Dunfermline Athletic 0-0 Hibernian

Dunfermline and Hibernian will have to do battle all over again following an exciting goalless draw in the cup semi final at Hampden Park yesterday. Both teams gave a tremendous amount of effort and although there were chances at both ends defences came out on top.

Despite only being half full, a sun kissed National Stadium provided a good atmosphere pre-match, with the 7,000 or so Pars supporters roaring their heroes on from the start despite being taken aback by Stephen Kenny's team selection.

From last weekend's 1-0 defeat of Hibs, Tam McManus was cup tied and missed out which meant a return to the starting XI for Adam Hammill. The real surprises though were in defence and midfield, which saw Sol Bamba partner Scott Wilson at the back, Phil McGuire moved forward to partner Gary Mason in midfield with Scott Muirhead replacing Scott Morrison at left back. It was a brave selection by Kenny but ultimately one which would bring some reward for the Fifers.

After all the goings on down Leith way this week regarding John Collins' management style and the subesquent players mutiny, the Easter Road side started the match well and came close inside two minutes as Chris Hogg headed wide from a David Murphy corner. And although Steven Fletcher then failed to get on the end of a low ball into the box by Steven Whittaker, it was the Athletic who had the game's best chance.

Adam Hammill sent a teasing ball into the box which Jim McIntyre flicked on to the onrushing Jamie McCunnie, but the midfielder's shot hit the inside of Andy McNeill's right hand post. And from the rebound, the keeper earned his corn with a fine save to deny Jim O'Brien.

At the other end, the impressive Scott Brown fired in a shot from the edge of the box which Dorus De Vries did well to push away, but in truth the Pars keeper didn't have many more saves to make as Dunfermline's impressive rearguard action frustrated the CIS Cup winners throughout the afternoon.

And frustration would have turned into devastation had it not been for the heroics of McNeill. Hammill again was the provider, sending over a ball which McGuire met full on the volley at the edge of the box and McNeill reacted brilliantly to tip it over as it dipped viciously towards the net.

As the half wore on, Dunfermline grew in confidence, especially as the Edinburgh side's support were getting on their players back. And just before half time McNeill rode to Hibernian's rescue again as he threw himself at the feet of Jim McIntyre to prevent a certain goal. In doing so though, the Scotland Under 21 star sustained concussion and had to be replaced by Simon Brown at the interval.

Dunfermline boss Kenny was also forced into a half time switch; Greg Ross replacing McGuire who sustained a slight knock. No chances were being taken with a massive league match with Dundee United coming up on Saturday.

The second period saw Hibs re-emerge in determined mood and were epitomised by Scott Brown. Representatives from clubs such as Tottenham and Middlesbrough were in the Hampden stands casting an eye over the midfielder and would have been impressed by his showing. He began to pull the strings for his side and a couple of minutes into the half he skinned Greg Shields on the left and cut the ball back for Fletcher, who's effort was charged down heroically by Bamba and Wilson.

Despite this, it was the Athletic yet again who provided another great chance to open the scoring just short of the hour mark. Hammill was again the creator, clipping the ball into the box to Gary Mason, who shuffled past his man before firing the ball over from 12 yards. Had he looked to his right, O'Brien was unmarked and would have had a superb chance to fire Dunfermline in front.

Hibs were becoming increasingly desperate as the match wore on and Ivan Sproule's effort from 25 yards that went well wide just about summed them up.

Referee Craig Thomson then came in for stick from the vociforous following from Fife as he failed to book Abdessalam Benjelloun for a string of dives, one of which was inside the Pars penalty area. Scott Wilson did go into the book for a cruching foul on Fletcher, a yellow card which means the Pars stopper will miss the replay.

Benjelloun then came closest to scoring for Hibs ten minutes from time when his downward volley bounced off the lush Hampden turf and appeared to be nestling in the net until man of the match Bamba headed off the line.

Kenny threw on Owen Morrison for Hammill and though the Pars charged towards the Leith side's goal and forced some corners, another glorious chance didn't come and so both sides had to settle for a return date at Hampden a week on Tuesday.

This was a good performance from Dunfermline and the tactics employed worked well, in the first half especially. Bamba was man of the match; an impressive and dominant performance from the big man, with Scott Muirhead and Jamie McCunnie not far behind. Adam Hammill showed good skill at times but at others drifted out of the game while Greg Shields looked back to his best.

Overall, a good effort from the team which was appreciated by the support as they and the team acknowledged each other's efforts at the end. That is more than can be said of Hibs, with a lot of their support booing their side and only a couple of players offerring applause. Simon Brown should concentrate on his own side instead of shooting his mouth off to the Edinburgh Evening News about our team clapping our supporters at the end.

But we can take great encouragement from yesterday and we have a very good chance of progressing to the final. Come on ye Pars!

Match Stats

Dunfermline Athletic: De Vries, Shields, Wilson, McGuire (Ross 45), McCunnie, Muirhead, Hammill (O.Morrison 80), Bamba, Mason, O'Brien, McIntyre (Burchill 90).
Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Daquin

Hibernian: McNeil (Simon Brown 45), Whittaker, Jones, Hogg, Murphy, Sproule, Beuzelin, Fletcher, Stevenson, Scott Brown, Benjelloun (Gray 89).
Subs Not Used: Zemmama, McCann, Chisholm

Walking Down the Halbeath Road MoM: Soulyemane Bamba

Tennent's Lager MoM: Scott Brown (Hibernian)

Referee: Craig Thomson

Attendance: 25,336