Published: Thursday, 21st August, 2008 11:13am

Depleted Dunfermline crash out of the Challenge Cup

by Simon Harris

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ALBA Challenge Cup, quarter-final:-Dunfermline 0 -Queen of the South 2

A WEAKENED Pars side went out of the Challenge Cup to goals from Stewart Kean and Sean O’Connor at East End Park last night (Wednesday).

The Doonhammers’ victory was comfortable in the end but it was achieved against a Pars side featuring eight changes from the team that thrashed St Johnstone on Saturday.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre used the tie to rest several of his senior players and blood a number of promising youngsters.

And while the kids showed several encouraging signs, the evening served to underline the threadbare nature of Macca’s squad should Athletic suffer injuries to key men over the coming months.

Calum Reidford in goals and Ryan Thompson in the centre of midfield were given their competitive debuts while defender Stuart Dearden came on at half-time.

The four-man Pars midfield had a combined age of just 70 with Thompson (17), joining Paul Willis (16), Nick Phinn (19) and Scott McBride (18).

And the returning Olympian Sol Bamba made a surprise re-apperance at centre back alongside Scott Thomson despite only arriving back from Paris that morning.

The Pars had the worst possible start when Kean latched onto Stevie Tosh’s pass and rifled past Reidford in the third minute and for a spell it looked like the Pars’ inexperience was going to be exposed as a strong Queen of the South side controlled the game.

But all credit to the Pars youngsters, who refused to be intimidated and got back into the game.

A great move on 11 minutes saw striker Iain Williamson lay the ball back to Willis.

The youngster, who turns 17 today (Thursday) picked out McBride on the left but the winger couldn’t keep his shot down.

Three minutes later, Scott Muirhead’s cross found Andy Kirk unmarked in the box but the striker headed wide.

The Pars deserved a goal on 17 minutes when Willis’ sublime cross was headed powerfully by the late-arriving Phinn, forcing Cammy Bell into a great save.

Reidford was forced to come off with a tight hamstring just before half-time, which could be a big worry for the Pars with third-choice keeper Greg Paterson needing an operation.

In the second half the Pars kids faded, failing to have an effort at goal.

The visitors threatened sporadically, Kean went close with a couple of efforts, sub Paul Gallacher saved from Jamie McQuilken and then Bamba made a terrific last-ditch tackle to deny Jamie Adams.

Sean O’Connor’s well-placed header from Paul Burns’ cross sealed the tie.

Afterwards, boss Jim McIntyre told Press Sport, “I thought the young boys did themselves proud. It was alearning experience against a very strong Queen of the South side.

"I thought young Ryan Thompson did quite well in the middle of the park and Paul Willis started the game very well.”

“We’ve not got a b ig squad and I felt it was important to rotate it.”

Pars: Reidford (Gallacher 43), Shields (Dearden 46), Muirhead, S Thomson, Bamba, Willis, Phinn (McCann 60), Thompson, McBride, Kirk, Williamson. Subs not used: Whyte, McGregor.

Queen of the South: Bell, Reid, Harris, Adams, Barr, J Thomson, Arbuckle (McQuilken 43), Tosh (MacFarlane 81), Kean, Dobbie (O’Connor 59), Burns. Subs not used: Robertson, Halliwell.

Goals: Kean (3), O’Connor (73).

Booked: J Thomson (38).

Attendance: 1373

Referee: Mike McCurry.