1989: Dunfermline 5 St Mirren 1

Memorable Match #98
Scottish First Division
East End Park
Saturday 14th October 1989

If any Pars supporters had lingering doubts about the effectiveness of Istvan Kozma they would have been well and truly obliterated after this match. Dunfermline produced a a superb second half performance with the icing on the cake being a sublime hat-trick by the 24 year old Hungarian.

After spending ten days away playing for his country and arranging his family’s move to Scotland, Kozma at least had a reason for his first half anonymity but his colleagues had no such excuses. The visitors took the lead through their own import, Icelandic striker, Gudmundur TORFASON. Raymond Sharp fouled Walker and from twenty yards who curled home a brilliantly taken free kick over the wall and past Ian Westwater. 0-1

The visitors could have had a couple more before Dunfermline were awarded a 36th minute penalty. Ross JACK earned and scored a penalty. 1-1

With the hard working Paul Smith and Stuart Rafferty taking a grip of midfield, the Pars at last began to show some class and went ahead before half-time when JACK rose at the back post to power home a Kozma corner for his tenth of the season.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 St Mirren 1

An unsatisfactory performance led to some harsh words being spoken in the dressing room and a more purposeful Athletic re-emerged to demoralise St Mirren by scoring within 40 seconds. George O’Boyle capitalised on a mistake to neatly sidestep Campbell Money and cut the ball back for KOZMA to net his first goal for the club. 3-1

For the next 12 minutes the Pars played some sublime football as Kozma, Jack and O’Boyle ran riot, revelling in the service from a dominant midfield. In 54 minutes KOZMA collected the ball inside his own half, released Jack down the right with a perfectly-weighted pass and sprinted 40 yards to take the return, timing his run superbly to sweep home and an exquisite right-footed half volley. The Dunfermline Press claimed it must have been the best goal seen at East End Park in years. 4-1

Vintage stuff but there was more to come. The Hungarian then completed a sensational hat-trick by unleashing a ferocious left footed drive that flew into the roof of the net from 30 yards. 5-1. Having taken a slight knock Kozma was withdrawn near the end to a standing ovation from every Dunfermline supporter in the crowd of 7656. This was to be his only hattrick for the Pars but what a hattrick it was!

Midfielder Istvan Kozma was signed from Bordeaux for an all-time record fee of £540,000 in September 1989

With the game won Dunfermline shifted down a gear while St Mirren tried to salvage some pride, though their efforts lacked conviction. Their misery was complete when Torfason won a penalty and took himself, only to see Westwater make the save.

DUNFERMLINE: Ian Westwater: Graeme Robertson, Doug Rougvie, Norrie McCathie, Grant Tierney, Ray Sharp, Paul Smith, Stiart Tafferty, Ross Jack, George O’Boyle, Istvan Kozma (David Irons).
SCORERS: Jack (36 pen. 42), Kozma (46, 54, 58).

ST MIRREN: Campbell Money: Tommy Wilson, Tom Black, Keith Walker (Paul Chalmers), Roddy Manley, David Winnie, Billy Davies, Brian Martin, Gudmundur Torfason, Mark McWalter (George Shaw), Peter Weir.
SCORER: Thorfason

REFEREE: WR Morrison, Carluke
ATTENDANCE: 7656

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