Dunfermline Athletic Reserves secured a 2-0 win over Hibernian at East Mains thanks to goals from Rhys Breen and Taylor Sutherland.
The match was played on a cold afternoon at the Hibernian Training Centre and the Pars took the lead through Breen’s deflected free-kick.
Sutherland added a second midway through the second half.
Hibs came back into the game after the break but came up short in the final third time and time again.
Courier Sport looks at the talking points from the game.
Another good young Pars performance
Dunfermline were facing a young Hibs side with Kevin Dobrowski in goals and veteran centre-back Darren McGregor in defence.
The Pars had a smattering of first-team players and lined up with Chris Hamilton in the middle of a back three.
They've lined up with Hamilton as part of a back three. pic.twitter.com/BNyxXKtBeo
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) November 22, 2022
Breen is an established first-team defender, though the same can’t be said about his status as a free-kick taker.
Even still, he stood over one after Andrew Tod was fouled and saw his strike deflect off the wall and in to make it 1-0.
Sutherland then did brilliantly to, eventually, get Kyle Macdonald’s low cross under control and double Dunfermline’s advantage.
Causing own problems
Greg Shields’ side were well worth their 2-0 half-time lead but the home side had their chances.
At 1-0 Hibs forward Josh Connor breached the Pars defence, leaving him one on one with Max Little, but the big keeper saved with his legs.
After that Hibs’ best chances came through Dunfermline playing themselves into trouble, usually through taking extra unnecessary touches in defence.
Dunfermline had spells later in the half as the mist at East Mains grew thicker.
There's a fair amount of mist now. pic.twitter.com/wUcQHgNjbW
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) November 22, 2022
Star man
The standout on the day was Kane Ritchie-Hosler who also must have been the most fouled player on the day.
He started off the left but dropped deep and drifted inside to start attacks.
After half-time this was invaluable as the Pars started the second half on the back foot.
Whether it was dropping a shoulder to beat a man or play a crossfield pass, he was at the centre of a lot of Dunfermline’s good play.
Ritchie-Hosler looked like he took a sore one in the second half but got up and finished the match.
Points deduction
Despite winning two and drawing the other – and winning the bonus point on penalties – of their three matches in this tournament, Dunfermline have just six points.
This is due to a points deduction for playing Jake Sutherland, brother of Taylor, in the match versus Dundee United.
The youngster played just before his 16th birthday, making him ineligible. He has since turned 16 and replaced his brother in the second half of this match.
It means Dundee United Reserves were retrospectively awarded a 3-0 victory.
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