Dunfermline 2 Clydebank 1
Saturday, 27th Nov 1999SFL First Division:
Stevie Crawford (32) 1-0:
Stewart Petrie (41) 2-0:
Danny McKelvie (83) 2-1:
To homeless Clydebank the trip to Dunfermline was the First Division equivalent of going to Rangers To the bottom of the league club pitching up to face the title favourites the match was one to approach with caution and damage limitation.
Dunfermline were without Chris McGroarty out through a hamstring injury, so Eddie May returned at right back, Scott Thomson was switched to left back and Hamish French came into midfield for the injured David Moss and Steve Hampshire found himself once again on the subs bench.
Clydebank took the kick off towards the town end and their mediocrity was immediately in evidence as they blatantly kicked for touch below the West wing of the main stand.
One way traffic for most of the first half started in the 2nd minute when Owen Coyle converted a Steve Crawford cross over the crossbar. Next Coyle set up Crawford but could only win a corner as he was quickly closed down.
Andy Tod headed Stewart Petrie`s corner over the bar, Twelve minutes gone and Brian Reid cut into the opposition penalty box and blasted a shot high over the target. In the space of a minute (24th and 25th) first Coyle provided a chance for May and then May for Coyle but both attempts followed the previous ones over the crossbar
Just after the half hour a throw in in front of the 75 Clydebank fans in the North Stand (East) was worked through Petrie and Coyle to give CRAWFORD a low drive into Colin Scott`s net. 1-0
After 37 minutes a good Scott Thomson cross worried the Bankies defence but neither Owen Coyle or Eddie May could connect. The second goal did come however just four minutes later Another speedy break down the left by Thomson allowed Coyle to cross for Stewart PETRIE to score with a header that looped over Scott.
Half time: Dunfermline 2 Clydebank 0
Clydebank regrouped and came out fighting in the second half as they had done in the game earlier in the season at Cappielow. The Pars found it difficult to get anywhere near the Bankies goal with 61 minutes gone before Hamish French`s cross from the right was parried out by Scott and Thomson skied the subsequent chance.
Ian Westwater was brought into action two minutes later as a Clydebank free kick cleared a five man Dunfermline wall From the corner Eddie May was forced to clear off the line as Clydebank`s optimism grew.
Steve Crawford had a good burst down the right, Eddie May was denied a shot with a timely tackle on the 18 yard line Stewart Petrie fired the ball back across the goalmouth but Owen Coyle`s diving header went passed the post.
The Pars luck continued to elude them as a Owen Coyle corner found Andy Tod and when the ball broke to Brian Reid the ball was sent over the crossbar again.
In one of the best displays of skill of the afternoon, Crawford released Stewart Petrie down the left wing but he was drowned with boos as he failed to get the cross in for the awaiting French and Coyle Ten minutes from the end Crawford provided a sitter for Coyle but the striker failed to take it and then May had a good shot saved.
Clydebank had introduced all three of their substitutes by the 73rd minute and Jimmy Nicholl was taking stick for not following their example. The caretaker manager is on record in Kirkcaldy for not favouring substitutions and in all his four matches in charge Hampshire for Petrie with four minutes left in this match was his first change that may have been made for tactical reasons.
It was the visitors 58th minute sub, Danny McKelvie who claimed the Clydebank goal with seven minutes remaining A Peter Cormack cross from the left broke off the sub rattled the crossbar and far post before bouncing back into play. All 22 players thought little of it but the stand side linesman flagged a goal and in delayed reaction the travelling support started celebrating a goal that left the other spectators in eerie bewilderment.
The final whistle was met with more boos as Dunfermline walked off with the three points in difficult circumstances Their second half display certainly didn`t match the first 45 If some of the second half chances had been taken however Dunfermline could have won by a lot more.
SUBS NOT USED: Potter, Graham
SCORERS: Crawford (32), Petrie (41)
CLYDEBANK: Colin Scott: N Oliver, Lee Gardner, Kenny Brannigan James McKinstry (Scott Murdoch 50), Peter Cormack, Fraser Wishart, Ian Cameron, Kris O`Neil (Danny McKelvie 58), Michael Geraghty (Greig Miller 74), C Trialist.
SUBS NOT USED:
REFEREE: C Hardie
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 4224
NEXT MATCH: League v Ayr United (away) Saturday 4th December 1999
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