Reserves v Hamilton Academical
Tuesday, 1st Oct 2019SPFL Reserve League: A second-half Andy Winter double was the difference between the sides at Hamilton after Andy Ryan had an early penalty saved.
HAMILTON RESERVES 2 DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 0
The Pars’ Reserves journeyed west to play Hamilton at what for many will always be New Douglas Park, but which currently rejoices under the “Fountain of Youth Stadium” soubriquet. Certainly, Greg Shields would be giving youth its chance with injuries taking their toll on the selection options available to him.
Only three outfield substitutes were named and two trialists featured in the starting eleven. His defence was pretty experienced at this level, with Ryan Scully in goals, a centre-back pairing of Gregor Jordan and Danny Devine, Matty Bowman at right back and skipper Paul Brown at left back.
Tom Bragg started in central midfield alongside the less familiar of the two trialists, with Josh Coley on the left, the other trialist, recognisable as Daniel Armstrong, on the right; Andy Ryan and Lewis Sawers formed the initial strike pairing.
The Pars kicked off attacking the stand-less end, but it was Everton loanee Adedoyin who caught the eye early with a couple of runs which brought corners for the home side. Former Accie Ryan was also prominent in the early exchanges and tested the keeper with an over-head kick from a deep cross in the seventh minute, before his flick allowed Trialist 1 to break, but he delayed his shot, although gained a free-kick, which Ryan sent over the bar. For the home team Charlie Reilly had a similar opportunity, but he too could not keep his shot down.
The Pars spurned a great chance to open the scoring when a clear push from a Brown cross saw the Pars awarded a penalty after 13 minutes. However, Ryan’s left foot shot was superbly saved by Luke Southwood who turned the ball onto his left-hand post, and thence to safety.
There was little fluency to the play, the Pars gifting the opposition the ball on more than one occasion, and the game was frequently punctuated by the referee’s whistle. Korede Adedoyin tested Scully at the near post, but a Bragg header from Coley’s deep free-kick caused few problems.
The home team began to get on top; again it was Adedoyin who seemed intent on beating the whole Dunfermline team just after the half-hour, before finally overdoing it in the Pars’ six-yard box. Shortly after Andy Winter’s shot from 16 yards beat Scully and hit both posts, before Brown cleared.
Half-time: Hamilton 0 Dunfermline 0
The Pars had the first opportunity of the second period when Coley’s threaded pass for Armstrong was left by Want, not realising Sawers was there too, but the home keeper was able to thwart the danger. Meanwhile Scully saved twice in close succession, first comfortably from Adedoyin after he had cut in onto his left-foot, then a little more urgently beating away Reilly’s long range strike.
However, the Accies took the lead just after the hour mark – a simple ball over the top saw WINTER fend off Devine to shoot and although Scully got something on the ball, he couldn’t stop it going over the line.
That was the cue for several changes. Greg Shields played all his cards at once, taking off those likely to feature for the first team, with Quinn Coulson and Mackenzie Ramos going on in attack, and Kieran Mitchell adopting Coley’s wide role. Bragg went to centre-back and Sawers dropped much deeper to accommodate the changes.
The home team looked to double their advantage – Jordan did well to block Reilly’s shot on the line, Scully again saved before Leon McCann sliced wide when played through from left back – and did so from a good move in the 77th minute. A ball inside Brown allowed Shaun Want space down the right, his cross beyond the back post was knocked down by Regan Mimnaugh for WINTER and he worked the room to fire past Scully from 12 yards.
The ball just wouldn’t break for the visitors – a flick from Ramos fell kindly for Southwood, and the keeper was again well-placed to collect Sawers’ effort from Trialist 1’s cutback. At the other end Scully again saved to deny Winter a hat-trick as the home side looked to wrap the game up.
A poor tackle late on by Johnny Hunt on Brown saw the officials consult before the Accies midfielder was shown a straight red card. Brown soon recovered, but the Pars had no time to take advantage of their extra man.
SUBS NOT USED: Jay Blair, Ciaran McAndrew, Liam Harris, Lennon Pirrie, Ross Connelly (GK).
SCORERS: Winter (62, 77)
YELLOW CARD: Meikle (71)
RED CARD: Hunt (86)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Matthew Bowman, Danny Devine (MacKenzie Ramos 63), Gregor Jordan, Paul Brown (c): Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Thomas Bragg, Josh Coley (Kieran Mitchell 63): Andy Ryan (Quinn Coulson 62), Lewis Sawers.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Burt (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Bragg (55)
REFEREE: Alan Macfadyen
WEATHER: Bright 12C
ATTENDANCE 80
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (away) v Ross County, Tuesday 8th October 2019, 1.00pm kick off at Highland Football Academy, Dingwall
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