Hearts were the opposition for the Pars only pre season friendly. Allan Johnston`s starting eleven included Lewis Martin as he came in to replace Jason Talbot in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven from the team that played at Livingston the previous Saturday.

Andy Geggan led out the team resplendent in their new strip. On loan Gavin Reilly got the game underway against his parent club. Hearts forced two corners in four minutes Nikolay Todorov coming closest with the second but heading his effort over the crossbar. Joe Cardle created the Pars first opportunity in fifth minute but having cut in fired a shot from 20 yards that the Jambos new keeper Viktor Noring dropped on one knee to hold.

The Pars had to do a fair amount of defending as Hearts pushed up and two attempts to take the ball towards the visitors goal, first by Reilly and then by Moffat were halted by the central defenders.

A really good chance was set up for Moffat on 14 minutes. Cardle slipped the ball up the left for Martin to catch on the overlap, his low cross found the striker at the near post and his shot was blocked out for a corner on the left. When McCabe sent that to the far post Ben Richards-Everton`s header was headed off the line for another corner on the right.

McCabe`s corner from the right was met by Richards-Everton who deflected it on for GEGGAN to smash the ball into the Hearts net. 1-0

Sam Nicholson had an opportunity from a free kick just 25 yards out but David Hutton held. Then in 24 minutes the Pars keeper palmed a powerful Cowie shot from 28 yards out over his crossbar.

Two minutes later GEGGAN was picked out with a cut back from Moffat and he netted with the assistance of a deflection from 26 yards out. 2-0

Hearts went up the park again and when Nicholson swung a cross to the far left of the six yard box Zanatta`s header was dealt with by Hutton. Next Moffat raced through and laid off a great ball to CARDLE on his left and the Pars man finished superbly from and acute angle, the ball finding the net just inside the right goalpost. 3-0

In 33 minutes Richards-Everton and then Martin blocked fierce efforts by Todorov from close range. A free kick four minutes later taken by Zanatta down near the left corner flag picked out a team mate at the back post and Hutton was again called upon to hold.

Five minutes from the break Moffat fed McCabe who sent a fine ball down the right for Cardle to cut back but the pass was behind the inrunning Reilly and the chance of a fourth.

Moffat crashed a low shot narrowly outside the left upright when presented with a 16 yard opportunity after Ryan Williamson had challenged in the opposition box.

Half Time: Dunfermline 3 Hearts 0

Hearts brought on Robbie Muirhead at the start of the second half in place of Todorov and the Jambos created the first chance of the half on 48 minutes when Juanma Delgado Lloria broke into the left side of the Pars box by Hutton saved the shot. The Tynecastle side enjoyed much of the next ten minutes but never threatened the Dunfermline goal. The home side were pegged back and when forward were caught offside.

A very necessary Williamson tackle conceded a 59th minute corner but Richards-Everton headed clear. Next minute Reilly won a corner off trialist Liam Donnelly and the setpiece caused danger in the area just in front of goal but the Jambos got the ball away. Hearts had a chance when Zanatta shot from the left edge of the penalty box but Hutton held and only the two players attacking the ball ended up in the net.

Midway through the second half Noring was out fast to smother a good ball into his box by McCabe that had Williamson chasing in on the chance. In 71 minutes a splendid opening was made by Moffat and Geggan, playing in McCabe but unfortunately the shot ended up midway up the McCathie Stand.

Oshinawa came forward and sent in a cross that Delgado Lloria headed goalwards only to bring a fantastic diving save out of Hutton. Then in 75 minutes a Muirhead corner from the right found Donnelly at the far post and remarkable the former Fulham man sent the ball over the top.

Paul McMullan came on with thirteen minutes remaining, taking the place of the very impressive Michael Moffat. Cardle fired a long range attempt wide left and next in 83 minutes Geggan turned back a great chance for McCabe on the edge of the box but John Souter dived in to make a telling block.

Referee Steven McLean awarded a penalty in the 85th minute after Ashcroft was adjudged to have brought down ZANATTA and the Hearts man assumed the responsibility for the spot kick, hitting it straight down the middle as Hutton went to his right. 3-1 but just a consolation goal.
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin: Rhys McCabe, Andy Geggan (c)(Lewis Spence 84), Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle: Michael Moffat (Paul McMullan 77), Gavin Reilly
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Callum Smith, James Thomas, David Hopkirk, Euan Spark, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Geggan (15, 26), Cardle (32)

HEARTS: Viktor Noring, Marcus Godinho (Jamie Brandon 86), Juwon Oshaniwa, John Souter, Trialist, Robbie Buchanan (Vladislav 61), Sam Nicholson, Don Cowie (c), Juanma Delgado Lloria (Aaron Reid 78), Nikolay Todorov (Robbie Muirhead HT), Dario Zanatta
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Gallacher (GK)
SCORERS: Zanatta (85 pen.)

REFEREE: Steven McLean
WEATHER: Sunny 20C
ATTENDANCE 2016

NEXT MATCH: Betfred Cup (home) v Arbroath, Tuesday 19th July 2016. 7.45pm kick off at East End Park