RESERVES FALL TO HEAVY DEFEAT
26th July 2016
Following their opening reverse to Cowdenbeath it was another bad day at the office for Saints, who were on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline in Tuesday afternoon's Reserve League Cup tie at East End Park. An essentially young side was supplemented by those not involved in Saturday's derby win and a young trialist lined up in goal following the training ground injury sustained by Euan McLean.
The Pars opened the scoring after only 10 minutes after Saints lost possession in defence and Iain Williamson was able to leap unchallenged and head past the young goalkeeper. Only minutes later the Pars should have extended their advantage following more hesitancy in the Saints rearguard but the home side were denied by a fantastic save from Saints' trialist. Five minutes before the break and against the run of play, the lead was extended though when Iain Williamson slipped in Ross Campbell, who remained composed to drill the ball home.
Five minutes into the second period Kevin Moon was replaced by Johnny Lindsay, who slotted in at left back, with Steven Kerr moving into midfield but soon after the home side made it 3-0 when Campbell reacted quickest after the goalkeeper had tipped Wiles free-kick onto the post. Saints responded immediately with Steven Kerr fizzing a volley just over after connecting with a Lindsay cross and on 70 minutes Kerr turned provider for Andy Jackson, who came closest to finding the net for Saints with a header that rattled the bar.
As Saints continued to press, Jordan Quinn replaced Chris Dodd at right back but as the game entered it's final 10 minutes, Dunfermline found the net for the fourth time, Williamson grabbing his second after finding space in the box. Saints had a shout for a penalty turned down with 5 minutes remaining, Reynolds being bundled over in the box. It was a challenge the young striker wouldn't recover from and he made way for Derek McInnes, with the manager taking up a midfield role and Peter MacDonald joining Andy Jackson up front.
Saints' misery was compounded in the dying seconds when Ross Campbell again found space in the box and finished clinically. The final scoreline maybe flattered the hosts slightly but in Ross Campbell the Pars had a player capable of taking any chances that came his way whilst for all that Saints passed the ball about nicely and created openings, home goalkeeper Calum Reidford wasn't tested enough.
DUNFERMLINE: Reidford, Woods (Lynch), Muirhead, Graham, Dearden, Willis, Wiles, Bell (White), Campbell, Williamson, McBride.
SAINTS: Trialist, Dodd (Quinn), Kerr, Moon (Lindsay), McKoy, Sullivan, Reynolds (McInnes), McCallion, Jackson, MacDonald, Morgan.
Photo: Nick McKoy Match report courtesy of Kevin MacGregor