Dunfermline 1 Airdrieonians 0

Lewis McCann was the match winner for the second time in five days with a second half goal to record consecutive 1-0 home wins. Again it was a case of Otoo to Ngwenya to McCann- goal!

Both teams went into this match with an element of `˜must win` attached to it as ninth placed Dunfermline welcomed tenth placed Airdrieonians to KDM Group East End Park. The Dunfermline team welcomed back Chris Kane who replaced Dapo Mebude in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven.

Following their 2-0 defeat to Falkirk, Airdrieonians manager Rhys McCabe brought in Ben Wilson and Dylan Macdonald in place of Flynn Duffy and Cammy Cooper who were on the bench.

Within two minutes of the kick off the home side were presented with a good chance when Kieran Ngwenya headed the ball into the path of Joe Chalmers but rather than shoot he elected to lay the ball off to his provider to his left and the Airdrieonians defence covered back to shut out the danger. Ngwenya has another shot blocked four minutes later before Chalmers delivered a free kick from 40 yards out that Sam Graham cleared.

Two Chalmers corners followed in eighth minute, one from each side. From the second one Kane made the keeper save from close in after Kyle Benedictus had headed goalwards. From an 18th minute free kick Gavin Gallagher pumped the ball into the Dunfermline box but the ball was headed clear but two minutes later Wilson played the ball across the six yard box. Aaron Comrie was forced to concede the corner and after Adam Frizzell picked out Lewis McGrattan the latter played a dangerous ball in that was defended only as far as Luke Badley-Morgan and he hit a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that Tobi Oluwayemi just as spectacularly fisted away.

A 26th minute Pars corner was defended by Graham, Ngwenya had a left shooter effort that went wildly wide, a Todd free kick towards Comrie on the right went out off Ritchie-Hosler and a McCann long throw didn`t work out. The closest Dunfermline came in 31st minute when Ngwenya crashed a Ritchie-Hosler cross wide at the near post.

The Diamonds only response was McGattan shot from 30 yards out that Oluwayemi held. Two minutes later in 38 minutes Todd advanced and had a crack on target but Kieran Wright stopped the shot. There was a close one in 44 minutes when McGrattan fizzed an effort from the right outside the left upright. McGrattan earned two corners in time added on, Oluwayemi punched away the first and a couple of Pars headers the second.

When the first half came to an end there had been no goals. For two teams that had found the net difficult to locate so far this season it was really not unexpected.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Airdrieonians 0

On loan Hibs player Murray Aiken replaced Airdrieonians Dylan Macdonald for the restart and Ritchie-Hosler should have had the Fifers ahead. Good work from McCann on the left slipping the ball to Todd teed it up for the Pars no. 7 but the 24 year old keeper, on loan from Rangers saved the shot down to his left. There was an inviting ball through the Airdrie box sent in by Otoo that just evaded Kane and McCann.

Chris Kane was subbed by Dapo Mebude in 54 minutes and as Dunfermline continued to pass up chances the Lanarkshire side were encouraged forward by their 268 fans behind the goal. Hamilton was adjudged to have fouled Rhys Armstrong and the away side had an opportunity from a free kick 23 yards out but Wilson hit that into the wall. Then at last in 61 minutes, a goal. McCANN ran on to a through ball from Ngwenya and although trailed by a defender coolly netted to the keeper`s left. 1-0

Comrie made a strong run at the end of which he sent a good ball to Mebude but the sub headed wide right. At the other end McGrattan laced the ball into the Pars box and there were big penalty shouts as newly introduced sub Cammy Cooper went over Oluwayemi. No penalty was given.

Todd forced a 88th minute corner in the North West corner but Wright Chalmers cross. Play halted as Benedictus appeared to pick up an injury in the opposition six yard box but he was able to continue. Dunfermline saw out the time remaining to secure the win and the three points that opened up a seven point gap over their opponents.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Josh Cooper 86), Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers, Kieran Ngwenya: Matty Todd: Lewis McCann (David Wotherspoon 78), Chris Kane (Dapo Mebude 54)
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Wighton, Sam Fisher, Taylor Sutherland, Craig Clay, Sam Young, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: McCann (61)
YELLOW CARD: Otoo (15)

AIRDRIEONIANS: Kieran Wright: Dylan Macdonald (Murray Aiken HT), Sam Graham, Craig Watson, Luke Badley-Morgan: Lewis McGrattan (Chris Mochrie 85), Adam Frizzell (c), Gavin Gallagher, Lewis McGregor (Cammy Cooper 66): Rhys Armstrong, Ben Wilson.
SUBS NOT USED: Terrrell Agyemang, Flynn Duffy, Dylan Williams, Cole Williams, Jamie White, Murray Johnson (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Frizzell (21), Johnson (90+1), Watson (90+4)

REFEREE: Colin Steven
ATTENDANCE: 4583 (inc 268 away fans)
WEATHER: Dry 8°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (away) v Ayr United, Saturday 23rd November 2024, kick off 3.00pm at Somerset Park.

TO BE UPDATED
Dunfermline: DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Josh Cooper 86), Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers, Kieran Ngwenya: Matty Todd: Lewis McCann (David Wotherspoon 78), Chris Kane (Dapo Mebude 54),

Dunfermline Subs:
Craig Wighton, Sam Fisher, Taylor Sutherland, Craig Clay, Sam Young, Deniz Mehmet (GK),

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