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Monthly Digest - February 2001

It was announced that East End Park would host the Scotland Under 21 game against Belgium on 23rd March. It is hoped that Chris McGroarty will earn a call-up for the game.
Rumours that the Pars were to make a £500k bid to bring Billy Dodds to EEP were denied. However, it was hoped that Steven Hampshire would sign an extension to his existing contract.
Date: 3rd February 2001 Opposition: Rangers Score (H/T): 0-2 (0-1)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 46,302
Scorers: [0-1] Tugay (28), [-0-2] Mols (88)
Cards (Yellow): Thomson, Rossi (DAFC), Vidmar, Ricksen (Rangers)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek: Skerla, Rossi; Doesburg, Skinner (Mason HT), Thomson, Dair; Nicholson; Bullen (Dijkhuizen 65), Crawford, Petrie (Hampshire HT). Subs not used: SY Thomson, Boyle.
Rangers: Wilson, Konterman, Vidmar (Mols 40); Ricksen, Reyna, Tugay, Johnston, Numan; Flo, Miller (Hughes 89)  Subs not used: Christiansen, Malcolm, Carson
Referee: A Freeland
The match kicked off at 1255 as it was the second SPL game to be broadcast on Sky PPV. Dunfermline were unlucky to lose, and had Barry Nicholson buried his gilt edge chance in the opening minutes it might have been a different story. Rangers took the lead in 28 minutes when Tugay volleyed home from well outside the box. Rangers secured the three points when Michael Mols managed to evade Skerla to send a low drive past Ruitenbeek. 
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
7 St Johnstone 26 7 10 9 26 36 31
8 Dunfermline Ath 26 8 7 11 23 33 31
9 Dundee 25 8 6 11 37 33 30
Ian Ferguson was reported to be very upset at having been dropped for the game against Rangers at Ibrox.
Russel Huggon returned to EEP following an unsuccessful trial at Bury. Chris Templeman signs for Stirling Albion following his loan spell there. 
Date: 10th February 2001 Opposition: Dundee United Score (H/T): 3-1 (0-0)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: East End Park Attendance: 5,180
Scorers: [1-0] Hampshire (49), [1-1] Lilley (55), [2-1] Dijkhuizen (82), [3-1] Moss (85)
Cards (Yellow): Rossi (DAFC),  Easton, Laughlan, De Vos, McCunnie (Dundee United)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skinner, Skerla, Rossi; Doesburg (Bullen 3), Nicholson (Moss 64), Ferguson, Thomson, Dair; Hampshire (Dijkhuizen 71), Crawford.  Subs not used: SY Thomson, Boyle.
Dundee United: Gallacher; Griffin, De Vos, Laughlan, Davidson (Aljofree 67); McCunnie, Miller, Easton, Buchan; Lilley (Naveda 86), Hamilton (Thompson 84). Subs not used: Onstad, McCracken
Referee: T Brown
After a dull first half this game burst into life just after the break when Steven Hampshire ran nito the box, and with two United defenders closing him down, shot home. United equalised from a controversial penalty award, when Derek Lilley rose above the defence to score. With just eight minutes remaining substitute Dijkhuizen was in the right place to collect the rebound from a Moss shot which Gallagher had saved. David Moss made the points safe three minutes later when he knocked home a Bullen cross.
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
5 Hearts 27 10 6 11 38 40 36
6 Dunfermline Ath 27 9 7 11 26 34 34
7 Motherwell 27 9 5 13 33 41 32
Date: 13th February 2001 Opposition: St Johnstone Score (H/T): 3-2 (0-2)
Competition: Scottish Cup Venue: East End Park Attendance: 4,479
Scorers: [0-1] Russell (13), [0-2] Lowndes (43), [1-2] Thomson (61), [2-2] Dijkhuizen (77), [3-2] Moss (83)
Cards (Yellow): Nicholson, Dair, Tod (DAFC), Sylla (St Johnstone)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek, Skinner (Mason HT), Skerla, Rossi; Thomson, Nicholson, Moss, Petrie, Dair; Dijkhuizen (Matthaei ), Petrie (Tod 73) Subs not used: SY Thomson, McGarty
St Johnstone: Main: Frail, Weir, Dods, Bollan; Sylla (Lovenkrands 60), Dasovic, Kane, McBride; Parker (Russell 62), Lowndes.
Referee: R Orr
Blimey, how's this for a comeback! Two goals down at half time and not a hope in the world, but what a second half performance. Manager Calderwood, threw defence out the window and played with five strikers and his gamble paid off. Scott Thomson started the fightback when he drove a loose ball at the edge of the box past Main. The much maligned Marinus Dijkhuizen grabbed the equaliser heading in Jason Dair's cross, and then with just 7 minutes remaining David Moss smashed the ball into the roof of the net, after a Dair shot had hit the post. The unthinkable had happened - bring on Celtic on Saturday!
Steven Hampshire signs a two year extension to his contract, which will keep him at EEP until the middle of 2004.
Youssef Rossi speaks out against Scottish referees, calling them amongst other things, weak.
Following the Pars remarkable comeback against St Johnstone, there is a rush for tickets for the Scottish Cup game against Celtic on Saturday.
           
Date: 17th February 2001 Opposition: Celtic Score (H/T): 2-2 (0-0)
Competition: Scottish Cup Venue: East End Park Attendance: 11,222
Scorers: [0-1] Larsson (66), [1-1] Skerla (83), [1-2] Larsson (88), [2-2] Nicholson (91)
Cards (Yellow): Tod, Ferguson (DAFC)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skinner, Skerla, Tod, Rossi; Mason (Dair 69), Nicholson, Ferguson, Moss (McGroarty 78); Thomson, Dijkhuizen (Bullen 63). Subs not used: SY Thomson, Petrie.
Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren (Tebilly 67), Vega, Boyd; Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, Petta (Petrov 71); Larsson, Sutton. Subs not used: Gould, Johnson, Moravcik.
Referee: W Young
What a corker of a game this was! Dunfermline had more than matched Celtic during the first half, and until the 66th minute had kept the Parkhead team at bay. Then Henrik Larsson popped up behind Skerla to score the opener. The Pars battled back and with 7 minutes remaining, much to his delight, Andrius Skerla scored as the ball bounced about in the area following a corner. The Pars supporters joy was short lived, as two minutes from the final whistle Larsson scored again. But one minute in to time added on, the ball broke to Barry Nicholson at the edge of the box, and his shot entered the net by the left hand post. Once again the home support went crazy.
Date: 21st February 2001 Opposition: Dundee Score (H/T): 1-0 (1-0)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: Dens Park Attendance: 6,113
Scorers: [1-0]  Nicholson (12)
Cards (Yellow): Skerla (DAFC)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skinner, Skerla, Tod; Dair, Nicholson, Ferguson, Moss (Bullen 64), McGroarty (Doesburg 85); Thomson, Crawford.  Subs not used: SY Thomson, Mason, Dijkhuizen.
Dundee: Roccati; Del Rio, Smith, Coyne, Marrocco (Russo 64); Artero, Rae, Carranza (Yates 45); Caniggia, Falconer, Milne (Wilkie 45)   Subs not used: Langfield, Zujovic
Referee: T Brown (Replaced by C Hardie after 26 minutes due to injury)
An excellent away victory saw the Pars move up into fifth place in the SPL. The early winner came after Barry Nicholson's shot from about twenty yards took a deflection off a Dundee defender, and beat keeper Marco Roccati. Andy Tod had an excellent game deputising for Yousesef Rossi who was on World Cup duty with Morocco.
Athletic supporters who made the trip to Morocco during the winter break, were praised by British Ambassador for their good behavior.
Chairman John Yorkston admits speaking to JC about extending his contract. Meanwhile players, Colin Nish, Stephen Boyle and Jason Dair have all rejected the offers of new contracts. Former Pars player Guido van de Kamp was back training with his old team following his acrimonious departure from Raith Rovers.
Announced that for the second year running, the Pars will again tour Holland in the pre-season.
           
Date: 24th February 2001 Opposition: Heart of Midlothian Score (H/T): 1-7 (0-4)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: Tynecastle Attendance: 11,251
Scorers: [0-1] Adam (5), [0-2] Kirk (24), [0-3] Cameron (30), [0-4] Adam (40), [0-5] Cameron (50), [1-5] Dair (50), [1-6] Kirk (60), [1-7] Tomaschek (67)
Cards (Yellow): None
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skinner (Moss 62), Skerla, Tod (Dijkhuizen 23): Dair, Nicholson, Ferguson (Bullen 23), Doesburg, McGroarty; Crawford, Thomson. Subs not used: SY Thomson, Mason
Hearts: Niemi; Neilson, Pressley, Severin, Flogel; Boyack (Juanjo 42), Makel (McAnespie 74), Cameron, Tomaschek; Adam (Durie 70), Kirk. Subs not used: McKenzie, Murray.
Referee: A Freeland
Aaaagggghhh!!! What a nightmare. Two goals down after 24 minutes and JC withdraws Ferguson and Tod to go on the attack, but unlike against St Johnstone in the cup, the plan disastrously backfires. Hearts go on the rampage. The only highlight (if there can be such a thing), was Jason Dair's neat goal following good lead up work from Doesburg and Dijkhuizen. This was Hearts biggest victory over the Pars since 1926.
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
5 Hearts 28 11 6 11 45 41 39
6 Dunfermline Ath 29 10 7 12 28 41 37
7 Motherwell 29 10 5 14 34 42 35

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