Dunfermline 2
Dundee Utd 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

A goal with two minutes left by Gary Mason was enough to give the Pars a 2-1 victory and stop United’s recent winning run. United dominated for an hour and were ahead after 55 minutes when Barry Robson headed home. But with 20 minutes left Shields equalised and Mason’s strike settled the game.

After last Saturday’s victory over Kilmarnock, Craig Levein named an unchanged starting eleven resisting the temptation to start Collin Samuel. Dunfermline had a familiar front two with Stevie Crawford and Jim Hamilton leading the line.

It was United who controlled the opening period and went close through curling efforts from Conway and Robson and Shields did superbly well to stop a Mark Kerr shot which was net-bound. Towards the end of the half United also had a loud appeal for a penalty when Robson appeared to be tripped by De Vries but Alan Freeland waved play on.

It was more of the same at the start of the second period and following intense United pressure they took the lead when Conway crossed for Robson to head home. United though seemed to go on the back foot after that and following a knock back from Hamilton, Shields equalised with 20 minutes remaining. The game could have gone either way after that with both sides pushing but it was the home side who stole the points when Crawford cut back and Mason fired past Stillie.