PARS 3 Peterhead 0, Betfred Cup Group D

MYLES HIPPOLYTE marked his debut with a goal as the Pars cruised past Peterhead in their Betfred Cup opener last night.

The 23-year-old former Falkirk man, who signed from St Mirren on Friday, headed home from Ryan Williamson's cross three minutes before half-time to give Allan Johnston's men the lead.

Although firmly in control of the game, it took Kallum Higginbotham's penalty with two minutes left to seal maximum points before substitute Andy Ryan curled in a sumptuous third in stoppage time.

It was the ideal start to competitive football for the home side, who go to Premiership Dundee in their second group match on Sunday.

Dunfermline's starting line-up featured six summer signings, in the shape of Jackson Longridge, Danny Devine, Mark Durnan, Joe Thomson, Louis Longridge and Hippolyte, but there was no place for Faissal El Bakhtaoui in the squad.

The striker, who returned from Dundee on loan 24 hours prior to Hippolyte's arrival, has been struggling with a calf problem and, along with fellow Dee loanee James Vincent, will be ineligible to face his parent club this weekend.

Lee Ashcroft captained a Pars side that began by deploying a back three and he almost inadvertently put through his own net in the seventh minute, but Lee Robinson did well to save his deflected header.

The home side though began to take a grip of proceedings and Hippolyte showed great strength to muscle Simon Ferry off the ball and carve out a shooting chance for himself, but he dragged his effort wide of goal.

The Englishman was causing the Blue Toon all sorts of problems throughout the opening 45 minutes, along with Louis Longridge, and he only just cleared the bar with a free-kick on the half hour after Higginbotham was upended on the edge of the area.

Hippolyte then showed good willing to win the ball from Callum Horne inside his own half and find Higginbotham, who in turn found Louis Longridge with a crossfield pass, but his shot was well saved by former Par Greg Fleming at his near post.

A goal was coming and it duly arrived shortly before the break.

Another fine Dunfermline move was this time started by Thomson, who clipped a fine pass forward for Williamson to latch on to on the right flank.

The full back showed great composure to put the ball on a plate for Hippolyte, who found himself unmarked at the far post and have the simple task of heading into the back of the net.

Williamson was then denied by Fleming as Athletic pushed for a second, but it was the visitors who almost grabbed a shock equaliser eight minutes into the second half when Rory McAllister's free-kick smacked the base of the post.

Hippolyte, Thomson and Jackson Longridge each had efforts saved as traffic continued to advance towards the League Two side's goal, before it was soon their turn to be denied by the woodwork.

Substitute Aidan Connolly, who impressed after coming on, was unlucky to see his well-executed free-kick strike the bar but he was at the heart of the incident that clinched the win for the hosts.

Although Peterhead complained furiously that he won the ball, Willie Gibson appeared to clean out Connolly inside the area, leaving Steven McLean with little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Higginbotham confidently dinked his kick down the middle and, with almost the final kick of the game, Ryan capped a fine evening's work by cutting in on his right foot and curling a lovely shot into the top corner.

Pars: Robinson, Williamson, J.Longridge, Devine, Durnan, Ashcroft (McCann 71), Higginbotham, Thomson (Connolly 71), Hippolyte (Ryan 90), L.Longridge, Craigen.

Subs not used: Morrison, Martin, Smith, Gill.

Goals: Hippolyte (42), Higginbotham (88, pen), Ryan (90).

Peterhead: Fleming, Brown, Horne (Kavanagh 69), Eadie, McLean (Norris 69), Ferry (McDonald 85), Stevenson, Brown, McAllister, Leitch, Gibson.

Subs not used: McCracken, Buxton.

Referee: Steven McLean.