

There was a second minute free kick awarded to ‘Well on the right edge of the Pars box after Morrison fouled Ross MacIver but when the low ball was played in no threat materialised. The home side continued the stronger getting their passing game together first but Dunfermline sustained the early pressure.

A couple of fouls on Cochrane that yielded free kicks and a subsequent first corner of the game got the Fifers back into it and they began to link well together. Motherwell made it hard for them though and made sure they were kept well away from keeper Trevor Carson.

The first shot on target from either side took until the 26th minute when Paul Allan controlled the ball in the centre circle and fed the ball forward for Todd. The Pars number 10 struck the ball well from 25 yards out but Carson plucked it out of the air.

Three minutes later Pars keeper Ben Swinton was tested by Christy Manzinga but the low effort from 30 yards did not trouble Swinton.

Mark O’Hara collected a yellow card for his challenge on Todd but from 25 yards out on the left side, Allan struck the setpiece over the bar. Just after the half hour however the Fifers were undone. ScotlandU21 player, Barry Maguire sent the ball wide right from where Ross MacIver delivered the ball into the six yard box and SEMPLE arrived to force the ball past Swinton. 1-0

The goal lifted Motherwell’s spirits and they pushed their opponents back for the remainder of the half. Swinton had to react to a weak pass back and the offside flag assisted as well.

Devine headed away the danger when Casper Sloth crossed in Motherwell’s first corner of the game in 44 minutes and despite one final push when Todd laid the ball off to Paul Brown, the cross dropped behind the goal and referee Graham Grainger blew for the interval.

Half time: Motherwell 1 Dunfermline 0

A weak back pass created an opportunity for Coulson just 20 seconds into the second half but one on one with the keeper but the 31 year old Irishman won. Then at the other end Semple rattled the crossbar and Manzinga blasted a good chance over the crossbar.

There was a good chance in 52 minutes emanating from a good run by Brown down the left. Todd received the pass but Coulson unable to reach Matty’s and Motherwell clear the danger. Five minutes on and Todd forced a corner on the right. Bowman delivered caused the home side to clear but only as far as Cochrane whose shot was blocked.

A tough challenge and then perseverance from Coley forced a free kick deep down the left but before that was taken two Pars substitutions were made. Harry Cochrane and Quinn Coulson came off to be replaced by Thomas Bragg and Kieran Mitchell and it was Mitchell who hit the post from the free kick with his first touch.

The Fifers were competing as in 66 minutes, Todd won another corner on the left. Bowman to took it short to Allan who found Todd but his effort was blocked. Play continued from end to end. A ‘Well corner was defended and in 76 minutes a deflected Manzinga effort hit the side netting. From the resultant Motherwell corner Morrison headed clear.

There had been some good defending from the Pars, Brown doing really well to hook away a Semple ball into the box but three minutes from time SEMPLE was allowed to get a shot in from 25 yards out and Swinton was unable to prevent it going to 2-0.

In the end the two goals separated the teams but Greg Shields would rue his side’s inability to take their chances. There is no doubt that Motherwell were a good team but they also led in terms of experience.

- - Listen to coach Greg Shields assessment

MOTHERWELL: Trevor Carson: Dean Cornelius, Youssef Hussain (c), Jack Brown: Bevis Mugabi (Cole Starrs HT), Barry Maguire (Sam Muir 56), Ross MacIver, Casper Sloth, Christy Manzinga (Aaron Kettings 79), Jamie Semple, Mark O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Matthew Connelly, Cameron Williamson,
SCORERS: Semple (32, 87)
YELLOW CARD: Semple (9)

DUNFERMLINE: Ben Swinton: Matty Bowman, Danny Devine (Gregor Jordan 80), Stuart Morrison (MacKenzie Ramos 80), Paul Brown (c): Lewis Sawers (Lennon Watson 75), Paul Allan, Harry Cochrane (Thomas Bragg 60), Josh Coley: Matty Todd, Quinn Coulson (Kieran Mitchell 60).
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Burt (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Brown (46)

REFEREE: Graham Grainger
WEATHER: Cloudy 16C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (away) v Hamilton Academical Tuesday 1st October 2019, Kick off 2.00pm at the Fountain of Youth Stadium.

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