U20s v Motherwell

SPFL Development League: Ryan Thomson, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Allan Smith start. Declan O'Kane (4) 1-0; Chris Cadden (39) 1-1; Dom Thomas (55) 1-2; Paul Joseph Crossan (90) 2-2

DUNFERMLINE 2 MOTHERWELL 2

Andy Barrowman and Jim Paterson took the warm up for the Dunfermline squad ahead of the SPFL Development League game v Motherwell at East End Park on Monday night. The team included first team players Lewis Spence, Ryan Thomson, Allan Smith and Faissal El Bakhtaoui.

The visitors started twenty year old Craig Moore who is working his way back from injury and Adam Cummins was the only over age player in their line up.

The Pars kicked off and were on the attack from the off. Jordan Orru and Cammy McClair exchanged passes to trouble on the left before Allan Smith forced a fourth minute corner. When that was sent in by Scott Mercer from the left Declan O'KANE rose at the back post to head in the opener.

Motherwell might have got it back level almost right away but latching on to a weakly cleared header Steven Higgins had his shot deflected off Mercer for a corner. Faissal El Bakhtaoui hit the left post before Higgins at the other end drove a 20 yard effort narrowly outside Ryan Goodfellow's right hand post.

It was a young Pars team but in comparison with their opponents vastly more experienced. That showed as the side from the League One club dominated and they would have shown more for it had they chosen better options around the box. Motherwell looked dangerous on the counter and Higgins got another shot on target after 20 minutes that Goodfellow touched over.

Dunfermline continued to look confident without getting close enough to trouble the 17 year old Irish goalkeeper. In fairness the Steelmen's defence made it difficult to penetrate. Then the home midfield lost possession allowing Ross MacLean to release the ball right for Chris CADDEN who slotted home for the 39th minute equaliser 1-1.

Boosted by the goal Motherwell piled on the pressure and Moore was unlucky not to get a penalty when he tumbled at the top of the box. Having survived that played returned to the other end. O'Kane's header on a free kick was held and an on target Smith shot bulleted off the head of David Ferguson for a 45th minute corner but that was cleared.

An entertaining first half Dunfermline had the better of the possession but towards half time let Motherwell back into it.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Motherwell 1

The Lanarkshire started the second half flying with Dom Thomas firing a shot over the top from a tight angle on the right. It was Dunfermline who had the first shot on target of the half, Mercer sending a 30 yard free kick over the wall but straight to Long.

A 52nd minute corner dropped to Smith but his effort was blocked and next Goodfellow held from MacLean. Stuart Urquhart's push in the back of Moore handed Motherwell a free kick on the right three minutes later and Dom THOMAS curled a fine effort into the top left corner to give Goodfellow absolutely no chance. 1-2

The goalscorer then came close to doubling his tally. He tormented the defence to get in on the right and drive a low shot that escaped just wide of the left post.

In 69 minute Mercer's free kick from the left swung in but just wide right of the goals. The management team then made a tactical triple substitution. Off went Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Allan Smith and Lewis Spence and on came James Thomas, Paul Joseph Crossan and Gavin Macmillan.

Crossan had a shot just wide but still Motherwell looked capable of getting another. The Pars finished strongly however, O'Kane came close to nodding in a Mercer free kick in 89 minutes then in the final minute PJ CROSSAN collected the ball on the edge of the box, turned and netted to make it 2-2. A well deserved draw.

DUNFERMLINE:Ryan Goodfellow; Scott Mercer, Stuart Urquhart, Declan O'Kane, Jordan Orru; Finn Graham, Lewis Spence (Gavin McMillan 70), Ryan Thomson, Cammy McClair; Faissal El Bakhtaoui (James Thomas 70), Allan Smith (Paul Joseph Crossan 70)
SUB NOT USED: Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: O'Kane (4), Crossan (90)
YELLOW CARD: Urquhart (77), Graham (85) (86)

MOTHERWELL: Brett Long; Jack McMillan (Danny McNulty 76), Ben Hall, Adam Cummins, David Ferguson; Dom Thomas, Chris Cadden, Craig McCall, Ross MacLean; Craig Moore (Robbie Leitch 63), Steven Higgins
SUBS NOT USED: Alan Campbell, Liam Anderson, Ryan Watters, Max Currie (GK)
SCORERS: Cadden (39), Thomas (55)
YELLOW CARD: Cummins (77)

REFEREE: Scott Lambie
WEATHER: Cold Dry 4C
ATTENDANCE: 80

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (away) v Inverness Caley Thistle
Tuesday 3rd February 2015, kick off TBC

- - Listen to the thoughts of coach Andy Barrowman

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