SFA Youth Cup v Partick Thistle

Under 19s taken to extra time in tie they should had finished shortly after half time.

PARTICK THISTLE 3 DUNFERMLINE 6 (after extra time)

After an hour Dunfermline should have been comfortably through to the Second Round of this SFA Youth Cup and although there was no doubt in the end, it took two hours to settle the tie.

As early as the third minute Scott McBride produced a nice burst of speed to pass the full back and send an inviting ball flashing through the six yard box but unluckily just too far ahead of Calum Smith. Then the keeper was out bravely to punch off the head of Smith at a Phinn corner and Phinn and Williamson next provided McBride with an opportunity but his close in shot was deflected on to the left post.

During this period of sustained early pressure from the visitors Clark Kay also had his effort cleared off the line. When the Pars scored in 15th minute it was thoroughly deserved. Patrick Halpin`s pass to Iain Williamson was nicely controlled on the top of the penalty area and the lay off for SMITH teed up a right footed chip to find the net at the far left.

Calum Smith lining up his shot for the opener

There was no surprise either when the Fifers doubled their advantage two minutes later. A quick switch from a Thistle throw in deep in the Dunfermline half sent Sean Muhsin racing up the right. A superbly placed diagonal pass evaded the defence and set up WILLIAMSON to score number two.

Even when Thistle got a goal back in 29 minutes through an unfortunate own goal by Neil FENWICK, the Pars dominance suggested that there was little to concern Hamish French`s side. Six minutes later Derek Howie pushed a good ball down the right and Iain Williamson collected to round a defender and continue into the box. A hefty challenge sent him to the deck but no penalty was given.

Three minutes from the break David MUIR collected the ball in the centre circle and with a fantastic solo effort he powered past defenders until he was close enough to shoot beyond Charles Samushonga in the home goal.

With a 3-1 lead at the restart few would argue that the SPL club were well on top. Williamson was first to threaten in the second half receiving a long Paterson punt that put him in on the goalie but Samushonga stuck out a boot to save. Muir then fed Muhsin a chance that he drove low and hard but this time the green kitted stopper turned the ball around his right hand post.

When Calum Smith was tumbled in the box in 61 minutes it looked all over as a contest but Nick Phinn sent the spot kick low left and the Thistle keeper dived correctly to save.

Eight minutes later Kay`s pass back from outside the left side of his penalty box was not nearly close enough to Greg Paterson and Andrew WARREN accepted the perfect gift to net under the advancing Pars keeper.

Dunfermline had a multitude of chances to sew the tie up with Muhsin and McDonough squandering the best ones before one minute into added time the right side of the Pars defence was breached at a throw in on their right side and substitute Scott BRIGHT curled the ball over Paterson to find the top right corner.

In extra time Thistle had the first real chance when Paterson let slip at a Partick corner from the left but Calum Leitch was too surprised to see the ball at his feet to score. Dunfermline substitute John McCulloch threaded a fine defence splitting pass for McDONOUGH to restore the lead in 104 minutes. Twenty seconds into the second period of extra time McDonough ran on to another long ball and squared for Calum SMITH to net number five.

One minute from the end McDonough fought hard to win the ball on the edge of the opposition box, his shot was deflected but WILLIAMSON was on hand to sink number six. Certainly Firhill for thrills and in the end no spill for Dunfermline.