Archives | The Spartans 0 Dunfermline 3

Premier Sports Cup

The Pars 2024-2025 season kicked off on a rather grey and cool afternoon at the Ainslie Park Stadium against The Spartans. For this Premier Sports Cup tie the Dunfermline team saw two changes from that which started against Dundee in midweek. Kyle Benedictus (ill) and Craig Wighton (knee) were missing so Chris Hamilton and Kane Ritchie-Hosler started.

The Spartans starting eleven included former Pars playersPaul Watson and Blair Henderson but James Craigen sat this one out through suspension.

The visitors in their newly launched and instant hit black away strips kicked off attacking the goal at the north end of the park but it was Spartans who fired the first serious shot third minutes in. The effort felled Hamilton on the edge of the box but with the captain still down Dunfermline broke. David Wotherspoon clipped the ball upfield for Lewis McCANN to control. He took it to the left touchline, cut inside and launched a great 30 yarder at goal. The net bulged to make it a perfect opener. 0-1

Hamilton recovered and he did well to block a Henderson shot in 14 minutes. The Fifers controlled the game and completed lots of passes. Ewan Otoo was next to test The Spartans keeper with a shot from the edge of the box that the dayglo yellow kitted keeper dropped to the ground to hold. Chalmers pumped a 20th minute free kick towards Aaron Comrie deep right but McCann was penalised for his challenge for the cross.

Next minute Carswell was pleased to see a Ritchie-Hosler shot from 30 yards out clear his left hand post. At the other end a Brogan Walls cross was headed behind by Sam Fisher to deny Henderson. From the corner on the left Watson headed back for Cammy Russell but he powered his effort over the crossbar. The Spartans forced another corner in 32 minutes and taken short Ritchie-Hosler was penalised as prevented the Spartans cross. Russell took the setplay 18 yards out on the right side. With great agility Deniz Mehmet tipped the goal bound delivery on to his right hand post and it rebounded on to McCann`s head, travelled towards the other post before Rhys Breen hastily scooped away the clearance.

Hamilton sent a chance over the Edinburgh side`s crossbar before Henderson headed another Russell free kick wide left in what was the final attempt of the half.

The Pars looked comfortable in the first half helped immensely by the early goal but The Spartans gave plenty warnings that they maintained a constant threat.

Half Time: The Spartans 0 Dunfermline 1

Striker Chris Kane came on for the second half, Rhys Breen went off and Aaron Comrie moved to the left side of the back three. In just the third minute of the half McCann made a superb run down the right, fending off challenges to cut back for a Chalmers in front of goal. It might have been easier to net but the Pars midfielder blasted his shot over the crossbar much to the disappointment of the travelling support.

McCann charged down a 52nd clearance from The Spartans keeper and play stopped to allow treatment to the 23 year old. The physio`s attentions did the job and Lewis was soon back on the pitch. Paul Watson picked up a 59th minute yellow card when cutting down McCann just outside The Spartans penalty box and when David Wotherspoon drove the ball at goal it whizzed just outside the left goalpost.

Ritchie-Hosler teed up Kane for a 65th minute strike but his effort was blocked. Then a McCann cut back ran through The Spartans box. The rain came down but that did not dampen the danger Fifers created. Wotherspoon played a sweet ball through for McCann on the left but he pulled his left footed shot wide of the far post.

The home side pushed forward in 72 minutes and Hamilton was yellow carded as he conceded a free kick 25 yards out before Russell belted the setplay into the four man Dunfermline wall. A fine piece of Ritchie-Hosler pace down the right allowed him to send a dangerous ball to the far post. A corner was conceded and from it Wotherspoon passed it straight to Ritchie-Hosler. The pair exchanged passes again before RITCHIE-HOSLER given time to compose himself, produced the 82nd minute strike that made it 2-0.

Taylor Sutherland was introduced for McCann with six minutes remaining and it took him only three to hit the net. It was a ground where the 18 year old had hit plenty in the U18s and reserves but from. Fisher free kick, SUTHERLAND collected the ball headed back in from Kieran Ngwenya, turned and finished with perfection. 3-0

The three goals made it a great start for Dunfermline, three different scorers and on to the next game in the group at home to Forfar on Tuesday night.

THE SPARTANS: Blair Carswell: Kieran Watson (Aaron Scott 83), Ayrton Sonkur, Paul Watson, Callum Booth (Danny Denholm 67), Bradley Whyte, Jamie Dishington, Lewis Hunter, Brogan Walls (Hamish Ritchie 67), Cammy Russell, Blair Henderson
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Inglis, Niall Geany, Archie Wylie, Adam Meek (GK)
YELLOW CARD: P Watson (59)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Chris Hamilton (c), Rhys Breen (Chris Kane HT): Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers, Ewan Otoo (Ewan McLeod 88), Kieran Ngwenya: David Wotherspoon (Andrew Tod 88), Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Lewis McCann (Taylor Sutherland 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Michael O`Halloran, Sam Young, Freddie Rowe
YELLOW CARD: Hamilton (72)
SCORERS: McCann (4), Ritchie-Hosler (82), Sutherland (87)

ATTENDANCE: 850
WEATHER: Changeable 14°C

NEXT MATCH: (home) v Forfar Athletic, Tuesday 16th July 2024, kick off 7.45pm at KDM Group East End Park