U20s v St Johnstone

Dargo (31) 1-0; El Bakhtaoui (64) 2-0; Mercer (88) 3-0.

MATCH PICTURES
With Ryan Goodfellow ineligible for Sunday`s SFA Youth Cup tie against Dundee United fifteen year old goalkeeper Cammy Gill came in to the Pars starting eleven for this Under 20s league match against St Johnstone.

St Johnstone kicked off but lost possession immediately and were then fortunate that their keeper Mark Hurst tipped Allan Smith`s early shot around his left hand post. There was another let off in fifth minute when a cross from the left was glanced narrowly wide off the head of Fayssal El Bakhtaoui.

The visitors won a seventh minute corner when Dylan Easton forced the ball out off Ryan Williamson. When the delivery came over from the left Scott Brown got in a shot but was well wide right of target. Just a minute later a free kick on the right kept the Pars defence alert but Scott Gray`s cross was headed wide by Alex Kitchen.

Two Pars corners in 17 minutes were successfully defended but at the midway point in the half, the Fifers attack should have taken a great chance after Williamson carved open the Saints defence and cut back from the right byeline.  Next Drummond cut back from the other side, Lewis Spence connected but his effort was deflected for a corner that came to nothing.

Craig Dargo made the Saints keeper save with a 29th minute shot from 20 yards and as the Pars pressed was unlucky when his one two with Scott Mercer just failed to penetrate the visitors` defence.  Mercer then made the break on the left that led to the opener. Choosing not to shoot, he laid the ball off to DARGO in a central position and the 35 year old found the net majestically from 20 yards. 1-0

St Johnstone tried to hit right back and Kitchen came close from a Dwayne Coultress free kick that Gill dived to his right to scoop off the line.  The Premiership outfit realised that they were in for a fight if they wanted to find an equaliser as Dunfermline were all over them as half time approached.

A 40th minute free kick dipped too late to beat Hurst and at the other end Gill comfortably held a Craig Thomson shot from distance.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 St Johnstone 0

The second half started with Dunfermline again on the offensive and just over a minute had gone when Hurst had to save from Dargo after Smith had created the chance. St Johnstone came more into the game but it was a break when Stewart intercepted a Dargo pass that created real danger for the Pars. Martin was yellow carded for his follow through meaning the Perth team had an opportunity to fire a free kick into the Pars box but that was suitably dealt with.

Superb play from Smith then brought a second goal for Dunfermline in 64 minutes. Chris Kane picked Smith out on the edge of the Saintees box. He turned his man and took the ball to the left byeline fighting off the challenge of Gray to dispatch a fine ball to the far post where EL BAKHTAOUI turned it high into the net. 2-0 

Kitchen headed over the bar from a corner on the right but that apart John Potter`s team looked comfortable. The Pars kept possession and limited St Johnstone to snatched chances, Thomson firing an 81st minute effort over the bar from 25 yards.

Spence switched the ball left for Mercer and he beat off tackles from two in blue shirts before unluckily slicing his shot across goal. in 87 minutes St Johnstone did hit the post after impressive play by Gray deep down the right. His cross was diverted on to the right post by sub Robbie Norrie before Gill pounched on the loose ball.

St Johnstone`s misery was compounded by a third Dunfermline goal two minutes from time. It was Scott MERCER who gave Hurst no chance as he picked the top right corner for his fine finish.

MATCH PICTURES