U20s: Hearts 2-3 Dunfermline

04.12.2012

Hearts U20s went down 3-2 to Dunfermline tonight under the Tynecastle floodlights.

Despite taking an early lead it was the visitors who twice broke in front, their third goal proving to be decisive.

A youthful side was complimented by the overage Mark Ridgers, Denis Prychynenko and Gordon Smith.

It didn't take long for the match to spark into life, when on six minutes Sam Nicholson was fouled on the edge of the box. Prychynenko unleashed a rocket free kick which Pars 'keeper Michal Hrivnak could only parry, Dale Carrick followed up with the rebound to slot past the stranded goalkeeper.

Hearts continued to press with Adam King proving menacing down the right flank. He broke into the Dunfermline box on 12 minutes but his goal-bound shot was deflected over.

Prychynenko found himself in the referee's book after 14 minutes when he scythed down Alex Whittle. The Pars winger dusted himself down to whip in a free-kick to the Hearts penalty area and Kerr Young was on hand with a diving header that glanced past the outstretched Ridgers and into the corner of the net.

The Wee Jambos came closest to taking the lead on 26 minutes when a Billy King rasper from 25 yards forced Hrivnak to spring to his left and palm the ball round the post.

Taking inspiration from the elder King was Mark Keegan. He tried his own luck from out on the touchline, a full 25 yards out from goal, but again Hrivnak pushed the ball past the post.

With only four minutes on the clock after the restart Dunfermline took the lead. The impressive Whittle played a one-two with D'Angelo then curled a sweet left foot shot beyond the helpless Ridgers and into the top corner from 20 yards out.

As the game approached the hour mark the visitors almost grabbed a third. D'Angelo's curling free-kick from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by the diving Ridgers.

Not to be outdone, Hearts equalised through a quality set piece of their own. Fraser Mullen swerved the ball round the Dunfermline wall from 25 yards out and into the top left hand corner.

Dunfermline should have taken the lead after 78 minutes when substitute Allan Smith skipped past the Hearts defence and rounded Ridgers but with the goal at his mercy he fired wide.

A minute later and the visitors atoned for that miss. Henderson turned his marker in the box and drilled a low shot past Ridgers and into the bottom corner.

The match ended on a sour note as Dunfermline's Ross Millen received a straight red for a crunching foul on Beith. Seconds later Mullen joined him for an early bath after his part in the resultant stramash.

The Pars left Tyencastle three points to the good, next up for Darren Murray's boys is an away trip to Dundee United on Tuesday 11th December.

Hearts: Ridgers, A. King, Keegan (Beith, 56), Prychynenko, McGhee, Mullen, B. King, Nicholson, Carrick (A. Scott, 78), G. Smith, Oliver. Subs not used: Millar, G. Scott, Gordon, McMillan, Ford.

Dunfermline: Hrivnak, Millen, Munro, Martin, Young, Kane, Whittle, Byrne, Henderson, D'Angelo (A. Smith, 68), El Bakhtaoui (Mercer, 85). Subs not used: Mayne, Ritchie, O'Kane, Spence, Graham.

Hearts World