Opportunity for Lewis

"Ryan Williamson, Lewis Martin, Ross Millen, Shaun Byrne have all been there and dome it but now it is my turn.

Lewis Spence is the latest young player to break into the first team and yet again Jim Jefferies has to be thankful for the fantastic ground work done to keep producing players that he can introduce to first team football.

Lewis had made three appearances as substitute but the game at Ayr on Saturday was his first ever start for the first team. It was also to be his first ever post match press interview but the 18 year old took that in his stride just as he had done with the 73 minutes that he played. He told the website:-

"Ryan Williamson, Lewis Martin, Ross Millen, Shaun Byrne have all been there and dome it but now it is my turn. Hopefully I can just get as many games and starts as I can. It has been great to get a start at Ayr."

The midfielder had made his debut as a 17 year old against Rangers in December and followed that up with two more appearances off the bench against Brechin City and East Fife.

"I got a rough indication that I might be playing because I wasn't playing for the under 20s on Tuesday. Thursday and Friday I kind of felt it was likely but John Potter texted me on Friday night to tell me that I was definitely starting. He said to rest up so I was happy.

"I wasn't really that nervous because I have come on a few times and I know what to expect. I got a wee bit nervous before the game but everything was alright so it was good."

With Jim Jefferies making six changes for the trip to Ayr really only Danny Grainger and Ross Forbes were the only players that he had rarely played with. Ryan Goodfellow was between the sticks, Millen, Martin and Young behind him are all a familiar defensive line up for Lewis.

"It was a tough game but we were confident going into the game. We thought that we did well , it was quite physical but I was happy to get the 70 minutes."

The midfielder from Crosshill made his way to Dunfermline via youth teams at Cowdenbeath, Hearts and Rangers but his  midfield partner on Saturday, Shaun Byrne, was another comfortable pairing for the youngster:-

"I played with Shaun a few times in the under 20s and he is a great player, he passes the ball about well and me and him do well in training so I really liked it. We dug in well and it was really good.

"We all linked in well and had the experience of Ross Forbes to help us out. We came out really fast in the second half, we got the goal and then had one  cleared off the line and I had a shot as well where I maybe should have done better.

"When they got their goal they came back into it and made it tough for us. We couldn't really get out but we should have had the game dead and buried in the first fifteen minutes of the second half."

Next up is the trip to Arbroath where the opposition are in the automatic relegation spot but only one point behind ninth placed East Fife. Lewis is well aware that the selection decisions are made by Jim Jefferies. Lewis grandparents went down to Somerset Park to support Lewis since his parents couldn't be there. Both his parents and grandparents have been influential in his development and so he hopes his parents will get a chance to see him start soon:-

"Whatever happens with the changes it is up to the gaffer. I am just happy to have had a start on Saturday and hopefully I get another one before the season ends. I will try my best and its up to the gaffer at the end of the day."