Archives | Dunfermline 0 St Mirren 1

Pre-season friendly: Olutoysi Olusanya (28) 0-1

One week away from the 2024-2025 season kicking off Dunfermline took on Premier League opponents, St Mirren. James McPake was preparing his side for a start against The Spartans in the Premier Sports Cup and Stephen Robinson`s side were just 19 days away from their UEFA Conference League Second Round tie which will be against either Valur FC from Iceland or Albania`s KF Vllaznia.

Following pre-season friendlies against East Fife and Cove Rangers, Dunfermline were looking to step it up against top flight opposition. For St Mirren this was their first pre-season friendly coming after warm weather preparations in the Pinatar Arena outside Murcia in Spain.

Ewan Otoo was fit to start his first friendly with Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Lewis McCann the only other changes from the eleven that started on Tuesday night at Cove.

After heavy rain pre match Craig Wighton kicked off in bright sunshine attacking the goal in front of the East Stand. Early chances came the home team`s way with McCann bursting into the box only for the new Saints keeper, Ellery Balcombe to block his shot and then in third minute David Wotherspoon`s corner from the left was met by Kyle Benedictus but his shot cleared the crossbar.

St Mirren in their new all turquoise away strip fired a seventh minute free kick wastefully through the Fifers box before play halted for treatment to Chris Hamilton after Mark O`Hara`s challenge.

Another Wotherspoon corner this time from the right was defended but next minute a Hamilton shot was deflected for a corner but Elvis Bwomono stole possession at the short taken set play.

Another chance came in 16 minutes when Wighton rose to meet a Wotherspoon cross from the right byeline but his header went over the crossbar. Deniz Mehmet`s first serious save came three minutes later to deny Olutoysi Olusanya turning the ball behind for the visitors first corner of the afternoon. O`Hara connected from the corner but launched his fierce effort into the McCathie Stand.

St Mirren seemed to go up a gear and Benedictus was forced into taking a 26th minute yellow card when halting Olusanya on the edge of the box and O`Hara latched on to the ball from the free kick but again blasted over the bar. The opening goal came two minutes later when Smyth centred for OLUSANYA to slot home. 0-1

Otoo kept the Saints keeper engaged with a powerful low drive from the edge of the box after benefitting from a McCann break. Five minutes from the break a Sam Fisher free kick was nodded down by McCann, 15 yards out and showing great control was able to release a shot that was only just off target.

Dunfermline finished the half pressing with Otoo and Ngwenya forcing play forward but they could only earn a corner. St Mirren`s 44th minute corner was also defended before the final chance fell to Ritchie-Hosler from a McCann lay off but his effort went over the bar meaning the visitors went in one up.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 St Mirren 1

Having made five half time substitutions St Mirren started the second half with pace and intent but the Pars defence did its job. A Wotherspoon shot hit a Saints defender with the McCathie Stand calling handball that wasn`t given. At the other end Mikael Mandron met a cross at the near post but headed wide and then sub Lewis Jamieson drove an effort narrowly wide.

Both sides made three substitutions on the hour with Taylor Sutherland, Aaron Comrie and Joe Chalmers taking the places of Craig Wighton, David Wotherspoon and Ewan Otoo.

Jamieson hit the post before Sutherland ran on to a good through ball, cut inside his defender and released a low shot that sub keeper Peter Urminsky did well to keep out at the base of his right hand post. Chalmers teed up Ritchie-Hosler on 72 minutes but he drilled his shot at the keeper.

Both sides created chances in the final fifteen minutes. Dunfermline put in a number of telling blocks but unfortunately Hamilton required the physios attentions after Mandron`s challenge in 85th minute but crocked he limped off.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c)(Sam Young 75), Rhys Breen: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, David Wotherspoon (Aaron Comrie 60), Chris Hamilton, Ewan Otoo (Joe Chalmers 60), Kieran Ngwenya (Trialist #16 68): Craig Wighton (Taylor Sutherland 60), Lewis McCann (Ewan McLeod 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Michael O`Halloran, Andrew Tod, Trialist #13 (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Benedictus (26)

ST MIRREN: Tribalist (Peter Urminsky 60): Elvis Bwomono (Shaun Rooney HT), Luke Kenny (Marcus Fraser HT), Alexander Gogic (Foster 75) , Richard Taylor (Gallagher Lennon 75), Jaden Brown (Fraser Taylor 60), Mark O`Hara (c)(Idowu HT), Oisin Smyth (Scott Tanser 60), James Scott (Ethan Sutherland 75): Jonah Ayunga (Lewis Jamieson HT), Olutoysi Olusanya (Mikael Mandron HT)
SUBSTITUTES: all used
YELLOW CARD: Tanser (61)

REFEREE: Jordan Curran
ATTENDANCE: 1148
WEATHER: Changeable 15C

NEXT MATCH: (home) v Dundee, Wednesday 10th July 2024, kick off 7.30pm at KDM Group East End Park

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