U20s v Ross County

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MATCH PICTURES
The U20s played their second match in three days when they faced Ross County on Thursday afternoon at a chilly East End Park. Early on the Pars had chances, firstly Lewis Martin headed at keeper Sean McCarthy and then Scott Gray ran on to a through ball only for the keeper to save low to his right.

County forced a few corners and also had a chance from a free kick but two goals in a quarter of a hour period before half time won the game for them. The first goal was scored by Steven ROSS who evaded his marker on the left and finished from close in on 25 minutes.

Goodfellow was further tested before he was beaten in 39 minutes. This time ROSS's looping header caught the keeper out and the Pars were 2-0 down.

Jack Bruce broke his nose in his attempts to keep his opponent from putting in the header but came out second best.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Ross County 2

Under instructions to go forward a bit more Dunfermline put in a good second half performance. The full backs got higher up the park and tried to create a three man attack.

Declan O'Kane was unfortunate in 49 minutes when his cut back found no takers. Scott Mercer's free kick and then a good shot from him caused danger but failed to count. In 55 minutes Blair Henderson was fouled just outside the box and Mercer hit the free kick but the keeper held.

County were then reduced to ten men for an alleged elbow or maybe punch by Gary Glen that it appeared only the referee saw. Despite the one man advantage the Pars could not claw back even one goal. Munro and Drummond came close as did Scott Gray with a header.

John Potter praised his players after the game since he felt that for the vast part of the match they played really well:-

"We made two silly mistakes that cost us goals. We switched off at a corner and I think Ryan knows himself that he should have done better at the second goal. Again we finished the game with six who can play under 17.

"Jordan Orru and Gavin Paterson are both just 15 and they were playing against a Ross County team with three first team players and quite an old under 20 team. We were delighted with them and it was great for these guys to come in and mix with the older ones. It gives me a chance over the next two or three weeks to get game time and let me assess if they are ready for this level."

Scott Gray

The coach agreed that Scott Gray did very well upfront:-

"He is learning all the time and watched the likes of Craig Dargo earlier in the season. He was first class today and his work rate was incredible and that rubs off on the rest of the team. He held the ball up well against two experienced centre backs."

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Goodfellow, Ryan Williamson, Grant Munro ( Jordan Orru 64), Lewis Martin, Jack Bruce (Ross Drummond 40), Andy Ritchie, Declan O'Kane, Finn Graham, Scott Mercer Scott Gray, Blair Henderson ( Gavin Paterson 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Robertson (GK), Lewis Spence, Fayssal El Bakhtaoui.

ROSS COUNTY: Sean McCarthy:; Gordon Finlayson, Archie McPhie, Adam Porritt, Branislav Micic, Andre Hainault, Cameron Crown ( Duncan Corbett 74), Steven Ross, Gary Glen, Calum MacDonald, Kyle MacLeod ( Ross MacKillop 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Connor Hall, Liam Hutchison
SCORER: Ross (25, 39)
YELLOW CARD: MacDonald (45), McPhie (77), Porritt (77)
RED CARD: Glen (56)

REFEREE: Craig Napier
MATCH PICTURES

NEXT MATCH: (home) v Aberdeen
Tuesday 16th April, kick off 2.00pm