U19s v Harthill Royal
Sunday, 2nd Aug 2009Five the lucky number for the weekend
HARTHILL ROYAL 1 DUNFERMLINE 5
MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline Under 19s took on junior side Harthill Royal from the Eastern Regional League South in the testimonial for their loyal striker, John Connelly.
While the first half was a fairly even affair the Fifers ran away with it a bit in the second. Lee Graham was still out injured so Ryan Thomson was paired with Harry McGregor in the centre of defence and it was that defence who were first troubled conceding a free kick that allowed Connelly his first pop to find the net on his special day. His second minute free kick however was fired straight into the arms of goalkeeper Craig Bald.
Steven Leslie created the Pars first attempt with an eighth minute break into the left side of the Harthill penalty box to deliver a pass into the goalmouth where the Harthill keeper stopped the ball between his legs. Six minutes later Leslie released an early ball from the left on halfway to let Jordan WHITE beat the offside trap and slipped the ball passed the advancing keeper.
Leslie had a shot deflected for a corner while Bald also turned a useful header around his right hand post. In 25 minutes John MacDonald sent Connor Schivone speeding down the right and his cross took a bounce that left White able only able to bundle at the keeper.
Connelly had a good opportunity in 32 minutes when Craig Easton set him up but he chose the lay the ball off for George Bonnar and the Dunfermline defence closed him out. Next Bonnar had the chance to line up Connelly but Thomson intercepted.
The home side`s best chance of an equaliser came five minutes from the break when Barry Morton laced the ball down the right wing and was there in the six yard box to meet Connelly`s cross but the exertion was too much for him, at the crucial moment he slipped and ended up on his back.
Chris Lennon sent a screamer over the cross bar just before half time but it was a hattrick struck in 14 second half minutes by Steven Leslie that clinched the win. Scott McIntosh`s pass sprung the offside trap again leaving LESLIE an easy job to finish it in 57th minute.
Two minutes later Blair McWhirter supplied a diagonal pass that dropped sweetly for LESLIE and he finished with ease. His third in 71 minutes came from a Sean Byrne delivery to the far post and LESLIE smashed the ball home with Morton unable to prevent it sneaking in at the post.
Connelly had passed over a chance from a Blair Walker cross and then was denied by Bald but after Danny Gunn came on for Bald the appeals from the home crowd for a compassionate penalty award paid off. The 78th minute penalty gave CONNELLY just what he needed to make sure his name would be on the scoresheet.
Two minutes later a fine break down the left by Lennon saw him beat off the challenge of two defenders to flight the ball across the six yard line and McINTOSH`s diving header sunk the ball in the bottom right.
John Connelly has played for Harthill for ten years now. In that time he has supplied goals that have won cups and promotion. His testimonial match was sponsored by Colin Martin, Easyfit from Armadale Tyres and Exhausts.
SUBS NOT USED: Lee Johnstone, Blair Walker, Craig Easton, Colin Rogers
SCORERS: J Connelly (78 pen.)
DUNFERMLINE: Craig Bald (Danny Gunn 68); John MacDonald, (Jamie Burney 58), Ryan Thomson, Harry McGregor, Rees Smith; Chris Lennon, Arron Scott, Stefan Scougall (Sean Byrne 58), Steven Leslie; Connor Schivone (Blair McWhirter HT), Jordan White (Scott McIntosh HT)
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: White 14), Leslie (57, 59, 71), McIntosh (80)
REFEREE: Michael Banks
WEATHER: Dry, Sunny Interval 17°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: (away) Friendly v Kelty Hearts
Tuesday 4th August 2009, kick off 7.00pm
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