RAITH ROVERS 0 DUNFERMLINE 5

Date: 09/07/05

Fixture: Pre Season Friendly

Attendance: 1656

Kick Off: 14:00

Referee: Crawford Allan

Weather: 24C Bright

The season got underway at a sticky Starks Park with the travelling support not matching the numbers in the home end.

Seven of the team that started at Kilmarnock on the final day of last season were back to take on their Second Division neighbours.

The Pars kicked off defending the goal in front of the home fans but right from the start their focus was on attack. Within the first minute Simon Donnelly raced up the right and fed a ball into the path of Derek Young but his effort from just inside the box was blocked out. Next a Scott Morrison free kick floated over from the left fell to Darren Young but his good driving shot was also blocked out by the home defence.

Halliwell was brought into the play saving a soft effort from Neil Jablonski in the 5th minute and then a long low effort from the Raith no.10. Emillio Jaconelli.

Play then gravitated to the other end with Morrison supplying numerous balls in from the left. Donnelly headed one that rattled down off the underside of the crossbar. Then as the West Fifers continued to pressurise the Kirkcaldy men Iain Davison`s challenge on Simon Donnelly earned a penalty. The decision looked soft but no one argued and DONNELLY placed the ball on the spot to then send it low to the keeper`s right to open the scoring after 14 minutes.

Play continued to centred in the Raith half although Chris McLeod had a thundering shot from 35 yards and Eddie Annand another from slightly nearer both of which were narrowly wide left. Dunfermline were sparked into more direct action. Derek Young made ground up the right to provide Makel with a shooting chance but the keeper saved well. Continuing to press it was Gary Mason wide right who sent over a ball that DEREK YOUNG crashed home at an angle from 8 yards in 32 minutes.

Minutes later, Mason teed up Darren Young but he pulled his effort wide left but the third goal was not far off. A Donnely break through the centre saw MASON picked out on the edge of the box and his shot slipped through the triallist keeper to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute.

Dunfermline continued to test the triallist with the away fans cheering his hold of Morrison`s drive with more than a hint of irony. Darren Young rocketted in another shot but it flew just over the top.

Half time arrived with the Pars in a comfortable three goal lead. Raith made three changes at half time but only shirt changes with bewlidering numbers for the Pars. Scott Thomson`s erratic clearance led to a cross ball that Greg Shields headed dangerously close to goal as he conceded a corner.

Derek Young had a nice try for the Pars in 55th minute as the Polish triallist

Half time arrived with the Pars in a comfortable three goal lead. Raith made three changes at half time but only shirt changes with bewlidering numbers for the Pars. Scott Thomson`s erratic clearance led to a cross ball that Greg Shields headed dangerously close to goal as he conceded a corner.

Derek Young had a nice try for the Pars in 55th minute as the Polish triallist (Maciej Nuckowski) and Aaron Labonte waited to come on. Simon Donnelly and Scott Thomson made way for the subs as the sun beat down.

In the 62nd minute the coming and going of substitutes was punctuated with a brilliant Lee MAKEL goal that sailed into the net from 35 yards out. Having played a one two with the triallist Lee noted the Raith keeper was off his line so he launched the ball perfectly over his head to place the Pars four up.

For most of the second half the pens were kept buy noting substitutions rather than action. Raith made that difficult with two number 14s and two number 15s. The fifth an final Pars goal came eight mintes from time when Billy MEHMET exchanged passes with Iain Campbell out on the left. He had plenty options with players to pick out in the penalty box but chose to fire home a shot from 22 yards out. The ball took a nasty bounce in front of the Raith triallist and bounced over him as he dived to his right.

Nuckowski lined up Darren Young with a crack at goal that soared just over the bar and then the Pole had the ball in the net but as well offside before hobbling off injured in the 89th minute. With even the substitute keper committed, the ten men had no problems in holding on for a pleasing 5-0 scoreline.

This was a very competent start, one we all would like to see built on. The early signs were good with good football and passing skills demonstrated. The new players fitted in well although the Polish striker will need to do more than he did in the 33 minutes at Starks Park. Five different names on the scoresheet and plenty to be optimistic about. The Leishman effect bubbles on!

Dunfermline Squad: Halliwell (Murdoch 80); Tod, S Wilson (C Wilson 82), Thomson (Labonte 56); Shields (Ross 70), Darren Young, Makel (Hunt 78), Mason, Morrison (Campbell 63); Donnelly (Triallist 56), Derek Young (Mehmet 65)


Dunfermline Subs: all used


Dunfermline Strip: Red shirts, Red shorts


Dunfermline Goal Scorers: Donnelly (14 pen), Derek Young (32), Mason (37), Makel (62), Mehmet (82)

Raith Rovers Squad: Triallist; Silvestro (McManus HT ), Ellis, Davidson (Leiper 69), Lumsden, McLeod, Ferguson (Clarke 61), Jabolonski, Annand (Crabbe HT), Jaconelli (Martin HT), Crilly (Tulloch 39)


Raith Rovers Subs: Hall (GK)