East Fife 1 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 6th Sep 2014Fife Cup Semi Final; Kevin Smith (33) 0-1; Ryan Thomson (34) 1-1; Ross Forbes (90) 1-2
With no league fixtures due to the international break Dunfermline and East Fife used the free Saturday to keep their players engaged by playing their outstanding Fife Cup semi final.
Dunfermline fielded several players coming back from injury - Alex Whittle, Andy Stirling and Faissal El Bakhtaoui. Declan O'Kane is currently on loan to Montrose but he too was able to turn out in this match for his club.
East Fife fielded six of the team that started the previous Saturday against East Stirling. Manager Gary Naysmith selected himself and his team included Caolan McAleer who scored against the Pars for Airdrie last season while on loan from Partick Thistle.
The match kicked off in bright sunshine with the Pars attacking the goal at the sea end. Ryan Goodfellow was the first keeper in action coming out fast in fourth minute to save a shot from Nathan Austin after he was played through by captain Kevin Smith. Just a minute later Austin evaded Jonathan Page's challenge to get a shot from the right that again Goodfellow had to parry.
El Bakhtaoui had a shot blocked before the visitors forced their first corner in nine minutes but that could not be put to good use. Austin produced a burst of speed to get away from Finn Graham and send over a good cross from the left byeline that fortunately looped over the inrushing Caolan McAleer into the clutches of Goodfellow.
On 19 minutes a great opportunity dropped to Thomson on the edge of the East Fife box but his left footed shot rose all the way to clear both crossbar and wall. Then four minutes later Byrne's accurate pass for El Bakhtaoui let the Pars striker in for a shot that he despatched low only inches outside the left upright.
Just when Dunfermline had threatened to take control they lost a poor goal. In 33rd minute Kevin SMITH was allowed to shoot from 15 yards out and the ball went through Goodfellow's legs as he came out to close the opponent out. A bit of a shame for the keeper who up until then had been doing well. 1-0
The lead lasted only one minute since the Pars broke with purpose and THOMSON advanced as far as the edge of the box before sending a low shot from the left side into the bottom right corner. 1-1
Thomson was offside when Byrne's miscue set him up with another chance eight minutes later. There was pressure as the Pars forced a couple of corners before the break but the teams went in level.
East Fife 1 Dunfermline 1
The second half saw the Pars start strongly with Smith earning a 47th minute corner on the left and then from that Smith got in a shot from the edge of the box that Naysmith blocked.
A Whittle cross next caused keeper Jordan Miller problems palming away at his back post when El Bakhtaoui rose to attack the ball. Forbes got a shot in however that cleared the bar. A powerful run from Whittle took play deep into the East Fife box but the keeper cut out the cross before it could reach Thomson.
On the hour Stirling made ground up the left, picked out Thomson who unsuccessfully tried to get through between two defenders but when the ball landed for El Bakhtaoui he beat the keeper only for Naysmith to clear off the line.
The home side hit on the break with McAleer speeding down the left. A shot by Austin came back out to Walker and his netbound drive appeared to hit Austin to keep it out. Next O'Kane skied a Liam Smith pass looking for Austin over the crossbar.
James Thomas came on for Allan Smith and then Cammy McClair replaced Andy Stirling but it was the home side who were playing nearest to goal. Whittle forced a 79th minute corner that Forbes sent in from the left but despite Page's efforts the Methil men got the ball away.
A foul by sub Ross Brown on Forbes handed the Pars an 88th minute free kick on the left perimeter of the box. East Fife brought everybody back but when the ball was chipped over the two man wall Thomson could only head it wide right.
Right on 90 minutes Dunfermline scored the winner. Graham crossed from the right and FORBES wound himself up for the strike. The keeper and defenders tried their best to keep the shot out and and Thomas was on the line just in case but the ball had crossed the line and that proved to be enough to seal the tie.
There was a scare however in added time when Naysmith's header was kept out by the crossbar.
- - Listen to John Potter`s post match thoughts
EAST FIFE: Jordan Miller; Liam Smith, Matty Allen, Gary Naysmith, Scott Smith; Mike Mampuya (Ross Brown 67), Allan Walker, Fraser Mullen, Caolan McAleer (Ross Campbell 67), Kevin Smith (c), Nathan Austin (Lewis Barr 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Allan Fleming, Jamie Beaton, David Maskrey.
SCORER: K Smith (33)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Goodfellow; Finn Graham, Declan O'Kane, Jonathan Page, Alex Whittle; Shaun Byrne, Ross Forbes, Ryan Thomson, Andy Stirling (Cammy McClair 74); Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Allan Smith (James Thomas 62)
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Wilson (GK), Scott Mercer, Jordan Orru, Gavin McMillan, Paul-Joseph Crossan.
SCORERS: Thomson (34), Forbes (90)
REFEREE: Gavin Duncan
WEATHER: Sunny 15C
ATTENDANCE: 457
NEXT MATCH: U20s v Motherwell
Tuesday 9th September, kick off 6.00pm at Fir Park
SUBS NOT USED: Allan Fleming, Jamie Beaton, David Maskrey.
SCORERS: K Smith (33)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Goodfellow; Finn Graham, Declan O'Kane, Jonathan Page, Alex Whittle; Shaun Byrne, Ross Forbes, Ryan Thomson, Andy Stirling (Cammy McClair 74); Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Allan Smith (James Thomas 62)
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Wilson (GK), Scott Mercer, Jordan Orru, Gavin McMillan, Paul-Joseph Crossan.
SCORERS: Thomson (34), Forbes (90)
REFEREE: Gavin Duncan
WEATHER: Sunny intervals 15C
ATTENDANCE 457
NEXT MATCH:
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