Archives | Dunfermline 0 Falkirk 2

The Championship season kicked off with a bang as KDM Group East End Park hosted the return of one of Scottish football`s greatest rivalries. Dunfermline Athletic welcomed newly-promoted Falkirk for their first home league match of the campaign, re-igniting a fierce contest that has been absent from the second tier since the 2018-2019 season.

Falkirk, fresh off their triumphant League One championship run, were eager to prove they belong back in the Championship. Meanwhile, the Pars aimed to establish early dominance on their home turf and set the tone for their own ambitions.

Visiting manager John McGlynn started the same eleven that was victorious in their opening league match against Queen`s Park while Dunfermline made two changes. Craig Wighton was preferred to Taylor Sutherland and Joe Chalmers started in place of the injured Kieran Ngwenya.

The build up to kick off was as expected noisy with both sets of fans trying to outdo each other. Attacking the McCathie Stand end Falkirk got off to the best of starts finding the Pars net within six minutes. A strong run in from the right saw Keelan Adams drive the ball into the six yard box and close in Ross MacIVER directed the ball into the net. 0-1

Adams conceded to hand Dunfermline a 13th minute corner but David Wotherspoon`s delivery from the left got whipped up in the wind and Kyle Benedictus could not control it at the far post and headed wide. Mehmet held as Coll Donaldson got his head to a Dylan Tait free kick from in front of the home dugout. Then in 25 minutes when Calumn Morrison`s cross for MacIver was turned behind for a corner, Mehmet beat away a Sean Mackie effort at his right hand post.

It was Mackie who picked out Calvin Miller for a 32nd minute effort from a central position 25 yards out that went wide right. The hopes of the home fans were raised when Chalmers made a burst up the centre of the park but McCann could not create a shooting opportunity when he received the lay off. Mehmet held a Gary Oliver header on a Morrison cross but the Bairns continued to enjoy pressing the Dunfermline defence.

A 36th minute Miller corner tried to pick out Adams lying deep but Wighton sussed him out and restricted his fruitless cross. Four minutes later a long throw from McCann was defended back to him, he advanced and drove into the Falkirk box where Benedictus was very unlucky not to steer the ball into the Falkirk net.

Dunfermline got a good move going in 42 minutes with Kane Ritchie-Hosler setting up Wotherspoon for a left footed shot from the right side of the box but the attempt was off target. Treatment was required when Benedictus went to ground in the centre circle after taking a nasty one to his left ankle. He was able to continue but he did look uncomfortable.

The half concluded with Mehmet saving a Tait shot and the resultant corner from the left was headed away by Wotherspoon.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Falkirk 1

Comrie was pushed up the left side for the second 45 with the Pars going three at the back and two upfront. A McCann attempt in just the second minute of the half was turned behind by Nicky Hogarth but Wotherspoon`s corner was headed away by Liam Henderson. Dunfermline kept up the pressure from a 50th minute Chalmers free kick from the right side in front of the North West. Hogarth came for the cross but missed, McCann got in two shots his first being blocked by the 23 year old keeper and second deflecting behind off Donaldson.

A Wighton burst into the left side of the Falkirk box allowed him a cut back for Hamilton in front of goal but the Bairns defence rushed in to deny the Pars man. That was Craig Wighton`s final contribution as Chris Kane was then introduced to a great welcome from the home support.

It was Falkirk however who endangered the scoreline. Mehmet came out to close down MacIver`s angle so his shot rolled outside the right goalpost. Next the Pars keeper turned a vicious effort from Oliver over his bar. Kane then almost got the break to find the equaliser. He evaded a challenge to advance towards goal but the Falkirk keeper was out sharpish and the ball fell wide left.

Michael O`Halloran was the next sub replacing David Wotherspoon for the final twenty minutes. Another Chalmers setpiece 28 yards out on the right side was punched away by Hogarth but Dunfermline were beginning to look much more of a threat with Kane`s clever touches. Play was interrupted again in 80th minute when McCann and Donaldson clashed. The physios performed their magic and both recovered. Lewis was faster on and immediately pounced on a blocked ball to attack the Falkirk box but the away defence blotted out the danger.

Kane next met a fine ball in from Sam Fisher but his 85th minute on-target header was turned away by Hogarth. Next minute Falkirk were awarded a penalty against Ritchie-Hosler in into the right side of the Pars box. MORRISON stepped up and converted to the left side of the goal. 0-2

The result was on no doubt after that and the three added minutes ended with the first Falkirk win in Dunfermline since November 2018. After two league matches the Fifers have yet to collect a point.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie (Taylor Sutherland 84), Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo: Chris Hamilton: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, David Wotherspoon (Michael O`Halloran 70), Joe Chalmers, Lewis McCann: Craig Wighton (Chris Kane 57).
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Andrew Tod, Sam Young, Ewan McLeod, Freddie Rowe, Lewis Briggs (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Otoo (4)

FALKIRK: Nicky Hogarth: Sean Mackie, Coll Donaldson (c), Liam Henderson, Keelan Adams, Dylan Tait, Brad Spencer, Calvin Miller (Ethan Ross 71), Gary Oliver (Aidan Nesbitt 71 (Finn Yeats 90+1. ), Calumn Morrison, Ross MacIver (Ryan Shanley 90+3)
SUBS: Alfredo Agyeman, Leon McCann, Caelan McCrone, Logan Sinclair, Owen Hayward (GK).
YELLOW CARD: MacIver (58)
SCORERS: MacIver (6), Morrison (87 pen.)

REFEREE: Matthew Macdermid
ATTENDANCE: 7595
WEATHER: Windy 18°C

50/50: winning ticket number: 56528 `“ £756

NEXT MATCH: (away) v Hamilton Academical, Saturday 24th August 2024, kick off 3.00pm at New Douglas Park

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