DUFC

UNDER-21S LOSE TO DUNFERMLINE

3rd November 2003

With Paul Jarvie in goal, United lined up in their usual 3-5-2 formation. The back three were Andy Hunter, Steven Anderson and Danny Griffin with Stuart Duff at right wing back and Barry Robson on the left. In midfield Holmes and Kerr were together with Owen Coyle in a linking role behind Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel.

The early play saw Robson involved in several moves but no United player was able to capitalise on some good crosses. The visitors looked the stronger side in the first half and Jarvie saved from Mehmet, Kilgannon and Grondin whilst Bullen fired wide. It was the Pars who took the lead with about half an hour gone when Kilgannon netted a rebound after Mehmet had his shot blocked. Holmes got in a couple of decent crosses but it was well into the half before United had chance through Robson who slipped the ball wide after beating three men in the box. Griffin fired in a fierce shot which the keeper could not hold and Coyle saw the rebound saved.

In the second half, neither side had any early success with shots from both off target but when Bullen crossed into the box on the hour mark, the ball eventually fell to Mehmet who slammed it home for the second. Four minutes later, Coyle was red-carded but the reason was not clear. After that, United had an even harder task to get something from the game although they tried and Conway who had come on for Holmes contributed a lot of effort in the twenty minutes or so he was on the field. In the last minute, Scotland missed United's best chance when he managed to fire over the bar from two yards with the goal gaping.