SPFL Reserve Cup final: Killie hit a magnificent seven in defeat over Dunfermline
Kilmarnock have won the 2022/23 SPFL Reserve Cup after defeating Dunfermline Athletic 7-0 at Rugby Park.
Killie fielded a very strong team, including a host of first-team players who are often part of Derek McInnes’ Premiership squad. The Pars put out a very youthful side and despite the scoreline, they did not disgrace themselves.
It was one of the more experienced players in Fraser Murray who opened the scoring. He got on the end of a deft flick from Bobby Wales after 16 minutes. And with 26 minutes played, Scotland Under-19 international Wales found the net himself to double the hosts’ advantage. He would later grab himself a brace following a pinpoint pass from Kerr McInroy in the 40th minute.
Killie went in 3-0 up at the break, and Paul Sheerin (who is also the club’s first-team coach) made a change as first-team regular Liam Polworth was replaced by Kian Leslie. The young winger was a thorn in the Pars’ side in the second period.
The Ayrshire side were in no mood for taking their foot off the pedal as they made it 4-0 when Steven Warnock found the top corner in the 56th minute. At this point, you could see the Dunfermline players’ heads drop and unfortunately for them, the rout didn’t stop there. Killie added their fifth as half-time substitute Leslie turned provider for Murray, who scored his second of the game with a striker-esque finish.
At this point, the young Pars were playing for their pride and they almost got themselves a goal for their efforts with Ewan McLeod and Andrew Tod stinging the palms of Killie ‘keeper Zach Hemming.
With 84 minutes played, Dunfermline were hit for six after Warnock secured his second goal of the evening. However, the hosts hit a magnificent seven with Aaron Quigg scoring in stoppage time after a superb late run into the box.
The game was one-way traffic, but that doesn’t take away from Dunfermline’s achievement in reaching the final. Without a doubt, Dunfermline and their supporters would have loved two trophies arriving at East End Park in the space of a week, but it wasn’t to be for Greg Shields and his team.
For Kilmarnock, Bobby Wales and Steven Warnock stood out. The latter is on loan at League One club Edinburgh, but could he be in pole position for a run in the first team, similar to David Watson, the former reserve captain? On the other hand, Wales has made eight Premiership appearances, but the majority of these have been cameos off the bench.
The future looks very bright for both Kilmarnock and Dunfermline and based on this performance, it won’t be long before many of these players become household names.