Monthly Digest - June 2002
| It's an earlier return than usual to pre-season training for the Dunfermline players as they report to EEP on 21st June in preparation for their New Zealand tour. Joining the team are close season signings Gary Dempsey, Craig Brewster, Derek Stillie, and Scot Walker. The latter had an anxious wait as there were some last minute hitches to overcome with his move from St Mirren. Missing from the pool of players travelling are the injured duo of Chris McGroarty and Jason Dair, and Andrius Skerla, who experienced difficulties obtaining a visa to enter New Zealand. The full squad is: Ruitenbeek; MacPherson, Walker, Nicholls, Thomson, Karnebeek, Petrie, Nicholson, Mason, Dempsey, Kilgannon, Hampshire, Crawford, Brewster, Bullen, McGarty, Nish, Fotheringham, Blair, SY Thomson. |
| Whilst in New Zealand, Jimmy Calderwood will take the opportunity to run the rule over two Australian trialists, Michael Cartwright and Marcus Stergiopolous. |
| It's no surprise as Nipper Thomson is named the new captain of Dunfermline, succeeding the departing Ian Ferguson. |
| The Athletic make a big impression down under with the match against NZ with a lot of media interest shown, including live TV coverage. |
| Date: | 28th June 2002 | Opposition: | New Zealand | Score (H/T): | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Competition: | Friendly | Venue: | Wellington, NZ | Attendance: | 3,500 |
| Scorer: | [1-0] Brewster (69) | ||||
| Cards: | Walker, MacPherson (DAFC), Vicelich (NZ) | ||||
| Pars Team: | SY Thomson;Karnebeek (Petrie HT), Walker, Thomson, MacPherson (Hampshire), Dempsey (Kilgannon 49), Mason, Nicholson, Bullen, Brewster, Crawford | ||||
| New Zealand: | Utting, Perry, Smith, Zoricich, Davis, Vicelich, Jackson, Burton, Lines, Urlovic, Killen, | ||||
| Referee: | S Sargent | ||||
| The Pars first ever game in the southern hemisphere was a dull affair by all accounts. The only goal of the game came after a neat one-two between substitute Dempsey and Crawford gave Craig Brewster the simplest of chances from close-in. Sean Kilgannon had two efforts which narrowly went over the bar, and another that brought out a good save from 'All Whites' keeper Michael Utting. | |||||
| Manager Calderwood praises the performance of new signing Gary Dempsey in the win over New Zealand. |
| Date: | 30th June 2002 | Opposition: | New Zealand | Score (H/T): | 2-4 (1-1) |
| Competition: | Friendly | Venue: | Aukland, NZ | Attendance: | 2,000 |
| Scorer: | [0-1] Smith (pen), [1-1] Thomson, [2-1] Nish, [2-2] Killen, [2-3] Campbell, [2-4] Smeltz | ||||
| Cards: | None | ||||
| Pars Team: | SY Thomson, Macpherson, Thomson, Bullen, Petrie; Nicholson, Nicholls, Mason, Dempsey; Crawford, Brewster (Nish HT) | ||||
| New Zealand: | N/K | ||||
| Referee: | N/K | ||||
| Reports suggest that this was a strange game, with the Pars seemingly losing interested once they had gone in front, and paying the price when the home team scores two late goals. NZ take the lead after DeGregorio went down following a challenge from Nicholls. Smith converted the penalty. Thomson then equalised with a powerful header from a corner. Nish put DA into the lead with a great goal after being played through by Nicholls. Dunfermline then sit back and Killen capitalises on a mistake by trialist Cartwright to equalise. The Kiwis third goal also comes from a Cartwright error. Trying to dribble out of defence, the Aussie loses control to Vicelich, who passes to Campbell to score. Smeltz completed the scoring with NZ's fourth. | |||||