Dunfermline 6 Cardiff City 1
Sunday, 18th Jul 1999Pre Season Friendly: Smith (18), Coyle (24), Petrie (41), Thomson (63), Reid (72), Mitchell og (90). Cardiff scorer: Matt Brazier (71)
Before anyone gets too excited about this scoreline against an English Division Two side consider that Dunfermline after two warm up games in the North of Scotland put out what was their virtually a first choice team. Cardiff City put out half a first team as they came north for their warm up.
Cardiff played on trial, 26 capped Slovenian goalkeeper, Boško Boškovič in goal but he had no answer to the Pars goal machine.
A grey July Saturday was brightened with 5 or 6 Welsh Dragon/Cardiff City flags as Dunfermline started playing towards the empty East Stand Cardiff had the better of the early chances with Craig Middleton`s 8th minute cross being fired over the crossbar by Matt Brazier. Eddie May had a shot wide before in 13th minute Reid was forced to block a Middleton effort
But then a rare sight - just what Dunfermline fans were hoping for - the return to goal scoring form of Andy SMITH. Jason Fowler stopped a through ball into the Cardiff penalty box, Stewart Petrie picked up the rebound and crossed for Smithy. The big striker in characteristic style let the ball run passed him before blasting it right footed passed the helpless keeper. Six minutes later the Slovenian made a complete mess of collecting a loose ball and alllowed Owen COYLE to make it two
Cardiff broke to the other end and a Bowen cross was blasted high over the crossbar by Brazier yet again Boškovič was good enough for a 26th minute Eddie May shot on target Chris McGroarty did really well to beat off three players as he battled down the left to cross for Smith but again the keeper saved The visitors placed a 35th minute free kick straight at Ian Westwater and two minutes later Kevin Nugent had a shot deflected for a corner
Owen Coyle brought another save out of Boškovič before four minutes from the interval Stewart PETRIE scored a great goal from 25 yards high into the top right of the Cardiff net.
Dunfermline 3 Cardiff City 0
The second half started with the Welsh showing their battling spirit Brazier shot wide, Nugent missed when he should have scored, Westie blocked a Jason Bowen effort and Boland had a drive that might have done better.
Eighteen minutes into the second half Owen Coyle latched on to a good through ball up the Cardiff right The, yet to be favoured, former Well man teed up Petrie whose cross was destined for Andy Smith at the far post until Scott THOMSON raced in to head in number 4. Andy Smith turned and shot a minute later but the keeper saved easily.
With 71 minutes on the clock Nugent was given space and time to place the ball at BRAZIER`s feet to drive home a goal for the visitors. One minute later Brian REID was left unattended at the edge of the penalty box and he drilled a low shot into the bottom left of Boškovič`s goal.
A spate of substitutions followed and in the last minute David Graham broke well to get in a shot that was needing a touch to deflect it into the net but Graham MITCHELL was the unlucky Cardiff defender to give the Pars their sixth goal of the afternoon.
Score looks like Dunfermline are justifiably favourites to win the First Division but really there was not a lot different from last season.
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Smith (18), Coyle (24), Petrie (41), Thomson (63), Reid (72), Mitchell og (90)
CARDIFF CITY: Boško Boškovič: Middleton, Graham Mitchell, Scott Young, Jeff Eckhardt, Matt Brazier, Boland, Bonner, Jason Fowler, Jason Bowen (Roberts 74), Nugent
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Brazier (71)
REFEREE: John Rowbottom (Kirkcaldy)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 2000
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