U19s v Hearts

Twice behind U19s come back to earn creditable draw against Hearts with late late McDonough goal

HEARTS 2 DUNFERMLINE 2

Dunfermline U19s showed great spirit coming back to twice to draw this match three minutes into added time.  In truth they should never have been in need of Alan McDonough late result changer.  After a very good opening quarter of an hour during which they had opportunities to take the lead it was against the run of play when Hearts went ahead.

Iain Williamson and Calum Smith challenged for Sean Muhsin's fifth minute cross and when the ball was defended as far as David Muir the midfielder's shot was kicked around the left post by Kelly.  The visitors enjoyed territorial advantage and kept Hearts under pressure with free kicks into the box.

Some slackness in defence saw a Hearts corner in 17 minutes turned in off the body of Ryan McGOWAN and young U16 keeper Craig Bauld was out to pull off a brave save at the feet of Rocky Visconer four minutes later.

The Pars response almost pulled the goal back at the midway stage in the first half; Neil Fenwick's free kick was met by Smith but his shot from 12 yards went wide left. Next minute McDonough pressed keeper Bjornsson and won possession.  Unluckily his shot from 12 yards came off the left post, along the goal line and out.

Luck worked in their favour five minutes later however at a Hearts free kick.  From a free kick on the left it looked as though number two was on its way in until a Hearts player close in diverted the goalbound shot over the Pars crossbar. Ten minutes from half time McGowan's header from a short taken corner was kept out by the crossbar.

The second half started fairly evenly with Williamson firing wie from a corner and Visconer blasting Hearts best attempt over the crossbar. Smith was switched from his wide left role to his more accustomed central attack position.  In 67 minutes Williamson slipped Muir a neat pass that took him into the Hearts box.  Great tenacity earned the big man a cut back to Derek Howie but that chance was skied left of target.

Next minute however the same Davie Muir latched on to a loose Hearts pass and made ground from midway to the edge of the opposition area.  He picked out Smith to his right and the striker sent in a stinging shot that Bjornsson could only parry and MUIR followed up for the equaliser.

Hearts restored their advantage just four minutes later when McDonald and Slater linked to find Vissconer.  The left midfielder evaded all chalenges as he broke along the byeline to cut back for MACKLE to net with ease.

Young Bauld kept the Pars in the match, punching away and then holding at two corners before pulling off a good block from Stewart after Eggert Jonsson had cut back an excellent ball.  This spurred the attack on and David Muir was well up to be on the end of a Muhsin corner in 87th minute. There were claims for a penalty as a Jambo hand seemed to prevent a goal but when Andrew Hunter's whistle went it was for Muir's over enthusiastic chalenge.

Time was running out but the never say die attitude of Hamish French's boys paid off.  Williamson made ground down the left and his delivery was was set up by Muhsin for McDONOUGH to turn past Bjornsson.  The restart was taken but the referee immediately blew for full time and the young Pars side had claimed a well deserved point.

HEARTS: Haralovic Bjornsson; Shaun Kelly (Jonathan Taylor 90), Paul McDonald, Johnathan Brown, Ryan McGowan, Edward Mearns, Sean Mackle, Alistair Divine (Johnathan Stewart 45+1), Steven Slater (Alan Lithgow 70), Eggert Jonsson, Rocky Visconer
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Adams, Ross Hamilton, Dale Baxter, Lorean Kenny
SCORERS: McGowan (17), Mackle (72)

DUNFERMLINE: Craig Bauld; Gary Leighton, John McCulloch, Neil Fenwick, Sandy Nairn; Sean Muhsin, Derek Howie, David Muir, Calum Smith (Charlie Bradshaw 80); Iain Williamson, Alan McDonough
SUBS NOT USED: Gary MacLachlan
SCORERS: Muir (68), McDonough (93)

REFEREE: Andrew Hunter
WEATHER: Bright, Breezy 12C
NEXT U19 MATCH: (away) v Motherwell, Dalzell Playing Fields, Tuesday 7th November 2006, kick off 13:00