Reserves v Hearts

Tuesday, 20th Mar 2007

Scott Muirhead cashes in on Phinn`s quick thinking to shoot Pars into lead

HEARTS 1 DUNFERMLINE 1

Hearts looked to be really up for this SPL Reserve match played at Tynecastle on Tuesday lunchtime. Sean Mackle and David Templeton both had off target attempts before Greg Paterson had to pull off a fine save from Mackle. An aerial ball from Kestutis Ivaskevicius had set up the Scotland U17 internationalist but Paterson too, displayed his international rating with the sixth minute save.

The action was all towards the Dunfermline goal at this stage with Hearts benefiting from a stiff wind on their backs. Paterson saved at the feet of an attacker and then saved another from the edge of the box.

It was 32nd minute before Nick Phinn got a shot in for Dunfermline, after accepting a nice Mark Burchill lay off. Iain Williamson was next to threaten but Haralovic Bjornsson came out to gather although there were suspicions that he was outside his box.

Paterson was called upon to save again before a 38th minute cross from Scott Muirhead into the danger area was well held by the Icelandic keeper. The visitors showed signs of getting back into the match before the break with Bobby Ryan also testing the keeper.

The second half was a different story with the Fifers having most of the play. A 20 yard free kick driven low and hard, was well held by Bjornsson at his left hand post. Then four minutes later in 56th minute, a Daquin run and cross found Burchill at the near post but the keeper again saved the on target shot.

Nick Phinn hit the crossbar from the edge of the Hearts box after he and Burchill had played a neat 1-2 before Dunfermline took the lead in 69 minutes. Williamson was fouled midway inside the Hearts half but the alertness of Phinn sent the ball into the path of MUIRHEAD from the quickly taken free kick and the former Don found the far corner of the net with a good low shot from 15 yards.

The Pars were in more control now and Paterson was not being troubled. A Phinn shot and then one from Daquin after an impressive run and 1-2, were both saved.

Just when the points looked to be heading back across the Forth, Hearts scored out of the blue. A Dumitru Copil free kick deep in the visitors` right back position was returned from the far post and Ryan McGOWAN arrived unmarked at the left post to score.

Paterson was called upon to save at point blank range when a Copil corner was headed goalwards by McGowan to ensure that some justice was earned with a draw. The point was not enough however to lift them off 12th place in the league.

HEARTS: Haralovic Bjornsson, Shaun Kelly, John Armstrong, Hristos Karipidis (Ryan McGowan, 67), Matthew Park, John Neill, Kestutis Ivaskevicius (Kostadinov, 80), Eggert Jonsson, Dumitru Copil, Sean Mackle (Forker, 70), David Templeton.
SUBS NOT USED: Amos, Dale Baxter, Edward Mearns.
SCORERS: McGowan (82)

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Paterson; Freddie Daquin, Aaron Labonte, Neil Fenwick, Clark Kay; Bobby Ryan, Jamie McCunnie, Nick Phinn, Scott Muirhead; Iain Williamson (Calum Smith 71), Mark Burchill
SUBS NOT USED: Darren Stewart (GK), Alan McDonough, John McCulloch, Derek Howie
SCORERS: Muirhead (69)

REFEREE: Graham Chambers
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: (away) v Falkirk, Tuesday 27th March 2007

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