Jacko heading to the top

Jackson Longridge’s second minute header was enough to send Dunfermline to the top of their Betfred Cup group.

Jackson Longridge felt it was ‘unreal’ to score from his first run forward and put the Pars 1-0 ahead against Dundee in just 1 minute 50 seconds:-

“Ryan Williamson played an unbelievable ball that he just hung up for me at the far post. As it was coming in I knew that I just had to go and attack this. Luckily enough it hit my head and went in.

“It was an unbelievable game, good to test yourself against top opposition like Dundee. They are a strong and physical side but I felt that we competed very well right to the very end. We created half chances and Myles (Hippolyte) had opportunities to score as well but all round I thought that we were decent.

“Everybody was working hard for each other and you can see the team starting to gel together. I am looking forward to the season starting. It should be a good season to kick on and hopefully I will get promoted as well.”

Promotion for the 24 year old who left play off winners Livingston to join Dunfermline on 1st June would mean winning back to back promotions (from the Championship). He hopes that he will soon get the taste of playing in the Scottish Premiership:-

“This is a good stepping stone to see where the team is at and see where I am at. It is looking positive and I am looking forward to it.

“I felt that the ball just kept coming at me. I was trying to get a breather, I made a few runs forward but it is always good to get on the ball and get forward. I felt that I got a lot of opportunities to go forward but looking back, just a few crosses that I can correct.”

Jackson didn’t want to be hard on himself picking out faults and he is right because his contribution was considerable. There was another opportunity for him near the end and he commented:-

“I thought there was going to be glory again. It just caught me as I went too early. It is important that the deliveries keep coming. Ryan is similar to me, he gets up and down, likes going forward and he is a good player. If he keep assisting me I will just keep putting them in the net.

“I am looking forward to kicking on now. Hopefully I keep playing as well and get the full 90 minutes. Fitness is still coming and with a bit of match sharpness and we will be looking good.

“I felt good and though they hung on to the ball a bit, we were sharper and could sit and hope that we could catch them on the break. We were just unlucky a few times but that will come with match sharpness.

“It is looking positive going forward and good to be sitting top of the group table.”

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