Home Pre-season friendlies

Dunfermline this week played two games against League One opposition at home in preparation for the kick off at Hamilton in a week's time. Bristol Rovers were first up, followed by Nottingham Forest. Here's how the games went.

Dunfermline Athletic 2-2 Bristol Rovers

For this latest friendly on Tuesday night, Scott Morrison and Tam McManus were handed their first outings of pre-season, while Roddy McKenzie came back into the side in goal.

The Pars started this game the way they ended the Dumbarton match, and that was on the front foot. Early on, Stephen Simmons sent a ball into the box and although it was behind Stevie Crawford, the striker managed to backheel towards the goal but sadly it went wide of target.

Though only ten minutes after that chance, the Fifers were in front. Hesitation from Rovers Chris Carruthers enabled Scott Thomson to charge down his clearance and square the ball to Tam McManus who made no mistake from six yards out.

However, last season's League Two play off winners were level within a minute. A clever backheel from Richard Walker saw the home defence caught flat-footed and Rickie Lambert gleefully advanced on McKenzie and slotted home the equaliser.

The visitors were by now controlling things, with Lambert at the heart of it. Greg Shields blocked a Lewis Haldane shot before Lambert skinned Scott Morrison and fired in a shot, which fortunately for the DA was well wide of target.

McManus then sent a 30 yard effort just wide as the Pars pressed, which also saw another shot by the Bam blocked while Simmons sent a header wide. But the pressure eventually paid off and Dunfermline struck again. A ball from Simmons found McManus, who turned his marker inside the box before drilling home his second goal of the evening.

The goal hero was taken off at half time to be replaced by Jim Hamilton, with the emphasis clearly on not risking McManus too much ahead of the season opener after his injury. The visitors however started the second period in positive fashion and were awarded a highly controversial penalty five minutes into the second half. Rovers' Craig Disley tried to go around McKenzie and although it looked like the keeper got his hand to the ball, the referee deemed it a foul and awarded the spot kick, which Walker duly scored.

Rovers were now dominating proceedings and Lambert and Walker again went close. Kenny introduced Mark Burchill and Ian Williamson but Bristol continued to create chances, with Joe Jacobsen having a shot saved by McKenzie while a Lambert header flashed inches wide of the post.

Mark Burchill had the Pars best chances in the latter part of the match, but was denied by goalkeeper Steve Phillips twice. All in all, a good workout for the Pars against a decent side.

Dunfermline: McKenzie; Shields, McGuire, Thomson (Muir 84), S.Morrison (Woods 73); O.Morrison, Glass (Phinn 73), Simmons, Muirhead (Williamson 60); McManus (Hamilton HT), Crawford (Burchill 60).
Sub not used: Murdoch (GK).

Goals: McManus (17, 40).


Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Two time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest were next to visit East End Park on Thursday night and in their squad was a certain Neil Lennon, he of taking the huff spectacularly during May's Scottish Cup final fame.

For Stephen Kenny and Dunfermline however, it was all about playing well in their final friendly before making the trip to New Douglas Park in a week's time. Scott Wilson and Kevin Harper, missing from the Bristol Rovers match, returned to the line up while Sol Bamba made a surprise appearance on the subs bench.

The home team kicked off but Forest almost opened the scoring within a minute from a corner, but fortunately Roddy McKenzie was able to save Julian Bennett's header well.

The opening periods of the game were dominated by the Reds, who enjoyed a fair amount of possession while threatening the Pars goal on occasion, such as a Lewis McGugan effort from 18 yards which flashed wide.

Dunfermline gradually worked their way back into the game and good play involving Stephen Simmons, Mark Burchill and Stephen Glass saw the creation of a chance for on form Tam McManus, the blonde haired dynamo's shot was well blocked by Paul Smith in the Forest goal.

However, the home fans didn't have to wait long to see their side hit the front. McManus sprayed a pass out to Harper, whose cross was cleared to Glass at the edge of the box. The midfielder chipped the ball into the area and Burchill was there to head home.

Glass was impressing again and only two minutes later fired a stinging shot towards goal but Brendan Maloney bravely blocked for Forest, who were soon on level terms. A great run by Grant Holt, scorer of a hat-trick of penalties in a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, down the left saw him shoot for goal. Though Wilson blocked the shot, the ball fell kindly for Emile Sinclair to score past the helpless McKenzie.

Burchill had a penalty claim for a push ignored by the referee while McManus saw an effort saved by Smith. Kris Commons and Holt then went close for Forest before McManus again was unlucky with a shot which went narrowly wide.

Scott Thomson and Callum Woods came on for Greg Shields and Phil McGuire at half time as the manager ensured as many of his players got some more match practice. But it was Forest sub, and ex Scotland misfit Scott Dobie who almost grabbed the headlines.

The former West Brom player diverted a McGugan cross goalward, but McKenzie somehow managed to get to his left and palm the ball away to safety.

Scott Muirhead then went on a solo effort to put the Pars back in front. His first effort saw the ball flash wide from 20 yards out before he had another shot easily saved by the keeper.

As both sides continued to make changes, chances were created at both ends though Phinn almost scored a spectacular long range strike but the ball again went just wide. Boos reverberated around the ground with eleven minutes to go as Lennon came on for the visitors but the home side were to grab the winner with a minute to go.

Morrison made space for himself before firing in a great shot from 20 yards. So the Pars end their pre-season unbeaten in five games, having scored 12 goals and conceding a mere five. Roll on Hamilton!

Dunfermline: McKenzie; Shields (Woods HT), Wilson, McGuire (Thomson HT), Muirhead; Harper (Williamson 79), Simmons (Bamba 60), Phinn (O.Morrison 75), Glass; McManus (Hamilton 75), Burchill (Crawford 60).
Sub not used: Murdoch (GK)

Goals: Burchill (22), Morrison (89).