Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

Reserves v Celtic

Tuesday, 22nd Oct 2019

SPFL Reserve Cup: Joe Thomson made his return. Cameron Harper (23) 0-1:

DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 0 CELTIC RESERVES 1

On Tuesday afternoon a strong Dunfermline Athletic Reserves took on Celtic Reserves at East End Park in the SPFL Reserve Cup. With Ryan Scully in goal, the Pars line up included first team squad players Tom Beadling, Danny Devine, Stuart Morrison, Gabby McGill and Josh Coley. In addition the starting line up included Joe Thomson making his first competitive appearance since surgery on his cruciate ligament.

The Celtic team, which had won both their Reserve Cup matches this far, included 16 year old Karamoko Dembele and 17 year old Armstrong Oko-Flex.

Dunfermline kicked off but within the first minute Scott Robertson fired Celtic’s first attempt over the bar at the McCathie Stand end. The home side were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and from the right Matty Bowman tried to find Devine at the far post but a Celtic head cleared.

Two minutes later a similar free kick again from Bowman was headed out as far as Thomson, his shot came back for him to have another crack but this time the effort went wide right.

Cameron Harper broke in on the right side of the Pars box but his 16th minute shot was defended by Devine and taken by Scully. Then a Liam Burt free kick was headed over by Daniel Church.

Coley countered for the Fifers but his shot from the left corner of the Celtic box went way over. The on loan Norwich City player next gave away a free kick for his challenge on Lee O’Connor on the right side 20 yards out and when Robertson swung that over Scully could not hold and Cameron HARPER netted from ten yards out. 0-1

On the half hour Church made a timely intervention as Thomson tried to pick out McGill in a forward area. Back at the other end Morrison then slid in to deny Burt the break on the edge of his box and Celtic had a 33rd minute free kick that Oko-Flex drove into the wall and Burt stuck the rebound over the bar.

Five more minutes and another Celtic free kick 30 yards out. An intricate move from Burt to Coffey saw the ball lifted into the box but Scully gathered ahead of any possible danger. Celtic’s first corner, five minutes from the interval was well cleared by Miller Fenton and then Scully came out to hold a Burt free kick.

Burt has a shot from 25 yards out but Devine took the sting out of the shot for Scully to take easily. There is little doubt that Celtic had the greater share of possession and territory in the first half. The Pars had defended well and would be aggrieved at conceding a rather soft goal

Half time: Dunfermline Reserves 0 Celtic Reserves 1

Half time substitutes for Dunfermline were Paul Brown and Cammy Graham replacing Joe Thomson and Matty Bowman. Celtic continued to press and Brown headed away a decent delivery into the Pars box.

Morrison was the second Pars man to be yellow carded when he halted Burt’s run 25 yards out and Dembele fired the 60th minute setpiece narrowly wide left. Dunfermline’s first real attack of the half was then created by Brown with a strong run up the right touch line punctuated by a fine cross that Celtic did well to clear ahead of Coley.

Next 18 year old keeper Mullen failed to take from a Brown free kick and McGill’s header was cleared in front of an empty net by O’Connor.

There was a fantastic block by Devine to close out a Burt effort that looked sure to burst the net before Harper had the ball in the net but fortunately the offside flag had been raised.

Brown halted Oko-Flex out on the left to concede a 73rd minute free kick but it was a weak back pass by Thomas Bragg that had Scully racing out to clear.

Josh Robertson had replaced Tom Beadling and with fourteen minutes remaining Quinn Coulson came on for Josh Coley. Just as Dunfermline had managed to get some possession going in the middle of the park, Dembele popped a good effort just over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

The Fifers pressed for an equaliser with Kieran Mitchell gathering a long ball up the right by McGill. McGill then received the ball back to swing over a cross towards the awaiting Robertson and Coulson. The latter’s header deflected behind off O’Connor. This and a subsequent added time corner were defended and Celtic saw the tie out to win 1-0.

- - Listen to the post match thoughts of Greg Shields

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Matthew Bowman (Paul Brown HT), Danny Devine, Thomas Bragg, Miller Fenton: Stuart Morrison, Joe Thomson (Cameron Graham HT) Tom Beadling (Josh Robertson 65), Josh Coley (Quinn Coulson 76): Gabby McGill, Lewis Sawers (c) (Kieran Mitchell 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Jordan, Ben Swinton (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Devine (20), Morrison (59)

CELTIC: Ryan Mullen: Lee O`Connor, Brody Paterson, Daniel Church, Dave McKay, Barry Coffey, Karamoko Dembele (Conor McBride 90), Scott Robertson (Leo Mazis 61), Cameron Harper, Liam Burt (Grant Savoury 82), Armstrong Oko-Flex.
SUBS NOT USED: Finn McRobb, Liam Hughes, Ben Wylie
SCORERS: Harper (23)

REFEREE: Kyle Hall
WEATHER: Cloudy 11C
ATTENDANCE 166

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (home) v Dundee United, Tuesday 5th November 2019, kick off 2.00pm at New Central Park, Kelty.

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