Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 3 East Fife: East Fife stun Pars

Published on 20/07/2012 00:45

Kevin Kyle made a first appearance in 18 months, and Ian Murray appeared as a trialist as Dunfermline lost 3-1 to East Fife.

Kyle has been sidelined since January 2011 with a recurring hip problem but was deemed fit enough for a second-half run-out after joining the Pars for the last fortnight’s training.

The 31-year-old, released by Hearts in March, has confessed he may be forced to quit the game if he fails in his latest comeback and he would have been thrilled by a 23-minute display in which he showed glimpses of his combative qualities.

The former Hearts striker was joined by one-time Aston Villa and Coventry City defender Stephen O’Halloran, ex-Barnsley youngster Conor Branson and a Slovakian trialist keeper.

Ex-Hibs and Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith was also given a run-out, but will not have been happy with East Fife’s two first-half goals. The 29-year-old allowed Collin Samuel’s 19th-minute header to slip over his body before allowing Scott Durie’s 25-yard drive to slip into the bottom right-hand corner of his net five minutes from the interval.

Durie’s strike was redemption for his error in turning a Paul Willis cross into his own net to hand the home side a 25th-minute equaliser.

Murray, who had hip trouble last term, was introduced at half-time in a surprise outing.

The SPL’s delayed decision to give Dundee the “club 12” place, rather than Dunfermline, has left the Pars playing catch-up, and manager Jim Jefferies, who saw Andrew Jamieson knock in a late third for the Second Division visitors, appears to have his work cut out to be ready
for their Ramsdens Cup opener against Forfar on Saturday
week.