Reserves v Cowdenbeath

Pars Reserves impress with good passing moves and three first half goals at Central Park

COWDENBEATH 1 DUNFERMLINE 4

Dunfermline overpowered Cowdenbeath in their final match in the Reserve League Cup East. Three first half goals put the result beyond doubt with the first coming as early as the fourth minute.

The opening goal was made on the right with Greg Ross and David Graham combining before Graham`s cross was despatched high into the net by Scott McBRIDE from six yard.

Another move constructed by completed passes involving Ross, Thomson and Kirk set up McBride for a cross from the left that was just too high for Paul Willis to head. Greg Paterson had an easy task to hold Cowden`s first real attempt at a free kick.

The visitors increased their lead in 12 minutes however and it again started with Ross sending Loy up the right. He cut in and crossed but Jon ROBERTSON deflected the ball past his keeper at the near post.

Scott MUIRHEAD charged through in 24th minute from just inside his own half and with a defender in his wake, took the ball to within 12 yards of the goal before hitting the ball past keeper Murray Jackson.

Next minute Lee Graham sent a David Graham corner narrowly wide of the right post. Andy Kirk fired one over the bar before Cowden got a goal back. Paterson looked to have been severely impeded as a free kick was sent in from the right but John DEMPSTER took the chance as the ball broke free. He stuck his 42nd minute goal past several Pars defenders as they dived in.

Before the break David Graham cut the ball back from the right byeline for Loy to take two stabs at but both were well blocked.

In comparison the second half was much duller. Paterson parried a cut back that Gary Cennerazzo belted on target. The Pars were awarded a 62nd minute free kick right on the edge of the box after Jamie Reid`s challenge on McBride. Kirk fired the ball over the four man wall but Jackson turned the dipping effort over his crossbar. When the corner was sent over from the right by Muirhead, Ryan Thomson`s header was deflected left for another.

On 70 minutes newly introduced sub Jordan White linked up well with McBride and Kirk but the final pass back to Kirk was unlucky. McBride volleyed a shot across goal and narrowly wide and in 80 minutes a crisp move from Thomson top McBride and then centred was header just outside the right post by White.

Three minutes later though Paterson rolled the ball out to the right wing for Ross who picked out McBride on the wing. He drove in and tried a shot on the angle but although the keeper had it well covered he could not hold it and the ball broke for WHITE to sidefoot home from 8 yards.

Cowdenbeath finished with a flurry but on each occasion Harry McGregor headed the ball first behind for a corner and then after John Ferguson had his shot deflected for another corner, it was McGregor again who headed away the final danger.