Ross up for County clash

Ross Drummond: one assist and one goal sets up the 18 year old for SFA Youth Cup on Sunday.

Eighteen year old Ross Drummond is delighted to be a regular choice in the Dunfermline U20s team and the youth system can be pleased with the progress of the Kinghorn lad who has been with them since the under 10s.

It was John Short who brought young Ross to the Pars and he has been showered coaching experience upon by Gordon Arthur, Chris Candlish, David Bingham, Gordon Durie, Stevie Paterson and Hamish French. The Balwearie High School FP has always played on the left side either in midfield or at full back but in Monday night's 4-1 win over Hamilton Accies it was his attacking prowess that stood out.

Dunfermline Manager Jim Jefferies must have been pleased to see Ross receive a superb ball from his captain to set up Craig Dargo for the Pars second goal. Ross played it down when he spoke exclusively to the website:-

"It was mentioned before the game that he was watching but it did not change anything I just tried my hardest. It was a good ball from Shaun Byrne, he played it wide to set me free. Then I just saw wee Dargo and when I picked him out it was a great finish from him."

Having set up that one and played a vital part in a great defensive display to keep out a hungry Hamilton team, Ross then got on the scoresheet himself to seal the win just eleven minutes from full time.

"It was a counterattack; the third goal had killed the game and the fourth rubbed it in.. Wee Finn Graham put over a great ball, he put it on a plate for me and I just had to make the run to the back post.

"It was a great win, we played well together. It was hard in the first half but we got into it. Maybe it was against the run of play but we took them."

Ross is finding the tempo this season much faster under new coaches John Potter and Craig Dargo:- "The training is more intense but I am enjoying it. You couldn't ask for better coaching."

Next up for the youngster is the SFA Youth Cup trip to the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall to face Ross County on Sunday. The U20s won their league game there only five weeks ago by a convincing 6-1 scoreline but this time they will be without the ineligible Michal Hrivnak and Craig Dargo. The recent success is at the forefront of the team's mind and instils confidence  that they can overcome the disadvantage of being drawn away from home and the need to leave Dunfermline at nine o'clock on a Sunday morning. Ross thinks that Dunfermline should have enough quality to see Ross County off especially since they have players to come back from injury.