U20s v Motherwell

SPFL Development League (home) Smith (4) 1-0: Blyth (11) 1-1: Turnbull (13) 1-2: Hopkirk (26) 2-2: Duthie (31) 3-2

DUNFERMLINE 3 MOTHERWELL 2

Dunfermline faced Motherwell on Tuesday afternoon at New Central Park, Kelty hoping to extend their seven match unbeaten home record. Lewis Spence returned to the team and the only other first team players were David Hopkirk and Michael Paton.

The visitors kicked off but when Callum SMITH capitalised on a mistake in the Motherwell defence he steered the ball under keeper Russell Griffiths to take a fourth minute lead. 1-0

Two minutes later Spence was unlucky when getting two attempts, the first blocked and second being sent past the post.`Well then forced two corners and equalised from the second. The ball was not cleared at the first attempt and Jacob BLYTH latched on to crash the ball past Cammy Gill. 1-1

The visitors then followed up with a second goal through Davie TURNBULL just two minutes later in 13th minute. 1-2

They threatened again when a high ball from deep was headed narrowly wide by Blyth but the Pars fought back forcing a couple of free kicks. Conner Duthie just failed in his attempt to convert Spence`s delivery and Motherwell cleared.

When Duthie was brought down in 24th minute he grabbed the opportunity to take the free kick from 25 yards out that escaped narrowly over the crossbar. Two minutes later though Duthie provided HOPKIRK with an opportunity and he found the far corner of the net with the help of a deflection. 2-2

DUTHIE then shot the Pars into a 31st minute lead. A super run up the left from the 20 year old was finished with a ripper of a shot into the top corner. 3-2

At the other end Livingstone tried to emulate that but sent his shot well off target. Before the interval Paton had a shot that was just too high and a Hopkirk ball in for Smith was cut out before the 17 year old could add to his tally.

It had been a good, all action first half on the slick astro surface.

Half time: Dunfermline 3 Motherwell 2

Johnny Galloway replaced Lewis Spence for the second half and the Pars started briskly with a fine low cross cleared only as far as Hopkirk who had his shot blocked. In 53 minutes a Hopkirk corner won a corner but when that was cleared Motherwell had the next opportunity when Turnbull controlled the ball on his chest before striking at goal but the ball rose all the way and over the bar.

The same fate suffered a Duthie effort in 58 minutes as Barry Maguire closed him down. Then Paton was just wide of the right post from a 30 yard free kick. Smith had a chance from a Robbie Crawford pass but Griffiths made a good block.

As the second half progressed the Steelmen had corners and free kicks but the Pars defended those and it was not until the first minute of added time that the scoreline was threatened. A great curling effort from the left foot of Dylan Mackin went just outside the post.

All the action had come in the first 45 minutes and the Pars saw the game through to pick up the three points. The result takes the Fifers up to sixth place three places and three points behind their opponents.

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