U20s v Motherwell

Stalemate in SPL U20 League match played at Fir Park Stadium on Monday 18th March.

MOTHERWELL 0 DUNFERMLINE 0

MATCH PICTURES
The U20s match kicked off in light snow at the Fir Park Stadium but the line markings were perfectly visible on the predominantly green surface. Dunfermline lost Chris Kane in seven minutes, he limped off holding his knee and Declan O`Kane was an early substitute.

There was a distinct lack of goalmouth incident in the opening quarter of an hour but Dunfermline did have the better possession. Ross Millen pumped a 16th minute free kick into the `Well box but the Steelmen cleared.

In 22 minutes Jack Bruce pushed over Paul McCafferty on the right just outside the penalty box and when Frazer Johnstone drove the free kick into the six yard box, Bob McHugh fortunately for Dunfermline directed his shot wide right.

The snow was light but incessant and by 26th minute some of the line markings were beginning to get obscured. In 32 minutes the first corner of the game was delivered from the left by Millen and O`Kane`s header was cleared off the line by Johnstone.

The Pars then had two cases of bad luck; firstly Whittle just failing to connect well enough on a pass to the far post and then Smith meeting a Millen cross but keeper Ross Stewart saved from close in.

Keeper Ryan Goodfellow was brought into action four minutes from the interval but he easily held McHugh`s long range effort.  Blair Henderson stopped a Bruce lob over the `Well defence but couldn`t get enough control of the ball with only Stewart to beat.

The home side finished the half strongly with Goodfellow forced into two fine saves; firstly from Lee Erwin and then from Dom Thomas. The first `Well corner followed but the Fifers kept them out.

Half Time: Motherwell 0 Dunfermline 0

A run from Mercer forced a corner just 90 seconds into the second half and from Millen`s cross at the setpiece Henderson glanced a header on target only for Johnstone to yet again clear from his own goalline.

In 51 minutes Kerr Young found himself up the park to feed on a Smith pass to Henderson just inside the Motherwell box but when his opportunity was snuffed out Whittle did get the chance but sent his shot wide left.

Two minutes later Smith was chopped down and Millen was allowed a shot from the 30 yard free kick. This time Stewart made a great job of holding the on target attempt. The Pars piled on the pressure but failed to cash in. Mercer crashed a 59th minute shot wide on to the billboards.

Whittle made a surging run and deserved a goal but the keeper stopped him and Smith couldn`t take the rebound. Scott Gray came on for Smith since he had taken a fairly fierce challenge and then it was Henderson`s chance but he fired over the bar from 12 yards out.

The home side had a couple of near misses just to remind Dunfermline that they were there. Ross Kellock had a cross cum drive escape past the far post and there was a headed attempt from a corner that could have provided better.

In 77 minutes Gray latched on to a weak back pass, rounded the keeper and squared for Whittle but Stewart was back to kick the shot off his line. What a let off!

Frazer Johnstone was stretchered off with just four minutes remaining and apart from another near miss from Blair Henderson there was nothing else worthy of noting after that.

Dunfermline had umpteen chances to win this match, they had the bulk of the play and looked the more composed but ended up with only one point to show for their efforts.  Coach John Potter was not wrong when he summarised:-

"I thought we were the bettert team for the majority of the match. We played well, passed the ball well and created chances. We were excellent for the whole game. We were maybe just a little sloppy in the final third but definitely deserved to win the game. We need a bit more belief."

NEXT MATCH: (home) SFA Youth Cup semi final v St Mirren
Sunday 24th March, East End Park kick off 1.00pm

John Potter and Stephen Wright would like to ask Dunfermline Athletic fans to come along and support the Under 20`s this Sunday at East End Park for their SFA Youth Cup semi-final v St Mirren at 1pm. This is the future of our club and will be the biggest game of their young career`s so far. A great support behind them will hopefully inspire them to make it to the final at Hampden Park in May.

Admission price is £2.