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Youngsters Iain Williamson and Sean Murdoch savour their night on the big stage

Manchester United Coach Mike Phelan talked about his side's work rate and how the likes of Paul Scholes had recovered from injury.

"The Manager likes to throw these kind of games in before the season starts and it has worked out pretty well. We gave a few young players a lift tonight by playing them so we can thankfully say that we have enough players to cope with a long hard season."

Mike smiled at the question if he would now be expressing an interest in any Dunfermline players?

"You never know. I don't know the state of affairs with the players here but some of the players who came on, particularly the winger - the wide player - he has got a bit of pace. I'm not sure about his pass to Wayne at the end though, it was generous to say the least. We follow all the clubs."

At 19 years of age Iain Williamson calmly accepted taking the pitch against Manchester United on Wednesday in Scott Thomson's Testimonial match, nevertheless it was a very excited young man who expressed his feelings as he left the stadium after the match:-

"You always hope that one day something like that will happen but maybe unbelievable to face Manchester United at East End Park. It was brilliant, a great experience up against Mikael Sylvestre but you just focus on what you are going to do."

What had most impressed Iain?

"You know that you are playing Man United and it had that edge to it with a full house. Their sharpness and they were very quick on the ball and move it very quickly. They are very rarely caught in possession either, it is always wee balls through. Three of their goals were balls through, they have broken through and just run in on goal. Their movement up front and their passing is just excellent.

"We have got to learn from that, especially young players like me. To see what they do and hopefully impersonate them and use it to help us.

"It took a while to get into it with their pace but once we got going it was really enjoyable. I felt we were given space to move the ball. Hamilton was very physical on Saturday but Manchester United want to pass the ball and not play many long balls. That gave us the opportunity to play and it was a great park out there for playing on. It was possibly the best in the SPL last year and I am sure it will be best in the league this year.

Sean Murdoch was prepared for the big match and had been advised by his Manager Stephen Kenny a few weeks ago that he would start this match. Roddy McKenzie was celebrating his 32nd birthday on Wednesday but Sean's selection was unlikely for reasons that the Manager did not want Roddy's night to be spoiled by a barrage of United goals. Roddy made way just to give Sean some serious match practice and he certainly got that.

"It was a big boost for me. You don't think about it much and then when you are walking out side by side you are thinking you are playing against Rooney, Giggs and that - you might never get a chance like that again in your life. It was a great experience.

"On the pitch they were a different class. You watch it on telly but you do not actually realise it until you play against them how good they really are. They kept working for the full 90 minutes everyone of them.

"When the second goal went in Giggs just dinked it, me and Scott Thomson just looked at each other as much to say 'what do you do?' It's a good one to throw you in at the deep end. I appreciated it and I loved it.

"My main aim is to start number one every week but Roddy has been doing well and has that shirt just now. I just need to keep him on his toes."

Sean Murdoch pulled down Darren Fletcher for the second half penalty and was in no doubt that he would have been shown red had it not been a testimonial match.

"Me and Darren Fletcher just smiled at each other. I just wanted to bring him down to hopefully save Rooney's penalty but that didn't happen. I didn't watch where he put his on Sunday. I thought he might do the cheeky dink but he is a good player and it was a good penalty. He was looking different ways but didn't really give any clues where he was going to put it.

"I made a save from him in the first half but I didn't have too many saves to make to be honest."