U19s v Arbroath

Not Burns Day as U19s net three

DUNFERMLINE 3 ARBROATH 1

The Pars should have been ahead long before Arbroath grabbed the lead. When Ryan Thomson was brought down on the edge of the box in 7th minute, Rees Smith fired the free kick inches over the bar. Lewis Turner and Smith were next to provide a chance for Thomson.  His shot was blocked but the pressure was sustained with Turner and McGregor swinging in balls from the left and two further corners.

In 16th minute a fine cross in from the left again from McGregor set up Jordan White for what looked a fairly easy header but despite his height he just couldn`t get on the end of it. Next the ball spun back wickedly to present Lawrie Cannon with a chance but the Arbroath keeper, Darryl Burns blocked that and both White`s follow up efforts.

Thomson rocketed another over the bar in 26 minutes after John MacDonald and Cannon had done the hard work to carve out the chance. Arbroath had not really got near the Dunfermline goal but took the lead in 27 minutes. Weakness in midfield surrendered possession and the ball was swiftly switched to David EASTON who found a hole in the right side of the Pars box to shoot past Bald.

Four minutes later Greg McDonald`s cross allowed David Easton a shot. That was blocked and Gary Wallace hammered the rebound wide right. The Fifers got back on level terms four minutes from the break. Ryan Valentine had tracked Turner back and bundled him over right in front of the referee. WHITE grabbed the ball to take the penalty kick and netted the rebound after Burns had stopped the first attempt.

Jordan White puts away 41st minute penalty

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Arbroath 1

Diving to his right Craig Bald held a McIlravey shot in 55 minutes and then at the other end White`s effort to convert a neat pass from Smith was turned over his own bar by Dave Gorman. Lee Graham headed the resultant corner kick over the bar before Smith`s 62nd minute free kick suffered the same fate.

Two more minutes passed before Thomson powered a 28 yard shot off the right goalpost and watched the ball travel across the face of goal and out on the left for a goal kick. Conner Schivone replaced Cannon and within a minute squared the ball from the left for John MacDONALD to drive home at the far post.

John MacDonald fires in the second goal

Arbroath`s best attempt to get even was from a 70th minute McIlravey cross that just evaded Valentine`s jump. With a glancing header White sent a McGregor free kick wide of target while at the other end Lichties sub Andy Walker`s powerful shot came back off Easton.

Both keeper`s were given very little chance to display their talents until in the first minute of added time Bald did well to hold a Wallace effort from a McDonald free kick. The points were then probably safely Dunfermline`s but a goal in the second added minute sealed that.

Lewis Turner turns away having netted the third

Despite saving from Schivone, Burns was to be beaten in the final move of the match after his parried save was headed home by Lewis TURNER.  The Pars had made heavy weather of arriving at the result but deserved to win.