Dunfermline 0
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Dunfermline's East End Park for our fourth and final meeting with the Pars, but a rather bare and bumpy pitch meant flowing football was at a premium. We dominated most of the game, but only a late Darren Jackson strike earned us both points. Our best effort in the first half came in the 32nd minute when Paddy Connolly slipped the ball into space in the Dunfermline penalty box and Dave Narey ran on to it, only to see Westwater block his shot. Three minutes later Dunfermlines 'keeper was in action again, saving a free-kick from Freddy Van Der Hoorn at the second attempt. Although we retained a grip on the game until half-time the score sheet remained blank.

Almost immediately afterwards a piece of good fortune almost brought us an opener. Darren Jackson hit a speculative shot from the edge of the box, but a deflection forced Westwater into tipping the deceptively spinning ball over the bar. With a little over 20 minutes left Dunfermline scorned their best and almost only real chance of the match. A cross from Nicholl evaded Miodrag Krivokapic's outstretched leg and Ross Jack somehow shot past with the goal at his mercy. That let-off signalled an upsurge in our efforts. Almost instantly Westwater was diving at the feet of Peter Hinds. Then Jim McInally met a Dave Bowman free-kick, but the ball inched agonisingly over the bar and the flurry ended with Mixu Paatelainen prodding the ball just past after aerial work by Brian Welsh and Peter Hinds had created the opening. Three minutes from time with a goalless draw very much on the cards, Darren Jackson stepped in to score the goal that earned us both points. Freddy Van Der Hoorn played the ball into Darren Jackson who instantly brought the ball under control, dragged the ball wide past the defender before hammering the ball past Westwater. It was a fitting finale for Darren whose fine performance throughout the match deservedly earned him the sponsor's United Man of the Match award. Jimmy Nicholl collected the Pars award, but overall the home side disappointed.