Kevin Harper Clinches Pars Victory

"We didn't really look a threat in the first half whereas in the second half every time we went forward we looked like

Kevin Harper's first goal for Dunfermline came just two minutes from the end of the game against Stirling Albion. With only ten men and time running out the goal from a spectacular flying header was very welcome. Kevin gave his reflections on the match:-

"I think we played much better in the second half. We had been a little slow and sloppy but in the second half we upped the tempo and went at them. We thoroughly deserved the win."

The half time interval clearly made a difference, what had Stephen Kenny said?

"He said we had to pick it up a bit and that he wasn't happy with what had gone on in the first half. If we picked it up then we could go on and win the game. That's the way I'm putting it anyway" joked Kevin masking the fact that the Manager's words had been somewhat stronger.

"It was a roasting, the Manager was disappointed with what he saw first half and rightly so. Second half we played much better. We were very very slow in moving the ball in the first half. It didn't work too well in the first half getting it wide and getting bodies in the box. We didn't really look a threat in the first half whereas in the second half every time we went forward we looked like we could score."

Relief was shared all around East End Park with Kevin's 88th minute goal:-

"It was good because after Scotty got sent off you think here we go again after what has happened in previous weeks but we worked really hard in the second half and got our rewards."

For Kevin that was his 33rd goal in senior football but do many come from the head of the 5'6" player?

"I have scored a few, not too many" and do they come any sweeter? Kevin recalled a goal he put passed David James on 7th November 1998 that resulted in a 2-1 win for Derby at Anfield:-

"Maybe one against Liverpool was sweet but it was nice especially after going down to ten men and given the start to the season that we have had. Hopefully these three points will give us a big boost in confidence and make us realise that we have to start every game the way we started the second half.

"It has not been the best of weeks for me, obviously the driving ban from getting caught in January, it is disappointing for me but at the end of the day it was a crime and I have to do my time."

He added that following his conviction for doing 105mph on the M74, he would be relying on his west of Scotland team mates to get him through to Dunfermline for the next four months.