East Fife 0 Dunfermline 3
Friday, 18th Jul 2003Pre Season Friendly
Lee Bullen (4) 0-1: Walker (15) 0-2: Lee Bullen (53) 0-3:
The Pars put out a strong team for their fourth friendly of the pre-season. Only Craig Brewster was missing from might have been Jimmy Calderwood’s strongest possible starting line up. This was a much better performance from the SPL team; winning comfortably and demonstrating good passing skills and control.
There was a sizeable Friday night crowd as Dunfermline fans took the opportunity to see their team at a relatively close venue for a change. Dunfermline in red defended the river end goal.
Lee BULLEN opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Stevie Crawford picked him out on the edge of the penalty box and the big utility man playing upfront for the night beat Graeme McKechnie before slipping the ball past O’Connor with style and ease.
Two minutes later a Jason Dair corner from the stand side came back off Scott Walker to let Bully in again to shoot but McMillan turned the shot away for another corner. Next time Bullen tested the keeper with an effort that bobbled out of his hands to be booted away by the pressurised defence.
Walker was pressing forward confident to be able to sprint back if required. In the 9th minute he burst through into the opposition penalty box to latch on to a ball fed from Dair and Crawford. He was shut out for a corner and from that the ball went wide to George Fotheringham whose return forced the keeper to grab the ball from under his crossbar.
Crawford headed a Bullen cross over the crossbar before the second goal arrived in the 12th minute. It was Scott WALKER who earned the goal first from a challenge that went only as far as Dair and the big defender headed in the cross from 6 yards.
From an East Fife corner Marco tipped away the ball to Scott Wilson who played in Walker before he sent Crawford away up the left wing. Scottie was up to take the strike at goal from 20 yards out but the keeper held the firmly struck low drive.
Darren Young was getting plenty of involvement and the midfielder was forward to shoot from the left but get deflected for another corner. Dair`s low ball was met by Barry Nicholson in the centre of the park but his shot couldn`t penetrate the crowded penalty box.
Next it was Gary Mason`s shot that went for a corner after Dair had set up the chance for Crawford. Marco was quickly out at the other end when Willie Stewart threatened to run in on goal after Crawford had lost possession in the middle of the park.
In the 34th minute Bullen put in a strong run up the left. When he looked up for support Darren Young was pointing for a ball into the box. Bully delivered but Young`s shot was held by the keeper at his second attempt.
Scott McNichol came on as an early sub for Dair who was feeling a previous calf strain. Still things flowed towards the East Fifers goal. Mason was wide with an effort that came as a result of a long Marco throw to Crawford whose ball to Fotheringham was then set up for a pop at goal.
Just before the half time whistle Walker took a ball from Crawford and chipped it over to Bullen at the far post but the keeper saved his header.
Seven minutes into the second half Young should have scored when he tried to walk a pass from Bullen ariound the keeper. The keeper came out on top but BULLEN headed in the third just a minute later from a Nicholson free kick from midway inside the opposition half in the left channel.
Mortimer had a shot that was wide of target after good play between Deuchars and Stewart. A huge Ruitenbeek punt picked out Crawford but when Bullen met the pass from his co-striker he sent it over the crossbar. That was Bully last act since Noel Hunt was then brought on upfront in his place.
In the 70th minute there was a good old stramash in the East Fife goalmouth which failed to bring about the fourth goal but left Hunt lying injured. After treatment Noel returned but limped off only ten minutes after coming on with a twisted ankle.
With ten minutes left former Par Greg McDonald was presented with a great chance following good play by Donaldson, Deuchars and Stewart but his shot was half hearted and marco saved easily. After two long range efforts from Crawford that didn`t test McKeown the substitute goalkeeper it was the Dunfermline goalie who got all the attention.
Marco came out for a ball swung in from the left by Chris Millar. Deuchars rose for the ball just inside the penalty box in a central area but Marco rushed out and conceded a penalty. The felled East Fife striker took the spot kick but hit it softly to Marco`s right and was held by our big Dutchman.
So it ended 3-0 but Jimmy Calderwood has to be concern with his growing injury list. Noel Hunt now looks a doubt for the Holland trip, Jason Dair should be OK but with many of the squad being asked to play again tomorrow at Forfar it is going to be a gruelling time for those who remain able to take the park.
EAST FIFE: O’Connor (Kevin McKeown 62): Craig McMillan, McKechnie (Craig Lumsden 70), Michael Hall, Aaron Macdonald (Chris Miller 62): Jonathan Mitchell (Gordon Love HT), Paul Mortimer (Greig Macdonald 74), Triallist, Euan Donaldson, Willie Stewart, Kenny DeucharsSUBS NOT USED: Colgan (GK)
DUNFERMLINE: Marco Ruitenbeek: Barry Nicholson, Andrius Skerla, Scott Wilson, Scott Walker: George Fotheringham, Gary Mason, D Young (Gary Dempsey 59), Jason Dair (Scott MacNichol 36): Lee Bullen (Noel Hunt 64 (Anthony Storrie 74)), Stevie Crawford.
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Y Thomson (GK)
SCORERS: Bullen (4, 53), Walker (15)
REFEREE: A Hunter
WEATHER: Fair with sunny intervals 15°C
ATTENDANCE 600
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