Dunfermline Under Par – By Andy Irvine

 Partick thistle 1 – 0 Dunfermline athletic

 Both teams went into the first game of the season with a win in the Alba challenge cup just 7 days before.

The fifers dominated the first 10 minutes, playing some beautiful football, but it was thistle who should have taken the lead in the 18^th minute when Ian Maxwell’s powerful header was cleared off the line by Nicky phinn

Dunfermline then had a great opportunity to take the lead away from east end park when Kevin Harper to the ball for a run down the wing, but when he crossed it, Graham Bayne and Iain Williamson managed to nock each other away from the ball , only for the keeper to catch it. On the half hour mark it was pretty evens from both team, but Gary Harkins received a through-ball l shot low and hard for a net bound ball, but there was fans favourite Paul Gallagher to catch it cleanly in his arms, just a minute later, Scott chaplain, chipped Gallagher, only for the ball to go over the crossbar. Yet again the partick strikers were making it difficult for the pars to get out their own half, Greg shields was the hero this time, clearing of the line yet again when Mark Roberts Chipped the ball over the keeper, as it was cleared, Scott Wilson fouled on the edge of the box, But Paul Paton hit it straight into the wall and blasted his rebound effort into the stand. Into the 36^th minute and Ex-Par Simon Donnelly came on to replace Mark Roberts. Kevin Harper was again running down the wing, but his crossed looked too much for Bayne but managed to lean back to direct the ball into Iain Williamson’s path, only for the youngster to heat it wide.  The jags were under some pressure when Stephen Glass was awarded a free kick, he got it well over the wall but the ball was too central to give Jonny Tuffey any trouble. Simon Donnelly nearly put Thistle in front against his old team when Damon Gray crossed the ball in from the wing, but managed to put it wide

Half time: Partick thistle 0-0 Dunfermline athletic

There was a scare for Dunfermline in the 53^rd minute when the ball appeared to roll up Scott Wilson’s arm, but the Dunfermline captain kept his cool when referee David Sommers gave no foul. Young Nicky Phinn took a run up front when he was obstructed by David Rowson, but just after the ref’ blew his whistle the ball fell to the feet of Graham Bayne but forced the pars to take the free-kick other than to play advantage, he then denied them an opportunity to take the kick quickly and whistled for the free-kick to be re-taken. Halfway into the 2^nd half Dunfermline made a double substitution , with Greg shields running to the bench , the fifers clapped him off but no one can on for him , it turned out he was not getting substituted – he was to change his strip as it was covered in blood from an earlier incident. Instead it was Austin McCann and Iain Williamson coming off for Scott Muirhead and debutant Andy Kirk  Graham Bayne was then booked for a behind tackle on Jags player Paul Paton The boys from Maryhill then swapped Damon Gray for Kevin McKinley for their 2^nd substitution of the game. After only being on for 5 minutes in his Pars debut, Andy Kirk nearly put Dunfermline in front when he connected with Kevin harpers cross, but headed wide. Moments later, Andy Kirk, found space in the area, who found Scott muirhead, but his shot was not good enough to beat Jonny Tuffey, Kevin Harper the hit the rebound over the cross bar. The Jags keeper, Jonny Tuffey, started a Thistle-counterattack when he threw the ball to the wing to Ian Maxwell, who was then found by Stephen Glass, Receiving a yellow card in the process. Ian McCall Made his last substitute of the games by replacing Scott Chaplain with Stephen McKeown . With only 6 minutes left, Andy Kirk won the pars a corner kick, Paul Paton kicked it out for the pars to get yet another corner. Yet again this corner was cleared by the thistle defence; Greg Shields was on the end of it to boot the ball back into the box where Scott Thompson was there to head it just wide of the post. Callum Woods was then brought on to replace Nicky phinn. When Jags crossed the ball into the box Paul Gallagher punched it away out to the 18 yard box where STEPHEN MCKEOWN was waiting to punt the ball home to give the Maryhill boys there first 3 points of the 2008/09 season. Despite attacking thistle with 4 men up front for the last 7 minutes , the Pars when back home to Fife with 0 points and 9^th in the league table.

Final score Partick thistle 1-0 Dunfermline athletic

Scottishfootballnews Man Of The Match – Nick Phinn