Dunfermline 0 Hibernian 4

First Pre season Friend

DUNFERMLINE 0 HIBS 4

MATCH PICTURES
It had been ten weeks since the final match of season 2009-10 and for this pre season opener only Alex Burke, Willie Gibson and Greg Ross, were missing from the eleven who faced Airdrie that day.  Ross has gone to Iceland to join Valur while the other two were suffering from the exertions of pre season training.  All their replacements were familiar faces - Andy Kirk, Gary Mason and Chris Higgins.  Goalkeeper Chris Smith is now formally a Par and Hibs fielded former East End striker Colin Nish.

New Hibs signing Edwin de Graaf made his debut for the Edinburgh side as Nick Phinn and Andy Kirk got things underway with the home side attacking the away end goal.  The stand behind Mark Brown, the all purple kitted keeper was well filled by the travelling support.

There was little to cheer early on and not even the Hibees cheered or jeered when from 20 yards Derek Riordan found the net off the crossbar in 8 minutes from an offside position.  Four minutes later a Paul Hanlon tackle on Stephen Bell out on the right handed Joe Cardle the opportunity to pump over a dangerous free kick.  Chris Higgins headed the ball back across the six yard box but Bell`s challenge wasn`t enough and his defender got the ball away.  Cardle collected though and centred another ball in from the right.  Bell rose again but his header went over the crossbar.

The first corner kick of the game came the way of the Fifers and Cardle`s delivery from the right was well met by Andy Dowie, his header evading the outstretched Brown only for David Wotherspoon to clear off his goal line. Two minutes later Andy Kirk drove into the Hibs penalty box to cut back a great ball for Cardle who was running in on the left.  Brown couldn`t get to the well placed cross but the aforementioned Wotherspoon turned the ball behind to deny the winger.

Hibs had barely troubled the Pars defence when they were handed the lead mid way through the first half.  The until then anonymous Nish carried the ball wide left before crossing low to the near post where Andy DOWIE found the wrong side of the goalpost with his first touch.

On the half hour David Graham warmed the hands of the home fans as he fired a wicked low shot narrowly wide of the right Hibs goalpost from 25 yards.  Dowie complained bitterly to referee Stephen Finnie after Nish`s sliding tackle let Riordan in on goal but he drove the ball just wide of target on the right.

A Riordan free kick from 25 yards out beat Smith but came back off the crossbar, a scramble followed but Liam MILLER`s diving header found the net to make it 2-0 Hibs after 37 minutes.

Hibs piled on the pressure with another free kick and corner but Smith held well. The Pars rallied a little towards the end of the half but the two goal deficit at the interval was a little harsh after their first half showing.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Hibs 2

Hibs made three changes for the restart Michael Hart and Anthony stokes replacing John Rankin and Colin Nish.  John Hughes also switched keepers and sub Graeme Smith had a fine save from a well struck shot by Graham in 50 minutes as he advanced on goal from the right.

Three minutes later another Hibs sub made the third goal of the afternoon. Stokes dragged the ball from the right and cut across the top of the Dunfermline penalty box before releasing a powerful drive that Chris Smith could only parry to his right, teeing up RIORDAN for an easy turn in.

Paul Willis and Jordan White came on after 57 minutes for Andy Kirk and David Graham. Phinn`s 62nd minute shot was blocked after Dowie had nodded down a Willis cross to him. Ryan Thomson and Steven McDougall then took over the roles of Phinn and Cardle before White drilled a low shot at the Hibs keeper.

Hibs used eight subs with Galbraith hitting an early effort on target to bring Smith into play while at the other end his namesake held a well hit Willis attempt from 25 yards.  David STEPHENS made it 4-0 after 72 minutes as Smith could only palm Stevenson`s outswinging corner to the centre back`s feet.  Stokes had a chance in 79 to make it five but Smith held well.

Willis shot a free kick into the Hibs wall before the referee brought proceedings to a close.

Hibs used ten substitutes with only Derek Riordan playing the full 90 minutes.  The visitors used more players than Dunfermline have in their entire first team squad but for the First Division team it was good match practice against a team from a higher level.

NEXT MATCH: (away) Pre Season Friendly v East Fife
Tuesday 13th July kick off 7.45pm