U20s v Hearts
Wednesday, 28th Sep 2016SPFL Development League: Currie (12) 0-1, Currie (34) 0-2: David Hopkirk (45) 1-2:
- - Listen to coach John Potters post match thoughts
DUNFERMLINE 2 HEARTS 3
Hearts kicked off this SPFL Development League match at New Central Park, Kelty on Wednesday night. The game saw the welcome return of Nat Wedderburn and David Hopkirk in what was otherwise a young Dunfermline side.
Pars Brandon Luke had the first chance of the game but keeper Kelpie Mason blocked his second minute effort and Ciaran Lafferty was unlucky not to get on the end of the follow up.
Wedderburn cleared a high ball into the box before Dunfermline had Lafferty offside and then Brandon shot at the keeper. It was the visitors who opened the scoring in 12 minutes. McLean headed down the chance for Rory CURRIE and he finished from the edge of the box. 0-1
Ciaran Lafferty was caught offside as the Pars tried to respond and it was Hearts who continued to threaten to add to their lead. Buchanan sent an effort over the crossbar before Euan Spark had to head away a Hearts corner. Next minute, 18th, Wedderburn cleared and then Gill was called upon to save from Roy.
Brandon Luke was crowded out by Hearts defenders after he had shown good skills to create the opening. Then in 24 minutes Hopkirk tried an attempt from halfway but his luck was out and Mason saved.
As the rain came down Conner Duthie swung over an inviting ball for Reece Duncan but he was adjudged to be offside. Duthie also tried a long range shot but that sailed wide right.
Hopkirk`s 32nd minute effort wax deflected for a corner but Duthie was unable to get a decent header on Crawford`s delivery. There was hope that the penalty awarded next when Crawford was brought down in he box would see the Pars right back in the game but he penalty kick curse continued with Lafferty`s attempt saved by the Hearts keeper.
The Fifers paid the price for their continued failure fro the spot when the Jambos increased their lead in the following minute. Again it was CURRIE who netted, this time getting the better of Spark and firing past Gill. 0-2
Dunfermline tried again and Luke shot wide right before five minutes from he interval Crawford set up Duncan for a cross but there were no takers. Hopkirk shot wide before on the stroke of half time Gill`s long ball was missed by the Hearts defenders and HOPKIRK anticipated the chance, latching on to the ball and slotting home. 1-2
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Hearts 2
The elements closed in and Kelty was not at all pleasant as the Pars kicked off into the wind. Within four minutes 18 year old CURRIE completed his hattrick to add to the Pars problems. 1-3
Still the Pats tried to retrieve what was becoming an increasingly troublesome situation. A Hopkirk cross was cleared before Crawford could reach it and Hearts dealt with a 59th minute corner. Hopkirk saw another cross defended before Callum Smith replaced Robbie Crawford for the last half hour.
Hearts too made a substitution withdrawing their hattrick hero Currie and sending on A Irving. They might have regretted that after the home side were a penalty and shock, HOPKIRK scored! 2-3.
John Potter`s side had a good stab at finding an equaliser. First Smith won a free kick on the touchline but Hopkirk`s delivery came to nothing. Lafferty had his effort from the edge of the box saved before Gill had to save from Buchanan at a Hearts corner.
In 79 minutes Duncan made a soaring run but Lafferty was unable to convert the chance. As time ran out Hearts successfully defended two corners from the right and there was to be no late equaliser.
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Dunn (GK)
SCORERS: Hopkirk (45, 62 pen)
YELLOW CARD: Hopkirk (21)
HEARTS: Kelby Mason, Yves Vladislav, Jamie Brandon, Leon Jones, Kyle Smith, Angus Beith, Alistair Roy, Alex Petkov (Harry Paton 85), Russell McLean (Callumn Morrison 53), Rory Currie (Andrew Irving 61), Robbie Buchanan
SUBS NOT USED: Marcus Godinho.
SCORERS: Currie (12, 34, 49)
REFEREE: Lorraine Clark
WEATHER: Showery, windy 17C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Dundee, Monday 3rd October 2016, kick off 6.00pm at East End Park.
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