The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Crawford thrilled by Loons workout
Dunfermline manager delighted to navigate friendly without any issues
Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford was ecstatic with the workout his players got in their one-goal win against an experienced Forfar Athletic side.
The Pars boss said: “I’m delighted that we’ve come up here, got the win, come away unscathed without injuries and scored a really good goal as well.
“Forfar are a good side and they’ve signed some very good football players and it was a good test for us, playing against players that have played at a good level and have a number of games under their belt.
“I don’t want to get carried away, but the young boys competed well and got a lot out of it conditioning wise.
“It wasn’t as if everything was brilliant on the day and there were a few things that weren’t so good, but there’s a lot of positives to take from the game and it was pleasing to get both 11s 45 minutes and give the younger lads some experience.”
Crawford wouldn’t have been so happy at the opening quarter of an hour, which had the feel of a pre-season opener, with neither side being able to take a hold of the game.
However Dunfermline came good in the 16th minute. The Pars were rewarded for finally linking up play when Dunfermline trialist Gabby McGill flicked the ball back into the path of Kyle Turner who was bundled over by Callum Tapping for a spot kick.
Tom Breading stepped up to take but his low penalty was parried by stopper Marc McCallum and Breading could only blaze over from the rebound.
Dunfermline did take the lead just three minutes later when Ross Meechan was pickpocketed by Lewis McCann as he tried to shepherd the ball out of play.
McCann had all the time in the world to roll the ball into Kyle Turner who lashed his shot high into the roof of the net from 14 yards.
Forfar had their first chance of the game in the 29th minute. Meechan was fouled just outside the right-hand side of the box and new signing Ross Forbes did well to sting the palms of keeper Ryan Scully from the free-kick.
The Loons started the second half as the better side as Dunfermline made 11 changes at the break. Andy Jackson and Connor Coupe were both thwarted by last-ditch challenges from Thomas Bragg and Paul Brown respectively.
Forfar continued to apply pressure and should’ve equalised in the 66th minute when the impressive Forbes whipped in a cross for Coupe, but his diving header went just over Cammy Gill’s bar.
Dunfermline had soaked up the Forfar pressure and almost doubled their advantage in the 84th minute when trialist Josh Coley found himself up against McCallum but his flick bounced tantalisingly across the goalmouth and past the far post.