Kilmarnock Res 7 Dunfermline Res 0

Tuesday, 2nd May 2023

cinch Reserve League Cup Final: Max Little and Miller Fenton and U18 team take on more experienced Kilmarnock team. Murray (17) 1-0: Wales (27) 2-0: Wales (40) 3-0: Warnock (56) 4-0: Murray (64) 5-0: Warnock (84) 6-0: Quigg (90+2) 7-0:

Dunfermline topped a group that included Dundee, Dundee United, Livingston, Hibs and Queens Park and then defeated Queen of the South, the second placed side in the other group, in the semi final. Kilmarnock defeated Dundee United in their semi final after topping a group that contained Motherwell, Hamilton, Ayr United, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.

Kilmarnock won the draw for venue so it was the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park that hosted this final. The home team fielded an eleven that many might term fringe players but included players well known to Pars fans - Liam Polworth, Fraser Murray and Kerr McInroy. Their 19 year old left back played the full 90 for Clyde against the Pars on Saturday. Their number ten Steven Warnock is on loan at FC Edinburgh. Dunfermline by contrast put out an under 18 team enhanced by 20 year old keeper Max Little and 19 year old defender Miller Fenton.

The Frank Beattie (Main) Stand housed both Killie and Pars fans but as expected the home support numerically much greater. Dunfermline kicked off towards the Moffat Stand but it was Steven Warnock in the third minute who got in the first shot of the final, launching the ball high and wide. Next Andrew Tod beat away a Brad Lyons effort from 30 yards out.

The Pars first attempt on goal came on nine minutes after neat footwork from Taylor Sutherland set up Liam Hoggan for the cross in from the right and from the edge of the box, Andrew Tod drove his shot wide left.

Little pulled off a great save to deny Brad Lyons stinging shot in 16 minutes but the following minute could not stop a MURRAY shot after he connected well with a cross in from the right. 1-0

Sam Young put in a good block to deny Bobby Wales and the Fifers duly defended the two corners that followed. Then ten minutes after their first Kilmarnock scored again. Kirk McKnight crashed a cross in from the right and it was met by WALES and he turned it past Little 2-0.

Tod played Taylor Sutherland through in 37 minutes and his cross was decisively turned behind for a corner on the right but when Tod delivery, McInroy cleared.

A third Kilmarnock goal was registered before the interval. A Lyons pass was played off McInroy to WALES on the left side of the Pars box and he found the far side of the net with his 40th minute shot. 3-0

It had been a first half that the Premiership club had dominated but the young Dunfermline players had dug in and done their level best to minimise the threat from Killie.

Half time: Kilmarnock 3 Dunfermline 0

Killie put on eighteen year old Kian Leslie for the second half and Liam Polworth was the player withdrawn. Tod tried a 53rd minute shot from the edge of the box but that was blocked by Jeriel Dorsett, Killie’s on loan player from Reading.

If it wasn’t already, the tie was put beyond Dunfermline in 56 minutes when WARNOCK accepted a pass from the left to place the ball from 16 yards past Little to net. 4-0

Fraser Murray made it 5-0 when he met a Leslie cross and drove home from just inside the box.

In 73 minutes Greg Shields fielded all three of his 16 year old outfield subs. Freddie Rowe, Kian McHale and Kieran Ross replaced Jake Rennie, Michael Beagley and Jake Sutherland.

Dunfermline’s 78th minute corner was fisted away by Zach Hemmings and the Killie fans found themselves applauding their keeper’s defence firstly from McLeod and then Tod at the second which required a first class save to maintain their cleansheet.

At the other end Little saved from sub Shaun Kennedy but when WARNOCK took a pop from 20 yards out six minutes from the end Dunfermline would concede again. 6-0

In the second minute of time added on at the end Aaron QUIGG smashed in another Kilmarnock goal. Their name was probably on the trophy when the team lines were released and the engraver could probably have got to work at half time but full credit to this young Dunfermline team they never gave up. A rather dejected Pars side collected their runners up mementoes but it had been a good campaign in which they had brushed aside good opponents on their journey to the final.

- - Greg Shields post match thoughts

KILMARNOCK: Zach Hemmings: Kirk McKnight (c), Jon Craig, Brad Lyons (Shaun Kennedy 70), Jack Sanders, Jeriel Dorsett, Fraser Murray (Aaron Quigg 70), Liam Polworth (Kian Leslie HT), Bobby Wales (Zander Craik 60), Stevie Warnock, Kerr McInroy
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Clark, Andrew Miller, Ethan Mersey, Kabir Chahai (Singh), Corey Armour (GK).
SCORERS: Murray (16, 64), Wales (27, 40), Warnock (56), Quigg (90+2)
YELLOW CARD: Murray (20)

DUNFERMLINE: Max Little: Liam Hoggan, Jake Rennie (Freddie Rowe 73), Sam Young, Miller Fenton (c), Ewan McLeod, Stuart McDowell, Michael Beagley (Kian McHale 73, Taylor Sutherland, Andrew Tod, Jake Sutherland (Kieran Ross 74).
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan Meikle (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Hoggan (58), T Sutherland (90)

REFEREE: Ryan Kennedy
WEATHER: Fair 13°C
ATTENDANCE

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