DUNFERMLINE 3 PRESTON NORTH END 0 Date: 24/07/00

Former Dunfermline favourite, the Preston manager Davie Moyes brought his promising Division Two side to East End Park for another Scottish League v English League encounter.

Having disposed of Cardiff and Wigan, Preston were in line to be Pars scalp number three.

Summer wasn`t quite present as Dunfermline kicked off towards the home end and the cool wind. The Pars started well with good Scott Thomson work down the right setting up an Andy Tod knock down to Smithy. But the striker`s close range header was straight at the keeper. Next minute Owen Coyle was presented with a good chance but missed cued his hot. Scott Thomson had a sixth minute free kick saved by young David Lucas.

After 19 minutes Owen Coyle avoided the offside trap took the ball to the bye line and cut back for Andy SMITH to meet. Despite a crowd of defenders the ball found the Preston net. Ten minutes later Owen COYLE made it two. A break down the left put him straight in on the keeper who saved the first effort but the Pars forward netted from an acute angle.

Preston had more of the game after the interval with two chances falling to the out of luck Eyres and a Michael Jackson header coming close. Craig Ireland was denied an own goal when Rankine was offside. Westie had a great save from former Man Utd reserve Jonathan Macken with seven minutes to go.

Right on full time Owen Coyle dispossessed a Preston defender to take the ball left and cross on to the head of Colin NISH to make it 3-0.

DUNFERMLINE: Westwater. Shields, Tod, Reid (Huxford 81), Ireland. Thomson (Graham 75), May, Dolan (French 75), Petrie (Boyle 75). Smith (Nish 77), Coyle.
Scorers: Smith (19), Coyle (29), Nish (90)

PRESTON: Lucas, Alexander, Ludden (Murphy 83), Murdock, Jackson, Gregan, Cartwright (Diaf 81), Rankine, Nogan (McKenna 81), Macken, Eyres (Appleton 81).

Referee: S Kaney
Attendance 2500