Reserves v Ross County
Tuesday, 18th Feb 2020SPFL Reserve League: Tuesday 18th February 2020, 2.00pm kick off at New Central Park, Kelty. Jack Murray (og 22) 1-0: James Wallace (25) 1-1: Josh Murray (30) 1-2: Ruari Fraser (77) 1-3:
DUNFERMLINE 1 ROSS COUNTY 3
it was a reserve team including several experience first team squad members that faced Ross County at New Central Park, Kelty on Tuesday afternoon. Cammy Gill was between the posts, Lewis Martin was in the centre of defence alongside Gregor Jordan with Paul Brown and Miller Fenton the full backs. Matty Todd and Joe Thomson made up the midfield with new signings Dylan Duncan and Scott Cusick. Upfront Cammy Graham played in behind Lewis McCann who had Northern Ireland’s Stephen Frail watching him.
Ross County fielded a young side that contained no one with any real first team game time.
The sun was shining and the pitch that had been white as a result of a snow shower pre match, was green by the time James Wallace kicked off for the visitors attacking the goal at the north end.
In fourth minutes Gregor Jordan did well to cut out a Wallace cut back reaching Joel Macbeath and the Pars immediately countered with Scott Cusick setting off to feed Cammy Graham. He played the ball out left from where Lewis McCann returned for Graham but his effort went wide left.
A Joe Thomson pass picked out Matty Todd but he too smashed his 11th minute effort from 20 yards out wide left.
Three minutes later a Josh Black cross was turned behind by Lewis Martin to give County the first corner of the afternoon but that was successfully defended. Another followed however four minutes later when Tom Kelly pushed up the right to tee up Macbeath and the Fifers were relieved to see that go out for a corner on the left. That again created no problems for the defence.
Dylan Duncan held possession in the centre circle to feed Cusick the pass and he in turn sent Miller Fenton racing up the left with the ball but the keeper Tommy Hodge dropped forward to hold the cross.
The Fifers went ahead in 22 minutes when County misread a fairly innocent ball into the box. Defender Josh Murray stuck out his foot and succeeded in clipping the ball over his keeper and into the net. 1-0
The Pars were to be ahead for not three minutes however. When the Staggies were awarded a free kick 25 yards out left of centre, WALLACE picked his spot top left to make it 1-1.
Five minutes later a Gregor Macdonald corner from the right was turned in at the near post to put MURRAY on the scoresheet for both teams. 1-2
Another speedy and forceful run by Fenton earned the home side a 35th minute corner on the left but the County defence got that away. A Thomson break allowed Cusick to cross from the left corner flag but the keeper came out to clutch the 43rd minute cross.
Half time: Dunfermline Reserves 1 Ross County Reserves 2
There was a patient build up by the Pars to create two quick fire chances in 47th minute. Thomson threaded a fine ball into the left side of the County box and when Fenton latched on your it his cross travelled to Paul Brown on the right and his well struck shot was beaten away by Hodge only for Graham to follow up and test the keeper again.
A corner on the left followed and when Fenton fired a strong effort on target the keeper again did well to keep the Pars out. Showing great bursts of speed, Fenton was getting over dangerous crosses but was out of luck with targets.
In 61 minutes it was all change with five Dunfermline subs and two Ross County. Off went Martin, Thomson, Duncan, Todd and McCann and on came Josh Robertson, Lucas Berry, Brogan Walls, Lewis Sawers and Kieran Mitchell. Ross County replaced Harvey Kane and Adam Mackinnon with Josh Reid and Jack Grant.
With fifteen minutes remaining Gill has to react fast to concede just a corner when Robertson misjudged a pass back. He then had to pull off a great save from Matthew Wright but in 77 minutes he could not prevent Ruari FRASER netting after an on target shot was deflected into the defender’s path. 1-3
Scott Cusick launched a good attempt on target but the keeper dived to his left to keep him out and at the other end there was a fine defensive header from Robertson. A further two Ross County subs were introduced in 84th minute but other than that there was nothing else to report as wet and windy weather returned followed by snow.
- - Listen to Greg Shields post match comments (apologies for background noise)
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Paul Brown (c), Gregor Jordan, Lewis Martin (Josh Robertson 61), Miller Fenton: Joe Thomson (Lucas Berry 61), Dylan Duncan (Lewis Sawers 61), Matty Todd (Brogan Walls 61), Scott Cusick: Cammy Graham, Lewis McCann (Kieran Mitchell 61).
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Swinton (GK)
SCORERS: Murray (og 22)
ROSS COUNTY: Tommy Hodge: Tom Kelly (Thomas Brady 84), Harvey Kane (Josh Reid 61), Ruari Fraser, Jack Murray, Declan Hughes, Adam Mackinnon (Jack Grant 61), Gregor Macdonald (Craig Mackenzie 84), Joel Macbeath, James Wallace, Josh Black (Matthew Wright 74).
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Williamson, Jamie Stephen.
SCORERS: Wallace (25), Murray (30), Fraser (77)
REFEREE: Craig Macrae
WEATHER: Wet windy 3C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (home) Tuesday 10th March 2020, 2.00pm. kick off at New Central Park, Kelty
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