1996: Dunfermline 3 Raith Rovers 1

Memorable Match #85
Scottish Premier League
East End Park
Saturday 28th September 1996

The first ever Premier Division Fife derby may not have produced much in the way of a good football but there were a few complaints from anyone in black-and-white following a spirited and emphatic 3-1 victory for the Pars.

Andy Smith supplied the first chance, latching on to a Gery Britton knock down to chip a defender and then head on for Stewart Petrie on the left side of the Rovers box from where he thrashed a ball across the goal and out at the far post.

Despite having almost total control, Dunfermline had difficulty finding their rhythm, particularly during the opening 45 minutes which felt more like a cup tie though with very few goalscoring opportunities.

Pars keeper Zoran Lemajic had a quiet debut until a rare Rovers incursion into the home penalty area brought a spectacular punched clearance from the Montenegrin keeper and a brief moment of entertainment for the crowd of 8634.

Derek Fleming had an attempt from a free kick on the right that Bobby Geddes held at the base of the near post.

Then in first half injury time, the Pars suddenly conjured up the move which led to the opening goal. French sent Clark charging down the right and he swept the ball towards goal, Dennis headed away to the left, where Petrie deftly centred from the beeline for BRITTON to nod home his sixth of the season.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0

The lead was wiped out within 90 seconds of the restart. Trinidadian international Tony Rogier had been well marshalled by Tod and Den Bieman but he was still Raith’s most dangerous player and a typical piece of trickery enabled him to elude Tod and send over across which TWADDLE headed in at the back post. 1-1

The Rovers enjoyed their longest spell of pressure in the four minutes it took for Dunfermline to restore the lead pouncing on to a short pass inside the box, Britton wrong footed a couple of Raith defenders and fired a shot against the bar. The rebound fell nicely for FRENCH who headed past the two defenders on the line. 2-1

The former Dundee United striker then hit the post with another headed effort from a Den Bieman cross before the Rovers stage a late rally. Scott Thomson crosses from near the right corner flag and Duffield found himself unmarked in the box but the relief of the home support his header drifted wide.

Earlier in the week Bert Paton had described Marc Millar as possibly the most talented player at East End Park and the midfielder did his best to live up to that in a superb seven minute cameo after replacing man of the match Gerry Britton, who left the field to a standing ovation.

Millar’s cheeky chip sent Fleming clear of the Raith defence but while a simple past to the ever alert French would have wrapped up the points, the left back elected to go for glory and blasted the ball wildly over.

The decisive goal finally arrived three minutes into injury time. Smith played MILLAR through and even though French was again in support, the substitute went on his own to beat the keeper with a beautiful shot that curled just inside the right goalpost.

Assistant Manager Dick Campbell commented after the match:-

“It’s great to win in a local derby, but especially when it is the first in the Premier League. I always felt that we were the stronger side although I didn’t think we played particularly well. I was pleased that we were able to lift our game in the second half. The most important thing is for us to win the games against teams around us.”

DUNFERMLINE: Zoran Lemajic: Colin Miller, Derek Fleming, Ivo Den Bieman, Andy Tod, John Clark, Hamish French, Craig Robertson, Andy Smith, Gerry Britton (Marc Millar 83), Stewart Petrie
SUBS NOT USED: David Bingham, Ian Westwater (GK)
SCORERS: Britton, French, Millar
YELLOW CARDS: Tod, Miller

RAITH ROVERS: Bobby Geddes: Steve Kirk, Paul Bonar (Paul Harvey 77), Miodrag Krivokapic, Shaun Dennis, Kevin Twaddle (Greig McCulloch 77), Alex Taylor, John Millar, Peter Duffield, Danny Lennon (Scott Thomson 50), Tony Rougier.
SCORER: Twaddle
YELLOW CARD: Kirk

ATTENDANCE: 8634

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