U19s v Ross County

With a wee bit of luck Dunfermline might have grabbed a goal back before County put it out of their reach.

ROSS COUNTY 2 DUNFERMLINE 0

Dunfermline U19s made the long and difficult trip through the snow to Dingwall on Sunday to face Ross County in the SFL U19 League Cup. Despite the blustery conditions at the Highland Soccer Academy the travellers started the game brightly but unfortunately lost a goal to the home side`s first real attack. A good break down the right produced a cross that was converted low to Greg Paterson`s left hand.

The sides cancelled each other out for a large part of the first half by Kris Maxwell got in an effort that was narrowly wide and Ryan Thomson hit a good right footed volley from the edge of the box that home keeper, Matthew Curtis saved.

At the other end Paterson was forced into making a couple of crucial saves and the Pars might have turned around even at the break had Curtis not pulled off another fine save this time from Maxwell.

Hamish French`s side had a good 20 minute spell on the resumption but failed to test their opponents despite sending a few dangerous balls into their penalty box. Paul Willis whizzed over a cross that Maxwell just failed to connect with and all the while County threatened on the counterattack with Paterson producing another three fine saves to keep his team`s hopes alive.

With a wee bit of luck Dunfermline might have grabbed a goal back before County put it out of their reach. Three minutes from full time the home side were awarded a penalty when Paterson was rather harshly adjudged to have wrapped his arms around a striker rising for the ball. The spot kick was duly converted and the young Pars side finally went down 2-0 to the slightly older full timers from Dingwall.