TALENTED teenager Taylor Sutherland has a "big future" and will play a significant part in Athletic's season after delighting his manager in their Premier Sports Cup opener.
The 18-year-old came off the bench to score his third senior goal for the club at The Spartans on Saturday, wrapping up a 3-0 victory to ensure a winning start to the campaign.
Sutherland, within minutes of coming on, reacted to Kieran Ngwenya's knock-down to turn and fire a fine shot low into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty box.
His goalscoring contribution arrived shortly after Kane Ritchie-Hosler's curler from just inside the penalty area, with eight minutes left, had added to Lewis McCann's early opener.
It was a professional job completed by the Pars against their League Two opponents at Ainslie Park, and boss James McPake was keen to praise his teenager star, whilst ruling out the possibility of a further loan move, following a spell with Bonnyrigg Rose last term.
"The one I’m most delighted for today is Taylor Sutherland. He finds his way to score goals in nearly every game," McPake said.
"That is why he will stay at this football club for the full season. We have teams almost every day asking to take him on loan, but he has a big future and, credit to the boy as well, because he works ever so hard every day."
The Dunfermline boss watched McCann, who described as having been "excellent in pre-season", give them the perfect start to this Group E encounter with just four minutes on the clock.
David Wotherspoon's ball forward was picked up by the number 11 on the left-hand side, where he brought it under control, moved infield on his right, and unleashed a shot from around 25 yards that flew beyond Blair Carswell in the home goal.
Ewan Otoo and Ritchie-Hosler had further efforts for the visitors, who had Deniz Mehmet to thank for pushing a vicious, inswinging free-kick from Cammy Russell onto the post, whilst Chris Hamilton also shot over.
Early in the second half, Joe Chalmers had a chance to score his first Dunfermline goal, after good work from McCann saw the ball pulled back into his path, but he slashed over the bar.
McPake's side were in control of the match and McCann was unlucky to see a shot across goal finish wide of the far post, having been played through by Wotherspoon, who laid the ball on for Ritchie-Hosler to fire home the second.
Sutherland's well-taken finish completed a good day's work, although McPake, who was able to introduce Chris Kane at the break for his first minutes of the season, felt there is room for improvement.
"We did enough to win the game," he said.
"It is a really tough place to come, we know that. When you look over the results Spartans have had, obviously the most recent one when Hearts beat them 2-1 here in the (Scottish) Cup (last season), they beat Dundee United in this same fixture last season in match day one of this cup, and obviously they put Arbroath out of the (Scottish) Cup here so, when you do come here, they make it really difficult for you.
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"They are a team that has been together a while and they have a set way of playing where they put a lot of balls into your box and make you defend. I don’t think we did that fantastically if I’m honest. It was scrappy at times and it had to be. Thankfully, Deniz Mehmet pulled off a wonder save at 1-0 to stop them equalising.
"The quality of the goals was pleasing and there were lots of positives in the game. Wotherspoon got close to ninety minutes, Chris Kane got 45 minutes. He looked good - he is going to be rusty, but having him back is a massive bonus for the football club.
"We scored three really good goals. I’m delighted for Taylor Sutherland - he was unfortunate not to start this game.
"When it is 1-0 you are a bit reluctant to put the young kids on, not in case of the result, but at certain times in the game they don’t deserve to go on and be involved in a performance that might not be what you are looking for.
"We lost too many headers all over the pitch. We made hard work of defending our box at times, and we relied on our goalkeeper for that one moment in the game.
"Apart from that three good goals and a good victory. We said to them before the game, it doesn’t matter how win this game we just had to come here and win and we done it."
Reiterating his praise for Sutherland, McPake added: "As I said earlier, he was unlucky not to start this game and, with (Kyle) Benedictus being ill overnight, there were wee tweaks.
"Then he was almost getting put back in, but we decided the way to go. Whether that proved right I don’t know.
"We made hard work of the first half and then, when the subs came on, I think Chris Kane helped, Taylor certainly helped, and Kane Ritchie-Hosler is always a goal threat.
"In terms of individuals I’m pleased for no-one other than Taylor because he is so young and works so hard to get goals. If there was anybody I wanted to come off that pitch with something it was Taylor.
"The encouraging thing is that we have come away with a 3-0 win. You are always looking for things, it varies how much you are looking for that. It doesn’t change whether you win, lose or draw.
"I’m delighted we won the game - we had to come here and win the game. We believed that this was going to be one of the toughest ones that we have had at this football club to start a season.
"It proved to be that way for a while but, to get a 3-0 win, we are delighted."
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