Match report: East Fife 2 Dundee United XI 2
East Fife ensured they would remain unbeaten in pre-season after a stirring draw with Dundee United’s second string at Bayview.
- By Craig Smith
- Published in the Courier : 21.07.10
- Published online : 21.07.10 @ 06.44am
Player manager Stevie Crawford rested forward Bobby Linn, who had scored nine goals in the last four friendlies, and notably started with trialists Stewart Murdoch and Lee Bryce, while United fielded midfield trialist John Bull in their line-up.
It took less than two minutes for United to seize the advantage when a mix-up in the home defence resulted in Ross McCord and keeper Stewart Baillie going for the ball, with McCord somehow managing to fire the ball home despite being in a seated position 15 yards out.
The visitors were threatening to run away with it in the early stages, with Stuart Armstrong firing straight at Baillie a minute after the opener and Baillie again called into action to tip over Ross McCord's free-kick from 20 yards out.
United were then awarded a penalty in the 10th minute when Dale Hilson's drive hit Murdoch's arm, although Fife keeper Baillie was up to the task of keeping out Ryan McCord's spot-kick — brilliantly saving down to his left.
That gave the Fifers confidence and they almost levelled three minutes later when they were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out, only for Craig Johnstone to see his effort crash off the crossbar.
In 26 minutes, Ross Brown forced a save from United keeper Mark McCallum after a neat lay-off from Bryce before the woodwork again came to United's rescue from the resulting corner when the crossbar denied Stevie Hislop's headed effort.
The home fans were encouraged by their team's improving display and saw Shaun Fagan, who was a surprise inclusion in the starting 11, send a drive just wide as the half came to a close.
Hilson almost capitalised on a mistake from Jonny Smart as the second period began before Scott Allan's shot four minutes after the restart trickled past Baillie and off the left-hand upright.
Despite United beginning the second half as they did the first, the Fifers restored parity in 51 minutes when Johnstone showed great composure in the area to blast home Hislop's knock-down from close range.
Horrific mistake
A horrific mistake from Paul Tansey four minutes later then gave Hilson a clear run on goal, but the United man's low drive was again excellently met by Baillie who clawed the ball away to safety.
The home side's equaliser had certainly made for an interesting and open climax, with Grant Mossan curling an effort over, McCallum doing well to get down to a Johnstone drive in 65 minutes and Hislop also going close a short time later after getting on the end of Johnstone's flick-on.
However, it was to be United who got their noses in front just after the hour.
A clumsy challenge by Paul Tansey on Ross McCord near the edge of the area earned the visitors a second penalty and it was Hilson this time who made no mistake from the spot.
The Fifers were far from dead and buried though and Bryce did his chances of a permanent move no harm in the 78th minute when he pulled his side level, waltzing through the defence at pace before unleashing a cracking shot beyond McCallum.
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