Hibernian F.C. Match Reports
Dunfermline Athletic 0 Hibernian 4
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Saturday 18th July 2009

Kick off had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow the large following from Edinburgh to gain entry to East End Park this afternoon. The Hibernian supporters had travelled to Fife in their numbers to see John Hughes' new look side first hand, and they were not to be disappointed. As well as Zemmama making his return the manager selected Derek Riordan from the start - by full time every one of the 21 players who travelled had some time on the park.

Dunfermline got the action underway but it was Hibernian who threatened first. Zemmama cleverly retained possession despite being surrounded by three Dunfermline players before playing the ball inside to Riordan. The striker found Hanlon arriving late into the penalty area and his first time shot was blocked by goalkeeper Fleming.

Hibernian went even closer to scoring when Riordan split the defence and Nish was left with only the goalkeeper to beat. The big forward took his time before taking the ball around Fleming only for his shot to be cleared from the goal-line by Woods. It had been a very positive start from the visitors but John Hughes' men had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the game level. From the first corner of the match Burke's deep cross found Phinn at the back post and his header looked net-bound before being touched around a post by Ma-Kalambay.

Hibernian were passing the ball around confidently, retaining possession and patiently waiting for the right opportunity to attack their First Division hosts. It was a slick passing move that carved open the Dunfermline defence after 6 minutes to allow Hibernian to take the lead. Rankin found Hanlon advancing into the left hand side of the penalty area and his low cut back was slotted into the net at the back post by Nish.

Cregg tried his luck with a shot from 20 yards soon after but his effort was wide of goal, before Dunfermline's best chance so far came from a cross by former Hibernian play-maker Glass. He delivered the ball in between the goalkeeper and defence with Burke beating Ma-Kalambay to the ball but unable to direct his header towards goal. Fleming had to push a fantastic cross from Zemmama off the head of Nish as Hibernian pushed for a second goal, then despite being surrounded by a number of opposition players Zemmama had the awareness and ability to pick out the unmarked run of Nish - but Fleming reacted quickly to prevent him scoring a second.

Another sharp passing move from Hibernian just after the half-hour mark again gave the Dunfermline defenders a problem at the back. Riordan did well to win and retain possession in the midfield before he set the hard working Hanlon off and running into the left hand-side of the penalty area. The full back looked up and tried to pick out Nish in the middle but his cross was just too high, the ball however did fall kindly for Zemmama arriving late into the penalty box and his shot back across goal was just wide of the target.

Hibernian were not to be denied any longer however and when Van Zanten split the Dunfermline defence with a fine pass forward, Nish raced clear before lifting the ball over the diving Fleming and into the back of the net for his second goal of the afternoon. Zemmama attempted to seal his return to the side with a goal from a free kick after 34 minutes; his effort was just too high and scrapped the top of the crossbar before going behind, but stood as a reminder of his capabilities from such situations.

Dunfermline had a chance to reduce the deficit when Burke picked out Higgins from a free kick into the Hibernian penalty area, but under pressure from Hanlon he headed wide of goal. A bad mistake from Woods then presented Nish with the chance to claim his first hat-trick for Hibernian, but his early shot from the edge of the box was straight at Fleming who dealt with it comfortably. That was the final action of note in an excellent first half from Hibernian. John Hughes side had dominated almost the entire 45 minutes and could have been further ahead in a game that was far from being a typical pre-season encounter.

Half Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Hibernian 2

Both teams made changes during the interval with Muirhead replacing Higgins for Dunfermline while McCann, Stevenson, Bamba and Johansson coming on for Van Zanten, Hanlon, McBride and Nish for the visitors. Dunfermline passed up and early opportunity when the ball broke to Phinn on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder snatched at his effort and sent it wide of goal.

The fingertips of Fleming prevented Johansson claiming his first ever goal for Hibernian after 53 minutes. Bamba, making his first appearance at East End Park since leaving Dunfermline to join the Easter Road side, won possession and then played the ball wide left to Riordan. The striker picked out partner Johansson in the middle and his powerful header was pushed over the cross bar by Fleming.

From the resulting corner kick Bamba had a couple of efforts before Murray fired wide from close range. On 55 minutes Hibernian moved three goals in front when the impressive Cregg found Zemmama on the right hand side of the penalty - his cut-back was weighted superbly for the late arrival of Derek Riordan who clipped the ball perfectly into the corner.

A simply stunning cross-field pass from Riordan allowed Zemmama to step away from Muirhead and the right and race in on goal. With Fleming rushing out to meet him the midfielder tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, he succeeded but his effort was just inches wide of the target. Further changes were made by both teams on the hour mark with McDougall, Holmes and Cardle replacing Graham, Burke and Glass for Dunfermline. John Hughes, determined to see as many of his players in action as possible, brought on Galbraith, Wotherspoon, Thicot, McCormack and Keenan for Zemmama, Riordan, Hogg, Murray and Rankin.

Making so many changes in a short space of time was always going to interrupt the fluidity of Hibernian's play and Dunfermline attempted to advantage of that. Former Heart of Midlothian striker Kirk came closest when he headed a cross from Gibson against the post - the rebound went straight into the arms of a grateful Ma-Kalambay. The Hibernian goalkeeper was again involved seconds later when he threw his huge frame at a fierce drive from McDougall - pushing the ball around the post for a corner kick.

A poor pass back from Austin McCann to goalkeeper Fleming gave Wotherspoon a clear sight of goal, but despite taking the ball beyond the goalkeeper he was unable to keep it in play. Johansson was inches away from turning a cross from McCann into the net before Fleming did well to hold onto a powerful shot from Cregg as Hibernian acclimatised to the many changes and began to take control of the game again.

As some home supporters started to make their way towards the exits Cregg tried to beat Fleming with a lobbed effort but was just off target. Hibernian's final change saw Flynn replace Ma-Kalambay leaving Patrick Cregg as the only player not to be replaced - the young goalkeeper was quickly involved when he saved a low drive from Willis.

Galbraith, who scored in mid-week against Selkirk, almost made it two goals in two games when his delightful shot with the outside of his left foot across goal finished inches wide with Fleming beaten. In the final minute Hibernian made it 4-0 when Galbraith set Cregg off and running up the middle of the park, he evaded a number of challenges before passing to Johansson who finished with some aplomb - curling an exquisite effort from 20 yards across Fleming and into the top right hand corner of the net.

It was the final action of the afternoon with Hibernian deserving of the handsome victory. There were a number of players who must have impressed the large Hibernian supporter, all of whom left delighted with their afternoon trip over the water.

Dunfermline Athletic: Fleming, Ross, McCann, Phinn, Woods, Higgins, Graham, Glass, Kirk, Burke, Gibson. Subs: Muirhead, McDougall, Holmes, Cardle, Willis.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Hanlon, Cregg, Hogg, Murray, Zemmama, McBride, Nish, Riordan, Rankin. Subs: Flynn, McCann, McCormack, Stevenson, Keenan, Bamba, Wotherspoon, Johansson, Thicot, Galbraith.

Attendance: 4,151