Reserve Cup v Dundee
Monday, 2nd Dec 2019SPFL Reserve Cup: Danny Johnson (4) 1-0: Thomas Bragg (85) 1-1: Pars earned extra point by winning 3-2 on penalties
DUNDEE RESERVES 1 DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 1
Dunfermline won 3-2 on penalties
There was quite a contrast in the line ups for this Reserve Cup tie played at Station Park, Forfar on Monday afternoon. Dundee fielded former Pars player Shaun Byrne and the presence of Paul McGowan and Danny Johnson would prove tough for a Dunfermline side for whom 19 years and five day old Matty Bowman was the most senior.
The visitors kicked off and it was all towards the Dundee goal in the opening minutes. Dundee keeper Calum Ferrie’s first touch was in just eight seconds and from Matty Bowman’s first minute corner Matt Todd met the low ball in from the right but his effort narrowly cleared the bar.
Thing changed totally when Dundee took their first opportunity of the game. From corner on the left, the Pars defended but when the ball was played back into the box a flick by Byrne set up Danny JOHNSON to turn the ball past Ben Swinton in just the fourth minute. 1-0
The hosts continued to push and when Johnson ran on to a lofted ball from Luke Strachan, the striker lifted the ball over the outrushing Pars keeper and over the crossbar.
Lewis Sawers forced an 11th minute corner and when Bowman swung the ball over Thomas Bragg challenged for the cross but was unsuccessful.
Paul Brown had a good attempt in 18th minute but his volley from the edge of the box was chested away by Marton Hornyik. Another good opening came on 27 minutes when Bowman fed Sawers the ball deep down the right and Quinn Coulson met the cross but directed his effort wide right.
The offside flag was up when Dundee then hit the post. McGowan chipped their free kick from 35 yards out for Byrne to run in and hit but the whistle blew up play.
Nine minutes from the interval Michael Cunningham got a chance to fire a shot in from the right side of the penalty box but fortunately it cleared the left upright.
Then when Coulson burst into the left side of the opposition box Sam Fisher put the ball behind for a corner from the left. Bowman delivered and the diving fist of Ferie denied Josh Robertson and then Bragg had a header wide.
Half time: Dundee 1 Dunfermline 0
The second half started with another early Pars corner. Bowman was able to swing the ball over from the right for Coulson but he just couldn’t get high enough to head the ball home.
On 54 Todd made a strong cross field run to set up Cammy Graham but the keeper held his shot from the edge of the box. Three minutes later Miller Fenton turned Danny Strachan out on the left to make ground and deliver a cross that despite a high footed challenge, Lucas Berry tried to get his head on.
Graham then had a shot blocked as the Fifers were getting their chances. Dundee introduced three subs in 63rd minute, withdrawing their three senior players and just five minutes later lost Sam Fisher who went down in agony when his knee got caught in the surface.
After a six minute delay Fisher was stretchered off and Cammy Dow came on to replace him. Dunfermline introduced Lennon Watson and Fenton was moved upfront.
Keeper Ferie was made to save a low shot in 83 minutes when Fenton intercepted a Dundee pass and switched the ball cleverly for Sawers on his right to shoot.
A Pars goal came five minutes from the end of the regulation 90. Dundee let the ball run behind thinking it was a goal kick but the corner was awarded and when Bowman sent that high into the six yard box Thomas BRAGG headed home. 1-1
Both sides increased their urgency in search of a winner and despite Cunningham rattling the crossbar there was not to be one and the match went to penalties to decide which team got the extra point. The penalty shoot out went a# follows:-
1 Cunningham missed high over the bar.
2 Todd converted low into bottom left 0-1
3 Cameron netted to the right 1-1
4 Jordan down middle saved 1-1
5 McGrath high into top left 2-1
6 Sawers scores in right 2-2
7 Dow low shot turned on to post by Swinton 2-2
8 Bragg scored low right 2-3
9 Fleming saved by Swinton diving to his left 2-3
One match remains at home against Morton at the end of January but qualification is not possible.
- - Listen to Greg Shields post match comments
DUNDEE: Calum Ferie: Danny Strachan, Marton Hornyik, Sam Fisher (Cameron Dow 74), Luke Strachan (Josh Mulligan HT): Max Anderson, Shaun Byrne (Lyall Cameron 63), Paul McGowan (Kyle Fleming 63), Callum Moore: Danny Johnson (Grady McGrath 63), Michael Cunningham
SUBS NOT USED: Harrison Sharp, Adam Mansouri
SCORERS: Johnson (4)
YELLOW CARD: Cunningham (31), Johnson (60)
DUNFERMLINE: Ben Swinton: Matthew Bowman, Josh Robertson, Thomas Bragg, Miller Fenton, Matthew Todd, Paul Brown, Lucas Berry (Gregor Jordan 66): Cammy Graham: Lewis Sawers, Quinn Coulson (Lennon Watson 77)
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Bragg (85)
YELLOW CARD: Brown (21), Graham (56)
REFEREE: Chris Fordyce
WEATHER: Overcast 5C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League v Hamilton Academical (home) Tuesday 10 December 2019, kick off 2.00pm at New Central Park
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