U19s v Raith Rovers

Hamish French`s side beat the local rivals at Dalgety Bay with Scott McBride scoring the only goal of the match.

RAITH ROVERS 0 DUNFERMLINE 1

Dunfermline Under 19s hadn`t played since 16th December and even then the team relied heavily on re-inforcements from the U17s but for the trip to the Bay to face the Rovers, Hamish French was able to field his first choice team for the first time this season.

There was a fairly strong wind on their backs in the first half as they played west to east. A third minute corner kick from Scott McBride on the right was cleared only as far as Gary MacLachlan and he tested the keeper, Liam Amos, who made a very good stop.

MacLachlan had another shot from distance that again Amos rose to hold before Raith brought Pars keeper Greg Paterson into serious deployment. John Halley took the ball to the right byeline before cutting the ball back for Martin Pirret to swing the ball into the Pars six yard box. The danger was only cleared as far as Gary Thomson who drove a powerful low shot on target that almost spun through Paterson.

On the half hour a well constructed move after winning possession in the middle of the park led to the goal.  Derek Howie and Sandy Nairn were involved before Kris Maxwell was sent up the left wing.  The striker controlled the ball well with a head down and cross that found Scott McBRIDE.  The highly rated youngster stuck the ball into the far corner of Amos` net from ten yards.

Scott McBride turns away to celebrate his goal

Six minutes later Paul Willis chased across the park to win possession on the left.  He then passed to McBride on the wing and met the return on the edge of the box but his finish was wide left.

Dunfermline kept up the pressure with MacLachlan shooting at the keeper and then two Dunfermline corner kicks in 41st minute ended with Howie launching an effort wide. Just before the break a free kick 35 yards out gave MacLachlan a chance to fire another shot at Amos but the ball went wide to the right of target.

Dunfermline were comfortable in the first half without creating too many goal scoring opportunities. With the advantage of the wind they maybe should have been further ahead at the break.

Half Time: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 1

In the second half Dunfermline defended corners well and could have scored more but the Raith keeper made some good saves to keep the score down.  First chance came to Tam Graham in 50th minute when Aitken`s cross set him up for a shot but that sneaked wide.

Five minutes later Stuart Dearden`s shot was deflected wide but McBride sent his corner kick through the box without any takers.

Lee Bryce came on for Raith and the youngster who is attracting interest from Hearts injected some urgency into his team`s quest for the equaliser. He took Aitken`s pass wide right before picking out Halley with his cross but the centre forward could only win a corner with his shot.  Mark Whatley floated over a tricky one that Paterson took neatly from under his bar.

As the match went into its final quarter Charlie Bradshaw went down on the far side of the box under a challenge from Amos. No penalty just a corner said Referee Raymond Whyte but Charlie was unable to continue so Jason Hunter came on.

Charlie Bradshaw was carried off on his father`s back with ligament damage

At the other end Whatley picked out Mackie on the edge of the area and Paterson brilliantly tipped the effort over the bar. In 75th minute Scott McBride was in for another crack at goal after great work from Hunter but Amos was the equal of it.

Craig Ireland`s Rovers finished strongly with Mackie and Whatley again spelling danger.  The best chance came from a Bryce cross three minutes from time. Somehow Halley failed to turn in the cross from the left and between them Paterson and Nairn kept out the Kirkcaldy team.

RAITH ROVERS: Liam Amos; Martin Pirret (Ryan Aitken 35), Craig Wedderburn, Danny Mann, Scott Adamson; Mark Whatley, Jamie Mackie, David Woods (Jason Darling 73), Gary Thomson; John Halley, Tam Graham (Lee Bryce 62).
YELLOW CARD Mackie (43)

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Paterson; Garry Leighton, John McCulloch, Stuart Dearden, Sandy Nairn; Paul Willis, Gary MacLachlan, Derek Howie, Scott McBride; Charlie Bradshaw (Jason Hunter 70), Kris Maxwell (Lee Graham 89).
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Bauld, Harry McGregor
SCORER: McBride(30)
YELLOW CARD: Bradshaw (64)