Dunfermline 0 Airdrieonians 0

Rhys McCabe`s Airdrieonians were the opposition for the Pars last home league match of the season. Hamilton`s 15 points deduction has created uncertainty in the relegation zone. Their appeal, set ominously for May Day, was still outstanding so both teams were in search of nerve soothing points. The ninth placed Diamonds sat six points behind both Queen`s Park and Dunfermline but required to win the final two games with an unlikely 12 goal turnaround, to have any hope of avoiding the Championship play-offs.

Dismissing all the eventualities of appeals and other results, a win was all Neil Lennon`s team set out to achieve. Now with both Lewis McCann and Connor Young ruled out for the season, the Dunfermline team showed three changes from the one that started the previous week against Partick Thistle `“ Kieran Ngwenya, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Ephraim Yeboah replacing Aaron Comrie, Michael O`Halloran and Chris Hamilton.

Airdrieonians were still without Aidan Wilson, Lewis McGrattan, Aaron Reid and Cammy Bruce and from the previous week`s line up Alex Bannon was missing with a groin strain while Ben Wilson, Rhys McCabe and Gavin Gallagher dropped to the bench. In came Lewis Strapp, Rhys Armstrong, Ricco Diack and Sam Graham.

It was a cautious start from both teams but former Pars loanee Chris Mochrie posed the early threat. His first run looked dangerous but Kyle Benedictus` intervention put paid to that. Then in fourth minute Armstrong played him through and forced wide he could only cut back to Liam McStravick and his 20 yard effort went high and wide right.

The home side showed great patience in possession but found it tricky getting into goal striking positions. Ngwenya earned cheers for a burst up the left channel before a foul on Ritchie-Hosler handed Matthew Todd a set piece in the centre of the Airdrieonians half. Benedictus made the run on to the delft delivery into the box to win the first corner of the afternoon in 15th minute. Disappointingly Ewan Otoo was caught offside as he tried a short routine with Ritchie-Hosler.

A 17th minute free kick taken quickly by Todd fed Ritchie-Hosler to send the ball across the Diamonds box but there was no one there to convert. The former Manchester City youth`s next cross dropped tantalisingly on top of Cade Melrose`s crossbar. Chris Kane demonstrated some fine close control battling for possession before setting up Chilokoa-Mullen and Todd to set up Ritchie-Hosler`s cross in but Ngwenya could not pull the trigger when possession fell to him.

Tobi Oluwayemi had to make a great save down at his left hand post after Mason Hancock`s break out of defence picked out Mochrie. He travelled across pitch from right to left before returning the ball to Hancock who drove the ball low and on target. The visitors 30th minute corner was met by Hancock at the back post and Kane made a crucial clearance off the goalline.

Dunfermline`s corner three minutes later was defended out to Todd and he connected well to launch the ball on target from 22 yards out. Unfortunately Melrose was well placed to hold the effort.

As the interval approached Melrose punched away a Todd cross from a corner on the left and at the other end Frizzell fed Hancock a chance to shoot from 20 yards out. His firmly struck shot escaped outside the right upright with Armstrong very close to get a converting touch. The final action came from another Todd corner following a drastic clearance from Graham. Unfortunately Benedictus` overhead kick did not break the deadlock and the teams went in level.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Airdrieonians 0

There was a double substitution for the home side before the second 45 got underway. Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Chris Hamilton replacing Matty Todd and Craig Clay. Otoo had two early deliveries might have met with better outcomes but the Airdrie defence stepped in on both occasions. Yeboah dispossessed Strapp in the box to hand Athletic a 51st minute corner that Ritchie-Hosler swung in from the right causing Melrose to fist away an important clearance from under his bar.

Airdrie made two changes just before the hour, Gavin Gallagher and Ben Wilson taking over from Ricco Diack and Liam McStravick. Dunfermline followed with Josh Cooper and David Wotherspoon coming on from Ngwenya and Yeboah. There were gasps at Oakley-Boothe`s 66th minute cut back from the right byeline was met by no one. Next Otoo pinged another delivery in from the left and again there were no takers.

Midway through the half Otoo was wide left again to cross towards Kane at the near post but Strapp intervened to concede a corner that Melrose would punch clear. The visitors made Oluwayemi come to the rescue on 80 minutes when Frizzell`s pass into the Pars box was set up for Mochrie to finish but the 21 year-old keeper saved bravely at the feet of the Airdrie forward.

Back at the other end Cooper took advantage of slackness in the Diamonds defence to blast a shot on target but Melrose made a good block.

It was another match in which Dunfermline just couldn`t snatch a goal. Another shut out though secured a point that matched Queen`s Park tally for the day. The Fifers remained seventh with a superior goal difference to the Spiders and Airdrieonians destined for the play-offs failing any great turnover of Hamilton`s penalty.

Dunfermline`s home season concluded with their attendances at league games surpassing 100,000 for the first time in 18 seasons.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Tommy Fogarty: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Archie Stevens 76), Craig Clay (Chris Hamilton HT), Ewan Otoo, Kieran Ngwenya (David Wotherspoon 63): Matty Todd (Tashan Oakley-Boothe HT), Ephraim Yeboah (Josh Cooper 63), Chris Kane.
SUBS NOT USED: Andrew Tod, Victor Wanyama, Omar Taylor-Clarke, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Kane (57)

AIRDRIEONIANS: Cade Melrose: Dylan Macdonald, Sam Graham, Lewis Strapp, Mason Hancock: Adam Frizzell (c), Rhys Armstrong, Dean McMaster (Lewis McGregor 84), Liam McStravick (Gavin Gallagher 59): Chris Mochrie, Ricco Diack (Ben Wilson 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys McCabe, Flynn Duffy, Craig Watson, Dylan Williams, Cole Williams, Kieran Wright (GK).
YELLOW CARDS: Hancock (56), Strapp (57), Graham (72)

REFEREE: Lloyd Wilson
ATTENDANCE:
WEATHER: Cloudy 13°C

WINNING 50/50: Ticket 21753 for £898

Neil Lennon`s Post Match Comments

NEXT MATCH (away) v Morton, Friday 2nd May 2025, kick off 7.45pm at Cappielow

TO BE UPDATED
Dunfermline: Tobi Oluwayemi: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Tommy Fogarty: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Archie Stevens 76), Craig Clay (Chris Hamilton HT), Ewan Otoo, Kieran Ngwenya (David Wotherspoon 63): Matty Todd (Tashan Oakley-Boothe HT), Ephraim Yeboah (Josh Cooper 63), Chris Kane.,

Dunfermline Subs:
Andrew Tod, Victor Wanyama, Omar Taylor-Clarke, Deniz Mehmet (GK),

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