TEN MAN UNITED SNATCH WIN

The line-up for the match was along the usual lines with Euan McLean in goal behind a back four of Stuart Abbot, Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner and William Easton. In midfield United fielded Barry Callaghan, David Robertson, Greg Cameron and Kieran McAleenan with Joe Andrew and Nicky McDonald up front. The early pressure came from the visitors and Smith fired wide in the second minute and then McLean had to be quick to grab the ball at the feet of Hunter. Phinn fired in an effort that McLean held comfortably and it took United until the seventh minute to create their first chance but Robertson could not connect properly with an Easton free kick. McLean palmed a dangerous looking corner kick away under pressure but, as the game progressed, United began to look stronger and several good moves ended without a clear-cut chance. It was fully half an hour before United’s attack got a shot on goal but Andrew curled his effort wide and shortly after that a good chance was missed when Kenneth’s effort was deflected clear. Easton then tried from range but he too saw his shot deflected away and three minutes from half time after a couple of near things, Gardiner blasted the ball goalwards only for Murdoch in goal to punch clear. Right on half time Easton took a quick free kick but found the keeper alert and he held it. One minute into the second half Kenneth glanced a header wide and the both McGlinchie and Phinn were off target for the Pars. McAleenan and Robertson both had shots blocked and then on fifty-eight minutes Easton was sent off for a last man challenge on McGlinchie but the decision seemed a harsh. However this proved a turning point as United stepped up the pace and the arrival of Goodwillie, who had come on a few minutes earlier, began to give Dunfermline all sorts of problems. Robertson, Gardiner and Goodwillie were all out of luck and for the visitors, Hunter saw his shot deflected before Goodwillie scored the only goal of the game twelve minutes from the end. A high ball dropped into the box and the United player waited his moment, holding off a defender before turning and getting in the shot over the keeper. After playing so much of the game behind the ball Dunfermline were then forced forward and substitute Anderson had one shot that went over before his next effort beat McLean but skimmed the outside of the post. Hunter missed and easy chance right at the end and Wilson blasted over, as United played out the last few minutes to gain a well-deserved three points. After the match Tony Docherty was very pleased with the outcome and the way the players had responded to the loss of a player so early in the second period. “It was no mean feat getting three points today against a team that basically played with ten men behind the ball and I think that says a lot about the respect they gave us. It was a stuffy and frustrating game and although we had most of the possession, chances were limited. We just asked the boys to be patient and in the end the goal game from our persistence. I feel we proved today that our lads have character and fully deserve to be where they are in the league and after the break we will pick up where we have left of and hopefully put in a strong challenge in the second half of the season.”