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HIBS 1 DUNFERMLINE 3 (SPL) 15/02/03
Hibs started the match well and quickly put the visitors on the defensive. Paul Fenwick threatened with a header, following a James cross, but at the other end there were warnings as to the danger the Pars posed when both Crawford and Bullen squandered good openings.
Dunfermline went ahead in the 20th minute when following a bout of pressure the ball broke to Gary Mason and from some 20 yards his deflected drive beat Nick Colgan. Hibs responded in positive fashion and Grant Brebner and John O'Neil were busy in midfield, the latter a little too busy for the referee who delivered a yellow card.
The men from Fife are noted for their pace up front and they exploited this to the full in the 39th minute when Brannan slid a ball in behind the Hibs defence and Crawford raced clear to beat Nick Colgan with a low drive. The half, which had been entertaining, exploded just before the interval when Brannan inexplicably lunged at Grant Brebner and was shown a straight red card.
Half time: Hibernian 0, Dunfermline Athletic 2
Bobby Williamson introduced Tom McManus at the start of the second half, in place of Alen Orman, as Hibs elected to chase the match. Alas within ten minutes of the restart Dunfermline had broke away in classic fashion and when Bullen whipped over a low cross the effervescent Crawford slid in to net a third goal for the Pars.
Hibs were left with a mountain to climb yet in truth dominated the remainder of the match and created a host of chances from the wide areas. In the 65th minute a James corner was only partially cleared and Garry O'Connor smacked a low drive through a ruck of players to reduce to leeway.
The goal lifted Hibernian and when John O'Neil curled over a right wing cross Craig James climbed splendidly and only a wonderful save by Stillie thwarted him. Minutes later Hibs were even closer when Garry O'Connor sent a super header just over when a goal threatened.
The introduction of Freddy Arpinon and young Derek Riordan further invigorated the home attack and the Frenchman was desperately close to heading home when Stillie produced another super save. Craig James was proving a handful for the Dunfermline rearguard and the young Englishman hit the crossbar with a header as Hibs pressed with increasing urgency. However, the last real chance came when Derek Townsley stabbed wide and the match ended with a feeling that it just wasn't going to be Hibs day.
Next weekend the sides will meet on Scottish Cup duty in Fife and that is sure to be an eagerly awaited clash. The task facing Hibernian is to reproduce the form they showed on their last visit to East End Park.
MATCH STATS
HIBERNIAN DUNFERMLINE
CORNER KICKS 5 0
SHOTS ON TARGET 7 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET 7 3
FOULS 21 12
YELLOW CARDS 1 1
RED CARDS 0 1
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