DUNFERMLINE 0 EVERTON 3 Date: 27/07/02

Fixture: Pre Season Friendly

Attendance: Kick Off: 15:00

Dunfermline welcomed back Everton and their manager, former Pars player, Davie Moyes for this pre season friendly. Marco Ruitenbeek returned in goals and Steven Hampshire started in preference to Scott Walker.
Tormasz Radzinski almost opened the scoring in just 11 seconds when he broke through on the right. He pushed the ball wide of Marco and just past the far post. This was an early warning of the sharpness of the English Premiership team and the skills of Radwinski in particular.

Dunfermline were not so fast out of the blocks and it took them until the 14th minute to create danger. From a free kick won when Alan Stubbs held down Stevie Crawford, Barry Nicholson flicked the ball over for Lee Bullen but nobody was on hand to accept his nod down at the far post and Lee Carsley took it away.

Referee Dougie McDonald appeared to need the pre season warm up as much as the players ignoring the Everton keeper Paul Gerrard handling the ball outside his area and then completely dismissing the jersey pulling on Lee Bullen that let Gary NAYSMITH in to open the scoring in the 18th minute.

The crowd and media in the temporary press box in the Norrie McCathie Stand obviously had a better view of the incident than the whistler. The home side did not this injustice affect them. Gary Dempsey playing in a wider role than we have seen him play so far sent over a cross that Brewster nodded on for Crawford but the ever alert Evertonian defence intercepted that.

In the 27th minute Barry Nicholson swept a ball over for Crawford that Hampshire just failed to convert. Then a move from Brewster through Crawford to Dempsey was cut out before it reached the well placed Nicholson.

The East Stand`s chorus of hand ball must have registered the illicit use of a hand by Kostas Loumpoutis but again the referee showed no favours to the home side. Everton were a constant threat with Radzinski and Campbell requiring the close attentions of Thomson and Skerla. A weak pass by Dempsey in the 36th minute almost presented Campbell with a scoring chance but Marco came to the rescue with a fine blocking save.

Another chorus of hand ball from the East Stand followed the skirmish that started when Craig Brewster`s header was saved on the line by Gerrard. The shaky adjudication at least was consistent as Everton were awarded a corner after Marco had punched a ball that had already cleared his crossbar.

This corner the Pars survived courtesy of a header over the bar from Steve Watson. Half Time 0-1.<

The second half started just as gingerly for the Pars with Mason`s indecision and Bullen light head back bringing Ruitenbeek into action early in the half. On 50 minutes a Nicholson free kick was headed over by Lee Bullen.

Scotland Manager Berti Vogts watched from the under construction Main Stand. He was certainly interested in Naysmith with David Weir and Stevie Crawford of possible secondary interest. It has always been felt that Scott Thomson should attract his attentions and certainly Nipper`s 53rd minute burst down the left wing would have impressed him.

Dempsey fed the ball out left and Thomson beat two men sticking in with great determination to eventually place a fine pass on the head of Lee Bullen. The inrushing bull met the ball perfectly but the ball rebounded off the crossbar to Crawford whose right footed shot from 10 yards out was too high to count.

The move to two at the back allowed the Pars to play the ball about with good movement off the ball. Determination grew into their play and a melee to gain possession that involved Gary Mason and David Weir required description more appropriate from Eddy Waring.

Thomson struck a 25 yard out free kick tapped to him but Alan Stubbs blocked out the on target effort. Sean Kilgannon who had replaced Dempsey after the hour exchanged play with Crawford to make his way into in the box and after playing the ball off David Weir`s hand fired in a shot that was well saved.

A free kick won out right was palmed away by the keeper only as far as Crawford but yet again the shot was blocked. On 65 minutes Crawford headed over a Kilgannon cross but the introduction of substitute Thomas Gravesen brought about the final destruction of the Scots defence.

The move to two at the back allowed the Pars to play the ball about with good movement off the ball. Determination grew into their play and a melee to gain possession that involved Gary Mason and David Weir required description more appropriate from Eddy Waring.

Thomson struck a 25 yard out free kick tapped to him but Alan Stubbs blocked out the on target effort. Sean Kilgannon who had replaced Dempsey after the hour exchanged play with Crawford to make his way into in the box and after playing the ball off David Weir`s hand fired in a shot that was well saved.

A free kick won out right was palmed away by the keeper only as far as Crawford but yet again the shot was blocked. On 65 minutes Crawford headed over a Kilgannon cross but the introduction of substitute Thomas GRAVESEN brought about the final destruction of the Scots defence.

The sub was allowed a solo run in the 74th minute that he slotted in from outside the box to make it two nil. Only seven minutes later a quick throw by Gravesen bounced once before being beautifully put away by Kevin CAMPBELL. Three nil was bad and luck was with them when Campbell hit the right post with only two minutes remaining.

Over run by a better side; great match from Skerla and more good things from Kilgannon. Celtic Park comes next and we can`t expect Celtic to be any easier.

Everton: Gerrard, Hibbert (Said 70), Weir, Loumboutis (Pistone 70), Watson (Alexandersson 56), Carsley (Linderoth 61), Pembridge (Gravesen 61), Naysmith (Unsworth 56), Campbell, Radzinski (Rooney 70)