2013: Morton 0 Dunfermline 1

Memorable Match #88
IRN BRU First Division
Cappielow
Saturday 13th April 2013

With four matches remaining Jim Jefferies efforts to keep Dunfermline in the Championship relied heavily on youth. Following the club going into administration, his squad was decimated and when he selected the team to face Morton at Cappielow in mid April, Chris Kane and Ryan Thomson were the only players surviving from the thirteen used in the home match against Morton just seven weeks earlier.

From the side that lost to Hamilton Accies the previous Saturday, the Pars were further hampered by injuries to Andy Geggan and Callum Morris (hamstring) and their selection problems were compounded by the suspension of Stephen Husband. That meant that John Potter, child of the seventies, came into a side whose dates of birth were separated by a decade.

With just four over age players (Hrivnak, Falkingham, Thomson and Potter) it was virtually an Under 20s team that Dunfermline started off with.

Jim Jefferies` Babes were to take the lead in ten minutes after Alex Whittle`s interception just inside the opposition half set up Allan Smith. The young striker took on the `Ton defence and as he made ground into the penalty box slipped the ball right for Ryan THOMSON to score the opening goal. A great way to celebrate his 22nd birthday and the Pars were 1-0 up.

Morton had the ball in the net eight minutes later when a long throw in from Scott Taggart was met in the box for a Morton strike but the ball beat Michal Hrivnak off David O`Brien in an offside position. The keeper had to palm a Kyle Wilkie header over his crossbar and then held the corner when it was played in from the right.

On the half hour Smith forced a corner on the right and Potter was not far away from getting his head to Millen`s delivery. Despite still in with some hope of promotion, Morton looked decidedly nervous and let Dunfermline do more attacking than their supporters and manager were happy with.

When a Mark McLaughlin free kick slipped through to former Par, David Graham, Potter was called upon to put in a crucial header. Dunfermline then looked comfortable with territorial advantage before the half time whistle. Nineteen year old Kerr Young had a half chance from a Millen corner but to go in one up with such a young team was a great achievement. Whatsmore for those Pars fans fortunate to witness the Babes play, there was optimism for the second 45.

Half time: Morton 0 Dunfermline 1

Morton started the second half strongly with the Pars forced back. Manager Allan Moore threw on Aidan Fulton and Archie Campbell as the home side went to three at the back and prepared to have a go at the Fifers. Graham had a looping cross that landed on the roof of the Pars net. Then a free kick that had earned Kane a yellow card was floated into the Pars box and McLaughlin`s knock down just evaded MacDonald.

As the game entered its final quarter Whittle went down in the box but there was no real appeals for a penalty but minutes later Smith robbed Taggart out on the left and homed in on goal. The youngster chose to shoot from an acute angle and hit the sidenetting. A cut back for Thomson might have been a much better option.

Wilkie sent a dangerous inswinging free kick through the Pars box in 72 minutes but Morton were now going forward in waves and you had to fear for the visitors. The Pars fans were applauding all the defensive efforts. Hrivnak tipped a header over the bar and then Fulton sent an attempt over the bar.

Jim Jefferies gives Lewis Martin first team debut less than a week after his 17th birthday

Hrivnak kept out a cross in 88 minutes that was net bound off Potter and then McLaughlin headed narrowly wide. The Pars keeper then held a low drive and dealt with a 93rd minute corner. There was still time for Morton to pass over their best chance of the day with MacDonald remarkably sending his effort over the bar from six yards.

What a performance from the young boys and a great win at Cappielow. Only downside, Cowdenbeath managed a 1-0 win at Starks Park.

MORTON: Derek Gaston; Scott Taggart, Jordan Halsman (Archie Campbell 62), Craig Reid, Mark McLaughlin, Kyle Wilkie, David O`Brien (Aidan Fulton 60), Tony Wallace, Fouad Bachirou (David Graham 29), Peter MacDonald, Colin McMenamin.
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin Rutkiewicz, David Hutton (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Wilkie (68)

DUNFERMLINE: Michal Hrivnak, Ross Millen, Kerr Young, John Potter, Grant Munro, Alex Whittle (Ross Drummond 81); Chris Kane, Shaun Byrne, Josh Falkingham (c), Allan Smith (Lewis Martin 91), Ryan Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Blair Henderson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).
SCORERS: Thomson (10)
YELLOW CARD: Kane (65)

REFEREE: Euan Norris
WEATHER: Fine 11C
ATTENDANCE 1634

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