Andy Kirk Post Blyth

"The Manager has planned it out really well. The fitness work we have done has been really good and obviously now we are into games. It has probably been the best pre season that I have been involved in.

Andy Kirk spoke exclusively to the website immediately after the pre season match at Blyth:-

"We didn't really know much about them so it was hard to know. I didn't think that they would be as good a side as ourselves; most of their boys are part time and we have good players in our team. We have experienced players and players that have played at high levels. It was always going to be one of those games where if you go out with the wrong attitude and you don't work hard, then these teams will come and put their foot in against you.

"We were comfortable at 2-0 up but then we gave a stupid goal away and they take a wee lift out from it. They started to play a bit but obviously when we got the third goal it killed the game even though we were by far the better team anyway today. It was a good work out."

Andy took the responsibility for the 68th minute penalty kick that restored the Pars lead.

"It's another goal, it's a penalty and you have to score by hitting hit home from 12 yards." With recognised spot kick taker, Stephen Glass still waiting to come on, Andy added:- "If you are prepared to hit them, you have got to be prepared to miss them. I scored a couple of penalties last season for Dunfermline. I would be more delighted getting goals from open play but for today, I am just happy with the goal."

Andy signed on 1st August last year and missed out on the Pars pre season and the July trip to Austria. Now into his thirties he is highly qualified to compare preparations for a new season:-

"I have been really impressed with the pre season so far, to be honest. I have missed a few pre seasons with injuries when I was younger and have had a few not so good pre season regards different things that have happened down south through injury.

"The Manager has planned it out really well. The fitness work we have done has been really good and obviously now we are into games. It has probably been the best pre season that I have been involved in.

"Last year I think was very similar to what they are doing this year. When I came up last year the boys were flying and I was unfortunate that I couldn't do too much in pre season last year so I was always trying to catch up on fitness level. This year I am glad that I am part of it.

"We had a couple of practice games in training and obviously in your first few games you are just trying to get back into the way of making runs and getting your angles right. If you ask the Manager he is probably more concerned with the boys getting time on the pitch and getting good fitness out of the games. As we get closer to the start of the season the qualities will improve because we are working on them every day in training and working on our game."