Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 Saints (3-4 pens)

After a goalless 90 minutes, Saints took the lead 4 minutes into extra time thanks to a neat finish from Shaun Rooney.

However, Iain Wilson levelled the match for Dunfermline with a low strike on 113 minutes to take the match to penalties.

Paul Watson and Kevin O’Hara both saw their penalties saved by Zander Clark, whilst Callum Hendry hit the bar for Saints. With the shootout now in sudden death Liam Craig stepped up to convert his penalty as Saints won the shootout to book a semi-final spot.

Next up for Saints is a league game at St Mirren on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints made the short trip down the M90 this evening for a Betfred Cup quarter-final tie against Championship side Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park. After seeing Saints eleven game unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Livingston in Perth on Saturday Callum Davidson made four changes to his starting eleven for this evening’s cup tie. Callum Booth, Shaun Rooney, Murray Davidson and Liam Craig came into replace Jamie McCart, Danny McNamara, Craig Bryson and Stevie May. Dunfermline also saw their unbeaten run come to an end at the weekend as they suffered their first league defeat of the season as they lost 2-1 at home to Morton, Manager Stevie Crawford made one change to his team for tonight’s match as Kevin O’Hara dropped out to be replaced by Fraser Murray.

Saints got the match underway and they created a chance after 7 minutes as Liam Craig’s corner from the left was met at the edge of the box by David Wotherspoon but his half volley was blocked by the Pars defence.

On 11 minutes Murray Davidson headed the ball down into the path of Scott Tanser but his left footed effort went over. Saints were dominating the opening proceedings, passing the ball about well, and 3 minutes later they won another corner. This time Wotherspoon whipped the ball into the box from the left and Shaun Rooney rose like a salmon to meet it, but his header went over.

Zander Clark was virtually a spectator for much of the first half however, on 27 minutes he was called into action as he tipped a Dominic Thomas free kick behind for a corner. The Pars had been awarded the free kick after former Saints player Aaron Comrie had been fouled by Tanser. Thomas took the free kick but Clark was alert to the danger. Then a minute later Thomas was involved in the thick of the action again as he sent an inviting ball into the Saints box but it evaded everyone as it went behind for a goal kick.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Saints hit the hosts on the break as Wotherspoon’s cross from the right picked out the unmarked Murray Davidson but the header from the Saints midfielder went over the bar. Wotherspoon then saw his shot on 40 minutes turned behind for a corner by Kerr McInroy. Liam Craig took the corner and his delivery was met by Liam Gordon but the defender put his header wide.

The corner count was rising for Saints and they got another one just before half time and this time Craig’s corner picked out Davidson but his header didn’t trouble Owain Fon Williams in the Pars goal.

Saints showed their intent in the early stages of the second half as on 48 minutes Chris Kane created space for himself before having a shot but it went inches wide. Then on 56 minutes Saints got another corner which Wotherspoon whipped into the box, picking out Gordon, but his header was well saved by Fon Williams.

Callum Davidson made his first change of the game just after the hour mark as Stevie May came on to replace Chris Kane.

The hosts then made their first change on 64 minutes as Lewis Mayo came on for Aaron Comrie. The defender was quickly involved in the action a minute later as he saw his shot blocked by the Saints defence. The ball then bounced around the Saints box before it was eventually cleared by the Saints rearguard.

Dunfermline were causing Saints problems and on 67 minutes Thomas had a shot at goal but his effort went narrowly over.

Both sides made more changes as the half progressed but neither keeper was called into action as both sides cancelled each other out for large spells of the half.

As the match entered the closing minutes both sides had chances to win it. Firstly, Dunfermline were awarded a free kick in a promising position after Ryan Dow had been fouled by Scott Tanser. Fraser Murray took the free kick and his delivery into the box from the right picked out Paul Watson but Saints were able to clear the danger.

Then deep into the 3 minutes of stoppage time substitute Callum Hendry had a strike from just outside the box that hit the side netting.

That proved to be the last chance of the match and extra time was required to see if either side could break the deadlock.

Saints started the first half of extra time brightly and they took the lead 4 minutes into the half. Scott Tanser sent a deep cross into the box and Rooney took a nice touch to control the ball before sending a low strike into the corner of the net.

PHOTO: Shaun Rooney celebrates his goal.

That goal sparked life into Saints and on 99 minutes May saw his effort at goal deflected wide. Then a minute later May got another sight of goal but this time his strike was straight at Fon Williams.

The one-way traffic towards the Dunfermline goal continued and shortly after May turned provider as he setup Hendry but the Saints striker slipped as he got his effort away which went inches over.

The pressure continued as Hendry then played a delightful cross into May but he couldn’t make a proper connection with the ball. Rooney then latched onto the loose ball before unleashing an effort at goal which was deflected wide.

The hosts though regrouped and they were back on level terms on 113 minutes as Iain Wilson reacted quickest to a long throw into the Saints box and he sent a low strike beyond Clark and into the corner of the net.

Lewis McCann, brother of Saints midfielder Ali McCann, then got a great chance late on to win it for the Fife side but his right footed shot was well saved by Zander Clark.

That would prove to be the last action of the match as it went to penalties to see which side would progress to the semi-finals.

Paul Watson stepped up first and his penalty was well saved by Clark. Substitute Craig Conway then gave Saints an early lead in the shootout as he sent his right-footed effort low into the corner of the net.

Goalscorer Wilson was next up for the Pars and he converted his penalty before Stevie May restored Saints lead despite the best efforts of Fon Williams as the ball squirmed over the line.

Kyle Turner converted the Pars third penalty and then Callum Hendry saw his effort strike the bar as the sides were level at 2-2 after three penalties each.

Ryan Dow scored the Pars next penalty and then Callum Booth ensured the match would go to sudden death as his penalty sneaked in despite Fon Williams getting a hand to it.

Zander Clark then gave Saints the chance to win it as he saved Dunfermline’s next penalty from Kevin O’Hara. Liam Craig was next up for Saints and he calmly converted his penalty to send Saints into the semi-finals.

Dunfermline Athletic: Fon Williams, Comrie (Mayo 64), Edwards, E. Murray, Turner, McManus (O’Hara 71), Dow, F. Murray (Wilson 105), Thomas (McCann 104), McInroy, Watson

Unused Substitutes: Gill (GK), Whittaker, Bowman, Fenton, Berry

Booked: McManus, Mayo

Scorer: Wilson (113)

Saints:Clark, Booth, Kerr, Gordon, Rooney, Davidson (Conway 69), Craig, McCann, Wotherspoon (Hendry 78), Kane (May 61), Tanser (McCart 115)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), McNamara, Bryson, Ferguson, Melamed

Booked: Hendry

Scorer: Rooney (94)

Referee: Don Robertson

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Liam Craig scores the winning penalty