U19s v East Fife

Hamish French's boys win Fife Youth Cup beating all comers at St Andrews

DUNFERMLINE 1 EAST FIFE 0

After wins over Raith Rovers, Burntisland Shipyard and Cowdenbeath, a draw would was going to be good enough for Dunfermline to win the trophy but nothing less than victory was going to be good enough for this Pars side for whom winning has become a good habit.

Alan McDonough fired the first shot of the evening over the bar in just 90 seconds and the East Fife keeper snatched a McBride corner off the head of Davie Muir in the 4th minute. Scott McBride was unlucky in the next move when Calum Smith set up McDonough and the keeper's save was gathered off the back of the big no.11. McDonough was set up again by Smith two minutes later when the striker laid off a penetrating ball from Sandy Nairn into the path of his co-striker. Unfortunately the screaming shout was wide to the left of the Methil mens goal.

In the 19th minute Muir's progress towards the East Fife goal was halted 25 yards out giving Iain Williamson a pop at goal from the free kick but the wall did its job (picture below). The Pars kept up the pressure with Sean Muhsin racing down the right to check and then send a square ball over that McBride lifted towards the right side of goal but the keeper pulled off a good save to tip the ball around the post.

A clever switch across the pitch from Muhsin to McBride was switched to McDonough and with great determination he worked the opening to cross from the left, unfortunately the finishing couldn't match the build up. Smith head wide in 29 minutes after more fine invention from Muhsin and McDonough before the best chance so far saw McBride's free kick rebound off the corner of right post and crossbar. As Dearden, Smith and McDonough tried to turn the loose ball in the East Fife keeper scrambled back to gather.

The teams turned around without any score and at the start of the second half East Fife tried hard to get the opener. In particular Robert Cargill was giving the young defence some severe trouble but the Pars denied them anything from their push before attack resumed up the hill towards the East Fife goal.

McBride was strong up the left and he delivered a cross that Smith forced the keeper to save. Muir fed Muhsin but his effort was headed away before what turned out to be the match winner duly arrived in 57 minutes. A simple cross from the right eluded the punch of the keeper as he came forward and the ball dropped kindly for McBRIDE to drill into the net.

After that Dunfermline should have been coasting but they required the best from their Scotland U19 squad keeper, Greg Paterson to keep them ahead. Six minutes from time Paterson made a good fisted clearance and then had to save a rocket of a shot returned from 30 yards out. Further attempts from Muir, McDonough and Smith failed to alter the scoreline and with four wins out of four no one could stop the Pars retaining their trophy.

Coach Hamish French was very pleased with his team's success:-

"We have played a lot of good football. It just shows, none of the games were as easy as the scoreline sometimes suggested. We have been stressing to the guys to keep playing football and to take your chances when they come at one end and then defend properly at the other. We have seen how easy it is to dominate a game and then lose daft goals that bring the scorelines closer.

"They have all been difficult games and the boys deserve a lot of credit because they were in training this morning as well. They played a practice match against the first team for forty minutes. It has been hard work and every game posed its own problems. The Cowdenbeath game last night was a sticky game, especially early on when Greg had to make a few good saves but as I stress to the boys if you keep playing and keep working hard you get your rewards."

The team completed the four matches having scored nine goals and conceded two; their reward a fine cut glass trophy and chips on the way home!

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Paterson (c); Gary Leighton, Stuart Dearden, John McCulloch, Sandy Nairn; Sean Muhsin (Neil Fenwick (70), Davie Muir, Iain Williamson, Scott McBride; Calum Smith, Alan McDonough
SUBS NOT USED: Clark Kay, Patrick Halpin
SCORER: McBride (57)

WEATHER: Fine 15?C
NEXT MATCH: Wednesday 16th August v Rangers 3.00pm at Fleet Ground

Winning Squad: Clark Kay, Iain Williamson, Kris Maxwell, Gary Leighton, Greg Paterson, Calum Smith, Scott McBride, Stuart Dearden,, Neil Fenwick
Front Row: Patrick Halpin, Sandy Nairn, Davie Muir, Alan McDonough, Sean Muhsin, Derek Howie and John McCulloch