JIMMY'S SIDE DON AND DUSTED

They say that every win is sweet but this one – the Pars first league win since New Years Day – was sweeter than a triple deluxe chocolate gateau with icing and hundreds and thousands sprinkled on the top!

After all of the pre-match fight talk and malicious sniping, the Pars players and Davie Hay delivered a defiant two-fingered salute to Jimmy Calderwood and his minions once and for all. Displaying character, bravery and a will-to-win straight from the outset the Pars players delivered the kind of lung-bursting display of commitment that makes you proud to call yourself a Pars fan. I and many a Pars fan have been known to say that all we ask of the players is that they give 110%, fighting tooth and nail for the jersey. If they do that then, irrespective of quality, you can’t complain. But when you get 110% commitment and the type of quality which was on show yesterday then you definitely can’t complain! You could sense a real determination around the club yesterday, a real desire to get the three points. For the full 90 minutes yesterday there seemed a very real sense of unity around East End Park with the fans truly backing the team to the hilt, the players responding in spades. A fact not lost on manager Davie Hay who thanked the fans for the backing, a statement typical of a man who you can’t help feeling sympathy for. If the players had been performing in this manner then Europe, not relegation or Davie Hay’s position as manager, would have been the talk of the Dunfermline steamie over the last few months!

Excluding a second-half lapse in concentration – which led to the Aberdeen equaliser – a makeshift Pars defence – including two teenagers – performed admirably and as a unit all afternoon. Supported by a keeper of the calibre of Derek Stillie, who once again produced a string of stunning saves, the Pars back four coped very comfortably with the threat of Mackie and Stewart whilst providing a genuine attacking threat when the Pars were in the ascendancy. Young full-backs Greig Ross and Ian Campbell can be justifiably proud of their performances respectively, with both more than holding their own on a day when quality and perseverance were a must. Strong in the tackle and particularly effective when going forward, Greig Ross appears to be improving with every appearance, looking increasingly accomplished in his play. In the shape of Ian Campbell the Pars undoubtedly have one for the future, with Campbell showing all the nerve and composure required from a first-team regular. And as for Campbell’s ability to deliver a cross-ball – every one of Campbell’s corners caused the Dons defence trouble – it may just be the case that, as Campbell retains a more regular slot in the side, the Pars ability to pose an attacking threat at corners may greatly increase. Much of Campbell’s and Ross’s impressive displays may have due in some part to the majestic and influential performances from the veteran centre-half pairing of Scott Thomson and Andy Tod, both of whom produced excellent displays. Where Scott Thomson’s intelligence and reading of the game were vital all afternoon, Andy Tod was outstanding throughout the ninety using his strength and never-say-die attitude to ensure he was first to every single challenge, be it on the ground or in the air.

With the game understandably adopting a somewhat scrappy edge in the midfield Gary Mason and Lee Makel were, to an extent, stifled in their attempt to forge attacking moves. Although Mason’s holding and break-up play was yet again first-class, preventing the visitors from creating as much as they, or their manager, would have liked. What the visitors, and their manager in particular, would also have liked was Barry Nicholson to have joined them during the transfer window. Something which, thank god, Barry Nic – who was outstanding yet again yesterday – did not do. Any questions over Barry Nic’s commitment to the cause would undoubtedly have been dispelled through yesterday’s performance, a performance which was gutsy, inspiring and, above all else, top quality. On the opposite wing Noel Hunt – selected in a, some would say, unorthodox position – showed all the fighting qualities which has endeared him to a number of Pars supporters. Showing pace and directness, Hunt’s deployment on the left-wing caused a different sort of problem for the Aberdeen defence, surely re-affirming Hay’s shrewd decision to use the Irishman on the left-hand side. Hunt’s involvement was cut-short however after picking up a, lets hope harmless, knock, Darren Young doing enough in his time as a sub to almost add a third for the Pars.

Although much has been said and written about the Pars’ failure to convert chances and consistently score goals, yesterday seemed to offer up little or no support for this statement with all four strikers – Christiansen, Mehmet and subs Donnelly and Hristov – producing encouraging and, more importantly, threatening displays in terms of their attacking ability. Comfortable in terms of both control and vision, Jesper Christiansen gave Zander Diamond a torrid time throughout the match, frequently dragging the young defender out of position. Jesper’s partner in crime, Billy Mehmet, can also feel very proud in terms of his contribution. Mehmet’s quality and vision are there for all to see and if the big Englishman keeps putting them away like he did yesterday then a very bright, prolific future lies ahead of the striker. Where Simon Donnelly’s valuable contribution to the win can never be brought into question, neither can Georgi Hristov’s who – despite having only a short time to make his mark on the game – showed his quality with some very neat first touches and hold-up play.

Delighted! Delighted with the win, delighted with the performance and delighted with the character and commitment shown by the players. But most of all I am delighted for Davie Hay. After all of the stupidity which had gone before, no-one could deny Davie what was a critical and well-earned three points. Davie – who was as animated in the stand as I’ve ever seen him – got his tactics spot-on, hitting Aberdeen where it hurt the hardest, down the wings. It would be a drastic understatement to say that Davie has been party to an amount of criticism from some of the fans since joining the club, so, similarly, Hay should be praised for what was a lung-bursting performance of the highest order. Well done Mr Hay. Well done to the players. More of the same at Rugby Park next week please!

Man Of The Match – ANDY TOD – Closely run contest for award but the big man was simply fantastic from the first whistle to the last, winning every challenge and typifying what it should mean to pull on the famous black and white stripes!

PARS – Stillie 8, Ross 8, Campbell 8, Thomson 9, Tod 10, Nicholson 8, Hunt 7, (Darren Young 6), Mason 7, Makel 6, Christiansen 7, (Hristov 7), Mehmet 8, (Donnelly 7).