Reserves v Aberdeen

First ever Pars visit to the Balmoral Stadium, home of Cove Rangers. Bruce Anderson (15) 1-0: Paul Allan (76) 1-1:

ABERDEEN RESERVES 1 DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 1

Stevie Crawford took a young side north to play the team immediately above them in fifteenth place in the SPFL Reserve League. Callum Smith, currently on loan to Arbroath, led the attack and captained the Fifers but there were no first team players in the team. Lewis MCCANN was suspended. Aberdeen started with two - Greg Tansey and Bruce Anderson.

There was a lively start from both sides. In the fourth minute Josh Robertson dispossessed Ethan Ross midway into the Dons half, ran in on goal but keeper Archie Mair cut out his low cross. Aberdeen tested Pars keeper Craig Burt three minutes later and he had to parry away a Dean Campbell shot from distance.

Campbell then sent a shot wide and at the other end centre back Jordan McGregor prevented Smith from getting in a shot. Miko Virtanan injured himself in fouling Brandon Luke of the edge of his team`s box and from the following free kick Paul Allan pulled a great save out of Mair. A corner resulted but Lewis Crosbie`s delivery was too high for the in rushing Stuart Morrison. Sawers` appeal for a penalty was ignored.

Aberdeen then forced a corner of their own one from which they were to open the scoring. ANDERSON made a good turn to get away the 15th minute shot that hit the net. 1-0

The Dons player was given the opportunity to score again six minutes later but Craig Burt dived to his right to turn the shot away for a corner.

Dunfermline were forced into making a 21st minute substitution when Lewis Sawers had to go off with an injured hand, Paul Brown coming on in his place. A Pars free kick won and taken by Crosbie but Tansey headed that clear.

Luke and Smith were both caught in separate incidents by Virtanan but both recovered. Ten minutes from the break Brown earned a corner on the right but the first attempt was cleared straight back to the taker Crosbie who was robbed of possession.

Back at the other end Morrison`s challenge on Lynden handed Aberdeen a free kick on the edge of the box. Tansey duly skied that high over Burt`s crossbar.

There was still time for Crosbie to force another corner off Jack McKenzie but when the chance fell to Matt Todd it was blocked and cleared. Robertson produced a fine low ball cross but it evaded the three Pars men forward.

Half Time: Aberdeen 1 Dunfermline 0

The second half started with action in both boxes. Robertson headed away as the Dons attacked a Tansey corner and at the other end Crosbie under pressure from McGregor, was forced to send the ball behind. Robertson then made a great tackle in his own box before Paul Allan combined with Smith but the latter just couldn`t get the shot in.

Todd tried a shot from distance that went wide left, Luke met a Crosbie corner but fired over at the back post. It was Todd who won a 75th minute free kick 25 yards out from which ALLAN dispatched the ball into the top left of the Aberdeen goal. 1-1

One of the two trialists, Ronan McMurchie, came off the bench to replace Callum Smith and the Fife Elite player immediately supplied a cross that Crosbie unluckily headed straight at the keeper.

Pars appeals for a 81st minute penalty were dismissed after Brown went down in the box, there was an added time attempt from Todd that was saved and then deep into time added Todd created a good chance for Crosbie with a great delivery but there was to be no late winner glory.

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