22/09/01 Parscelona 3 Livingson 5
September 22nd 2001
Townhill, Dunfermline
[thanks to that
burd for taking notes]
Parscelona’s first encounter with this group
of Livvy fans did not look to be off to the best start when it emerged that the
Pars did not have anyone willing to go in goals. Callum phoned his dad, but in
the meantime it was a return to goalkeeping duty for the first time in almost
nine months for Alan Maxwell.
Pars were looking reasonably quick, with
Colin McKean and Chris Ozog menacing the Livvy midfield. There were still scary
moments though, as Jamie Wilson and Grant Macleod both had important blocks and
Livvy sent one effort just wide. Colin combined well with Davie Sanders to come
close to giving Parscelona a lead, but it was not to be.
After fifteen minutes, it was beginning to
look a bit silly to have a referee with no whistle, when Chris Ozog managed a
scything effort on a Livvy player. The visitors came close to punishing him
seconds later when they almost scored.
Cammy Wilson came close for the Pars, but it
was left to Colin McKean to grab the opening goal in the 16th minute
following Cammy’s pass.
Jamie Wilson again came to the rescue of the
Pars, but in the 18th minute Alan failed to repay his favour. After
the Pars were awarded a penalty for handball, Alan ran the length of the park
to take it. His rank-rotten penalty was parried by the Livvy keeper and Alan
made a hash of the rebound too.
Alan did manage to make a save at the other
end, however, and the Pars were further boosted by a second goal. Davie
Sanders’ finish was good and gave him his (long overdue) first goal for
Parscelona.
Some more good defending and a couple of
saves kept Pars in front while Ali and Colin threatened to expose Livvy’s
defence, but they could not hold out forever and in the 37th minute
Parscelona were caught out by a ball over the top. Alan came rushing out his
goals but was too late, and the Livvy striker was left with an easy job to lob
it over his head.
Alan again made a couple of saves but it was
his opposite number who stole the limelight on the stroke of halftime by making
an arse of McKean and dribbling the ball halfway up the pitch.
Alex Mercer, swapping (lack of) whistle for
an outfield role had a shot at goal in the first minute of the second half but
just one minute later Livvy were in front.
The Pars continued to keep Livvy at bay after
this, with newly arrived goalkeeper Jim managing a few saves. They also had a
good go at them up front, with Ross Arnott turning the defence inside out
constantly and first-half keeper Alan Maxwell having a shot tipped wide of the
post.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Pars
regained the lead. Grant Macleod made a jaunt up the park in true centre-half
fashion to power home a great
header from a Pars corner. The ball went in via the crossbar and gave Macleod a
rare non-deflected goal.
After going through a quiet spell, Pars
conceded an equaliser 26 minutes into the second half and despite efforts from
others and a good block from Jamie Wilson, Livvy took the lead with 10 minutes
remaining.
Despite more good play down the wing and some resolute defending and goalkeeping, the Pars were truly scuppered five minutes from the end when a Grant Macleod lunge gave away a penalty, which Jim was helpless to stop.
Pars squad: A. Maxwell, J. Norris, Alex Mercer, G. Macleod, J. Wilson, C. McKean, R. Arnott, M. Falconer, D. Sanders, C. Ozog, C. Norris, C. Wilson, A. McLeod, J. MacDougall