DUNFERMLINE - MASSACRONI 2-2

Promotion was finally gained by Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, on a Sunday night that saw the mighty Pars be held to a 2-2 draw by fellow league group winners Massacroni.
However, Moro Populars disposed of Hellas Begato elsewhere, to signify that Dunfermline finished within the top-two of their Excellence Playoff group, just one point shy of Massacroni themselves, thus virtually securing their Division B status ahead of the 2008/2009 season.
In fact, should Dunfermline not make it any further than the quarter finals next Sunday, against either Amici di Berto or Carrapippi, they'd still be guaranteed an overall 5th place in the whole Division C pecking order, or in the worst case scenario - should Massacroni be kicked out as well, that is - they'd be occupying 6th place, with 4 places guaranteed by AICS and as many likely to be made available following next season's tiers draft.

Dunfermline couldn't have been at a lower point, on paper, against one of the best sides in AICS Division C fold, before the match got underway.
Gaffer Vanin was forced to shuffle his pack, and deployed Perugini in goal, whilst Filippi's partner in defence was Marco Semino! Yes, him, Dunfermline's very own goalkeeper who reminded everyone of his Semi-pro past as a defender, which showed on the night, as he was one of the best men on the pitch.
Marletta led his side on the pitch and was deployed on the right, with Di Noto taking charge in the middle of the park, and Bovalino being played wide on the left, taking care of 43 goal boy Bruno Pedroni.
Tuscan striker Buccianti played the lone striker role, and the only sub for a weary side was represented by the gaffer, who included himself as an outfield replacement.
Marco Cantelli also featured on the bench, although his crutches were hardly signs of good hope ahead of an unlikely comeback towards the final few steps of the season, while American pal Drew Fasolini waved goodbye to the side off the pitch, ahead of his forthcoming return to the States.
But boy what a goodbye he was waved back by his team-mates, who produced heroics throughout, in such volatile fashion and circumstances, a nerveracking, if not mouthwatering, performance, which will forever stand in the lads' hearts and minds.

Dunfermline seemed unfazed by the number of notable absentees they had to put up with, Frassinelli, Cantelli, Borreani and Buttitta all missing out, and swiftly took control of proceedings, Buccianti operating extremely wisely upfront.
Esibiti had a good chance for Massacroni early on, but he failed to convert it from just outside the box, and minutes later Buccianti earned a precious free kick from about 20 yards out.
Marletta stepped up and, more importantly, lived up to his set piece virtuoso status, converting in quite some style to establish The Pars in the lead.
Massacroni tried to bounce back, but Buccianti was once again brought down just ahead of the halfway line.
Marletta took it once more, Buccianti slightly deflected the ball past Esposito and Dunfermline found themselves with an unexpected, although well deserved, two goal cushion.
Both sides kept battling on until the end of the first half, and it was another free-kick that handled Massacroni a sort of lifeline, as Rutigliano's set piece was deflected off Dunfermline's wall, leaving Perugini wrongfooted and partly bridging the gap between the sides before the half time whistle.

HALF TIME: Dunfermline 2, Massacroni 1

The second half got underway and Massacroni seemed to be going from strength to strength, as they restrained Dunfermline to a mere control of their own half of the pitch for lengthy spells.
Semino and Filippi had a huge load of work to do to keep Sacco at bay, which they did to good extent, until the Massacroni striker took advantage of a rare moment of sloppy marking, to receive the ball from a throw and quickly turn and shot past Perugini to level things up at 2-2.
Buccianti got yellow-carded, as had Di Noto early on in the first half, meaning that both players will miss out on the next game, which at that stage appeared to be very likely against Sampierdarena in a round of 16 tie which would've probably left the Pars with little hope of going through to the next stage.
Esibiti rattled the woodwork from long range with an impressive half volley, and had it not been for a couple of brilliant saves by Perugini, Dunfermline would've found themselves on the receiving hand of a 3-2 - or wider margin - defeat.
Semino pulled off a miracle line clearance of his own as Pedroni appeared to have scored from close range, meanwhile Di Noto created a great opening, only for Marletta to shoot straight at Esposito.
The most glorious of chances, though, was yet to fall Dunfermline's way, as Di Noto was once again spot on in feeding Marletta into space, the midfielder played a backward square ball in towards Buccianti, by then unmarked and only a touch away from Division B.
The striker rushed it, as indeed he was required to do, but faltered and the ball somehow found its way into Esposito's gloves.

Fortunately for the lads, much better news came in later on the night, as ill defender Fabio Frassinelli called from his Sampierdarena home to tell the guys that Moro Populars had had the better of Hellas Begato, with a 2-1 win.
Promotion, albeit not officially yet, had been reached.


FULL TIME: Dunfermline 2, Massacroni 2
DUNFERMLINE
Perugini; Semino, Filippi; Marletta, Di Noto, Bovalino; Buccianti
SUBS: -
SUBS NOT USED: Vanin
MANAGER: Vanin
SCORERS: Marletta (1-0), Buccianti (2-0)
CAUTIONS: Di Noto (Y), Buccianti (Y), Marletta (Y), Semino (Y)


EXCELLENCE PLAYOFF, GROUP B, Final Standings

5 Massacroni
4 Dunfermline
4 Moro Populars
3 Hellas Begato

Thanks to http://www.fornettogenovese.it/