U19s v Partick Thistle

Dunfermline Athletic U19s ko Partick Thistle in the SFA Youth Cup, Henderson (26) 1-0; McBride (36) 1-1; Mercer (75) 2-1

PARTICK THISTLE 1 DUNFERMLINE 2

MATCH PICTURES
The Pars travelled to Glasgow for this SFA Youth Cup First Round tie versus Partick Thistle at Petershill Juniors ground on Sunday 11th September. They were without striker Allan Smith who broke his wrist in midweek but Fraser Moncrieff was back to lead the line beside Blair Henderson.

The visitors kicked off into a stiff wind but they started the game well. First chance came in six minutes from a great ball down the right for Scott Mercer to square but the defence sent the ball behind for a corner. Next Moncrieff got through on the keeper but directed his effort straight at the green shirt. He had a similar result with a better effort from 20 yards in 11th minute.

Thistle`s first attempt came on 14 minutes when Jonathan Black laid the ball off right for David Wilson to release a good fierce shot that was parried by Ryan Goodfellow and turned behind by Jamie Birnie.

Five minutes later it looked like Kerr Young`s diagonal ball into the box was going to provide the opener.  Henderson rose to nod it down into the path of Shaun Byrne but Wightman in the Partick goal stopped the well connected shot and then held Ross Drummond`s follow up.

The goal that they deserved came the Fifers way in 26 minutes. Moncrieff took the ball down the left, turned it back for Drummond and his pass into the Partick box picked out Blair HENDERSON who turned to stick the ball away in the bottom right with a cool finish.

Byrne sent a 29 yard free kick over the bar in 33 minutes and Dunfermline had limited their opponents to one shot  on target until the Jags grabbed an equaliser in 36 minutes. The wind caused the problem and Black got his head on a long high ball to feed McBRIDE to his right and the striker finished clinically from 16 yards to give Goodfellow no chance. 1-1

Within three minutes Thistle had the ball in the net again but the offside flag had been raised albeit late. In between times Mercer had carved out a good chance for himself and was really unlucky to see his shot curve wide of the far post.

Half Time: Partick Thistle 1 Dunfermline 1

There was an early let off for the Pars in the opening minute of the second half when Thistle sent the ball over the bar from close in. At the other end there was a scramble in the Thistle box when Campbell had his header saved at the far post and the cup tie fever really caught alight in 52 minutes when sub Ryan McKie dribbled a route throught the Pars defence to have his shot blocked and then the luckless Burbridge drove the loose ball on to the upright.

Goodfellow was well out to end Burbridge`s effort just two minutes later. Scott MacKintosh came on for Fraser Moncrieff on the hour but within four minutes a Burbridge tackle on the touchline between the dugouts sent him into the perimeter railings. With extremely sore chest and ribs the injured sub was replaced by Jack Bruce, Byrne was pushed forward and Drummond moved to a central midfield role.

The wind was causing real difficulties for both teams and with 15 minutes to go the elements gave the Pars the break. A Scott MERCER corner on the left was challenged by Grant Munro at the near post and the ball sneaked past both the defender on the post and keeper Wightman. 2-1

With the time at 5.35pm the floodlights came on to brighten the gathering gloom above. Jack Bruce made an opening for Ritchie to try and breach the home defences but the unlucky midfielder drove narrowly wide.

Thistle tried hard to save the tie.  As the time ran away from them Dale Keenan had his belter of an effort blocked and McKie shot wide left. McKie appealled for a 91st minute penalty but it would have been soft. The Pars had made it hard for themselves but they saw out the lengthy added time at the end of the game to earn a home tie in the Second Round against East Stirlingshire. Had they taken more of their chances, especially in the first half it would have been much more comfortable. The date of the tie is likely to be Sunday 9th October.