U20s v Hearts
Monday, 4th Jan 2016SPFL Development League: Dario Zanatta (67) 1-0; Antoine-Curier (90 pen.) 1-1; Ian Smith (91) 2-1
- - Listen to Coach John Potter give his post match thoughts
HEARTS 2 DUNFERMLINE 1
Ryan Wallace, Mickael Antoine-Curier, David Hopkirk, Lewis Spence and keeper David Hutton added experience to the Under 20s side that took on Hearts at Ochilview Park on Monday night. The Pars sat 17th in the Development League and Hearts eighth separated by eight points but with the Tynecastle side having played two matches more.
Hearts kicked off wearing Stenhousemuir away strips but within 90 seconds the Pars produced the first good chance of the night. Wallace had earned a corner on the right and in taking it himself picked out Jordan Orru whose header set up Paul Joseph Crossan but he powered his header wide right.
In six minutes Robbie Buchanan created the home side's first opportunity, his low shot from 25 yards being touched around his right hand post by the alert Hutton. That setpiece was satisfactory defended before play set off towards the other end with the Pars being awarded a free kick 28 yards out but McCabe drove that well over the bar.
Leon Jones sent the ball wide from a Hearts corner and it was the Hearts keeper, Jack Hamilton who was to pull off to good saves in 12th and 13th minute, both from well struck Wallace free kicks, one from either side.
Three minutes later Spence made a great defence splitting run but when Wallace sent the lay off across goal the keeper's clutches got it. Hamilton next had to deal with a tricky delivery from the left flank and it was 29th minute before Hearts produced the next shot at goal. Dario Zanatta did all the hard work to set up Angus Beith but his shot soared high over the bar.
Another Wallace free kick was pumped into the Hearts box on the half hour but escaped straight through without a touch. Wallace was putting himself about taking free kicks on half way on the left before popping up on the right side of the Hearts box from where he was unlucky when trying to chip the keeper's gloves were able to hold.
At the other end there was some defending to be done and the Pars were fortunate that the Jambos made some wrong decisions with their final ball. A foul on Wallace earned Buchanan the first yellow card of the night and from that 36th minute free kick the ball came back out for McCabe to launch a low shot that rebounded back off the right goalpost.
Four minutes from the interval Spence sent a 30 yard rocket just outside the left post and as the rain got even heavier the referee's whistle gave welcome respite.
Half Time: Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0
Before the second half commenced Johnny Galloway came on in place of PJ Crossan meaning Wallace moved up front beside Antoine-Curier and the sub took up a role wide on the right. Within a minute of the restart Hopkirk's cross from the left corner dropped for the sub but his header went wide right.
In 50 minutes Zanatta laid the ball off for El Hassanoui but his shot from the edge of the area sailed into the empty stand. Four minutes later a sweet pass from McCabe was sent into the path of Wallace as he ran in on goal, the striker connected well only for Hamilton to pull off a very fine save to deny the Fifers.
Physio Kenny Murray was on to administer treatment to Galloway but he was fit to come back on. Morrison was forced into fouling Zanatta handing Hearts a free kick just 20 yards out. That was firmly hit by El Hassanoui but his aim was just wide left.
Just after the hour mark Dunfermline put together a good move McClair receiving the ball from Antoine-Curier to pump the ball across the six yard box. Galloway's overhead flick sat up nicely for Wallace but Hamilton was able to save his header.
Dunfermline kept up the pressure with Hopkirk firing wide and Galloway getting in a shot that was blocked. Then at midway through the second half, Hearts showed their opponents how important it is to take your chances with ZANATTA only needing half a chance as he travelled in from the left to send a snap shot low into the right side of the Pars net. 1-0
A Lewis Moore cross from the left gave El Hassanoui a free header but he glanced thatr wide in 72 minutes. Hutton then saved from Zanatta but the offside flag had been raised. With the comfort of the lead the Jambos enjoyed increasingly more possession and play got deeper into the Dunfermline half.
A McCabe free kick in 78 minutes saw Morrison go up and he got in an unlikely shot that was just wide. It was closer than Antoine-Curtier came next minute when he hit a Hopkirk cross over the top. Pars chances were likely to come on the counter and with under ten minutes left Hopkirk twice tried runs at the Hearts defence that were eventually halted.
There was hope Galloway was fouled 21 yards out and Curier lined up the 87th minute free kick but he drove that into the four man wall and next there was a timely tackle on Hopkirk. Then in 89th minute Hopkirk was chopped down as he got in a shot 15 yards out. Referee Kyle Hall pointed to the penalty spot and showed Liam Smith his second yellow of the night.
By the time Mickael ANTOINE-CURIER despatched the penalty into the bottom right it was into 90th minute but the drama was to continue as next minute substitute Ian SMITH crashed home the winner off the left post.
Despite it all happening in the dying moments of the match the Pars can feel disappointed in losing a game that they competed really well for at times.
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Cargill, Russel MacLean, Dale Baxter, Alistair Roy, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle
SCORERS: Zanatta (67), I Smith (91)
YELLOW CARD: Buchanan (36), L Smith (44)
RED CARD: L Smith (89)
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton; Reece Duncan, Jordan Orru, Stuart Morrison, Cammy McClair; Ryan Wallace, Rhys McCabe, Lewis Spence, David Hopkirk; Mickael Antoine-Curier, Paul Joseph Crossan (Johnny Galloway HT)
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill, James Thomas, Robbie Crawford, Scott Sutherland, John James Henderson, Brandon Luke
SCORERS: Antoine- Curier (90 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: McCabe (45), McClair (53)
REFEREE: Kyle Hall
WEATHER: Cold, wet 6C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League: (home) v St Mirren, Monday 11th January 2016. Kick off 1.30pm at Broadwood
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