Betfred Penalty Heartache for The Fife

Betfred League Cup Group B

Tuesday 18^th July 2017

Bayview Stadium

East Fife 0

Dunfermline 0

(Dunfermline win 9-8 on penalties)

East Fife XI: Cordery (Goodfellow 45’), Dunsmore, Gordon, Watson, Docherty, Flanagan (Mutch 72’), Reilly (Young 88’), Slattery, Willis, Wilson, Duggan

Subs: Inglis

Booked: Flanagan

Dunfermline XI: Murdoch, Williamson, Lewis, Morris, Ashcroft, Wedderburn (Lochhead 68’), Higginbottom (Shields 68’), Paton, McManus (Smith 81’), Clark, Cardle

Subs: Gill, Mvoto, Splaine, Duthie

Booked: Ashcroft

Referee: Gavin Ross

Attendance: 1094

Dunfermline were the visitors to on matchday 2 of the Betfred Cup for the first game to be played on the new artificial pitch at Bayview. Manager Darren Young made three changes to the side that lost to Peterhead at the weekend with Ross Mutch, Chris Kane and Ryan Goodfellow making way for Kyle Wilson, Ben Reilly and Thomas Cordery who was making his first appearance in an East Fife shirt.

The visitors started in the ascendency; Joe Cardle almost finding himself through 1-1 with Cordery but was denied by a superb tackle by Aaron Dunsmore. The first real action in front of goal occurred in the 17^th minute when Dunfermline were awarded an indirect free kick inside the East Fife box after Cordery handled a pass-back from Craig Watson. The ball way laid-off for Kallum Higginbottom who could only hit the wall before the ball was cleared for a corner from which Nicky Clark headed narrowly over.

Dunfermline were continuing to press and should have taken the lead when first Higginbottom was denied by an excellent save by Cordery with his legs before Declan McManus delayed his shot too long allowing the East Fife defence to cover when he had a near open goal to aim for. At the other end, the home side had their first sight of goal when Nathan Flanagan turned his marker and cut inside but could only find the side-netting. The visitors had one final chance before half-time but Cordery was able to turn Higginbottom’s drive behind for a corner.

East Fife were forced to change ‘keepers at the break after Cordery picked up an injury during the first-half and replacement Goodfellow was called into action shortly before the hour mark to keep out a header from Callum Morris. The home side were growing into the game and were unlucky when a great cross into the box by Dunsmore just evaded Wilson in the 6-yard box before Chris Duggan tried his luck from 30-yard after winning the ball in midfield. Dunfermline had another good opportunity 10 minutes from time; the offside flag sparing the blushes of Clark who put the ball over the bar from a couple of yard.

Neither side were able to find a breakthrough so the tie went to penalties. No one was able to find the target during the 90 minutes but there was no such trouble from 12-yards with 17 consecutive penalties finding the back of the net before Ben Gordon saw his spot kick rebound off the inside of the post and rolling to safety to give Dunfermline the bonus point.

A very encouraging performance from East Fife who must now recovery quickly and do it all again against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.