Reserves v St Mirren

Tuesday, 10th Oct 2006

Calum Smith nets consolation as a more experience Paisley side overwhelm Reserves at Love Street

ST MIRREN 5 DUNFERMLINE 1

There was a restricted choice of first team players for this SPL Reserve League match at St Mirren Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Pars fielded nine of their U19 squad while St Mirren used only three of theirs as they included the likes of the more experienced Chris Smith, Craig Molloy, Iain Anderson, Mark Corcoran and Alex Burke.

Despite the Fifers starting brightly they were a goal down inside five minutes. Corcoran won a corner kick and when that was played in some slack marking let in Ryan Carr to head home the opener.

Saints continued to look likely but Scott McBride gave the visitors some encouragement with a couple of strong runs down the left and then Neil Fenwick brought a good save out of Chris Smith at a corner. In 20 minutes Iain Williamson played Alan McDonough in at the edge of the box but after rounding the keeper he was forced too far wide to get his shot on target.

At the other end Greg Paterson had a couple of good saves and as the match approached half time Sean Muhsin`s involvement almost paid off as he created with two good chances. His first involving Jamie McCunnie led to a shot that was unfortunately not strong enough to beat Smith. Next the midfielder crossed for Williamson but he failed to make the goalie work too hard and the home side retained their single goal of a lead at the interval.

Dunfermline tried to be more positive in the second half with Craig Wilson testing Smith early on. Pressing up, the Pars were left exposed at the back and in 57 minutes a good break up the left brought about the Buddies second. Burke found Anderson and his ball through to David McKenna allowed the 20 year old, who scored nine goals while on loan at Cowdenbeath last season, to continue his habit with a fine piece of skill to coolly beat Paterson.

The visitors were again caught on the break again just six minutes later. Mark Corcoran`s ball into the Dunfermline box was mishit sufficiently to wrong foot Fenwick and Craig Molloy made no mistake to put his team into a three goal lead.

Both teams changed things with substitutions and Pars replacement Davie Muir should have got a goal back in 75 minutes. After Williamson`s cut back from the left side he had only the keeper to beat but shot wide from 8 yards. It was Saints who were to net the next, a daft one really as the defence looked as though they were comfortable as the ball came into their penalty area but Stephen McGinn was at the far post to score.

Scott Gemmill worked hard to capitalise on an intercepted diagonal ball from Fenwick five minutes from the end. His shot was deflected away but freshly introduced sub Robbie Weir made it five for Saints, when he picked up the loose ball and placed it into the net.

There was some consolation for the Pars in the last minute as Muir chased into the corner to turn the ball back for Calum Smith a convert at a tight angle from close in.

ST MIRREN: Chris Smith, Rawcliffe, Ryan McCay, Ryan Carr, Marc McAusland, Mark Docherty (Steven McGinn 66), Iain Anderson, Craig Molloy, David McKenna (Robbie Weir 84), Alex Burke (Scott Gemmill 78), Mark Corcoran.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris McMenamin, Daniel McColgan.
SCORERS: McCay (5), McKenna (57), Molloy (63), McGinn(80), Weir (85).

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Paterson; Derek Howie, John McCulloch, Neil Fenwick, Clark Kay, Sean Muhsin, Craig Wilson, Jamie McCunnie, Scott McBride (Davie Muir 71); Iain Williamson, Alan McDonough (Calum Smith 66).
SUBS NOT USED: Darren Stewart (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (89)

REFEREE:
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: Home v Inverness Caley Thistle, Tuesday 17th October 2006, 2.00pm kick off

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