Date: 28 September 2005
Venue: East End Park, Dunfermline, 3.00pm kick-off

Score: Dunfermline 2
Dundee United 1

Attendance: 5,361

The visitors took the lead four minutes before the break when defender David McCracken rose at the back post to head home a Barry Robson free-kick.

However, the Pars fought back and utility player Andy Tod headed home a Lee Makel corner on the hour mark.

And, with 15 minutes left, 18-year-old midfielder Greg Ross, who only started the game because Darren Young was injured in the warm-up, latched onto a Noel Hunt ball to slam home his first goal for the Fifers.

The home side should have taken the lead in the fifth minute when a long ball out of defence by Scott Wilson was flicked on at the edge of the box under pressure by striker Bartosz Tarachulski to the advancing Derek Young.

The Pars striker had scored a hat-trick against Kilmarnock in midweek, but his volley from six yards out dipped over the bar when United keeper Derek Stillie should have been tested.

United striker David Fernandez did have the ball in the net soon after, but referee Stuart Dougal ruled Tannadice hit-man Lee Miller had fouled Allan McGregor.

United defender Mark Wilson worked a decent one-two with Lee Miller inside the Pars penalty area. However, the Scotland Under-21 international could not get the return pass 10 yards out and the danger was averted.

Fernandez bustled his way through the home defence before firing his angled shot from close range over the bar.

In the 39th minute McGregor pulled off a fine save from a Robson drive from distance and Yannick Zambernardi was on hand to prevent the waiting Miller getting to the rebound.

Two minutes later the visitors took the lead. After a free-kick was awarded on the right for a foul on Fernandez by Zambernardi, Robson curled the ball to the back post and McCracken rose above Scott Wilson to head past the flailing McGregor from only six yards out.

Three minutes after the interval, only a tremendous point-blank save from McGregor prevented Miller doubling the visitors' lead.

Another excellent in-swinging Robson free-kick from the right was met by the Scotland international only six yards from goal, but the on-loan Rangers keeper reacted to push the ball over the bar for a corner.

Dunfermline upped the tempo and, in the 55th minute, Liam Horsted robbed Wilson on the by-line before cutting inside, but he drove his angled shot from 16 yards just past the far post.

Horsted then got the better of Wilson again, but his low drive from the edge of the United penalty area was easily saved by United keeper Derek Stillie.

However, on the hour mark, the home side gained the equaliser their early second-half pressure deserved.

Midfielder Makel whipped a corner from the left into a packed six-yard box and Tod, who had ambled up from defence, rose among the crowd to bullet his header in from close range.

But, in the 75th minute, the Fifers got their noses in front for the first time through Ross.

Substitute Hunt, on earlier for Derek Young, worked some space brilliantly on the right of the United penalty area after taking a pass from Tarachulski.

When the Irishman cut the ball back to Ross, the teenager fired first time past Stillie from 12 yards out.

United stormed back in some desperation, but the Pars were in no mood to let their precious lead slip.

Dunfermline: McGregor, Scott Wilson, Labonte, Tod, Zambernardi, McCunnie, Makel, Horsted (Craig Wilson 77), Ross, Tarachulski, Derek Young (Hunt 67). Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Campbell, Muir, Calum Smith.

Booked: McGregor.

Goals: Tod 60, Ross 75.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Wilson (Samuel 78), McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, McInnes (Canero 61), Brebner, Kerr, Robson, Miller, Fernandez. Subs Not Used: McIntyre, Duff, Kenneth, McLean, Robertson.

Booked: Archibald, McCracken.

Goal: McCracken 41.

Ref: Stuart Dougal