Dunfermline 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

We maintained our unbeaten Premier record against Dunlermline in a match which started brightly enough, but faded into what seemed an inevitable draw. There was no doubting that we were responsible for the early highlights. In fact we virtually pitched camp in the Pars penalty box from the kick off. Westwater had to look lively to deny Michael O'Neill and then the Dunfermline 'keeper had to touch a Kevin Gallacher over the bar. Next he was in action to save from a fiercely struck free-kick by Freddy Van Der Hoorn. Two minutes later Robertson palmed away a header from Mixu Paatelainen to concede a penalty. Mixu blasted in the spot kick, but how one Sunday newspaper could judge that lead to be "rather against the run of play" defeats me! In what amounted to Dunfermline's first attack, they equalised. Again there was a continental touch to the goal. Well more than a touch actually, because Istvan Kozma, their Hungarian internationalist, ran on to Tierney's clearance, beat Freddy Van Der Hoorn before curling a left-loot shot well out of the reach of Alan Main. Seizing the initiative Dunfermline went close shortly afterwards when O'Boyle sent in a raging shot just over. Until the interval Dunfermine enjoyed easily the best spell of the game but chances were few and far between.

The second period was a relatively quiet affair and a midfield morass developed for most of the half. However, towards the end we did emerge as the likely winners with the entrance of substitute Peter Hinds one of the factors behind our late flurry. ln 79 minutes Westwater had to stretch to his full extent to tip over a looping header from Peter Hinds. Near the end a snap shot from Billy McKinlay went wide as we pressed for a winner.