Archives | Dunfermline 1 Ayr United 1

William Hill Championship: Eean Otoo (14) 1-0: Dylan Watret (22) 1-1

Ayr United were the opponents for the first of two back to back home league games. The Honest Men arrived top of the table having won their last six matches. Dunfermline were the complete opposite, foot of the table and a losing streak of six games.

James McPake rung the changes starting his three new players in an attempt to turn the fortunes around. Tobi Oluwayami took over from Deniz Mehmet in goal, defender Tommy Fogarty was preferred to Sam Fisher and David Wotherspoon made way for a starting debut for Josh Cooper. Scott Brown`s side showed one change from the previous week against Raith Rovers with Michael Devlin in for the missing Scott McMann.

The visitors kicked off playing into the summer sun but it was the home side that threatened from a fourth minute free kick. Ben Dempsey did not appreciate Chris Hamilton nutmegging him and duly brought him down. Cooper took charge of the free kick pumping it into the Ayr box but their defence headed clear. Then in nine minutes, Lewis McCann flashed the ball across the Ayr box from the right but Chris Kane could not quite get the required touch.

There was a stoppage as Ayr brought on Nick McAllister for Michael Devlin whose hamstring had tightened and on the resumption Dunfermline sent the ball forward and when Ayr failed to clear Ewan OTOO latched on to the ball to smash home off the crossbar from 30 yards out. There was a tremendous East End roar as the ball hit the target. 1-0

Ayr hit back on 22 minutes when a cross from the left was headed out but brought down by Dylan WATRET to be dispatched low, with the assistance of a deflection, into the left side of the Dunfermline net by the 17 year old right back. 1-1

Both teams were playing with pace and determination. Chris Kane was causing the Honest Men problem and that led to an early yellow card for their sub. McCann crashed another good cross in from the right but that got intercepted. Ayr looked a threat on the break but they were kept far enough out not to trouble Oluwayami although Dempsey`s long range effort only just cleared the crossbar.

McAllister was extremely fortunate not to be shown a yellow card for his 43rd minute foul on Kane. The referee certainly did not endear himself to the home crowd. McCann fired the free kick from 26 yards out on target but Harry Stone dived to his left to parry the powerful effort away.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Ayr United 1

Dunfermline brought on Sam Young for Kyle Benedictus and Ayr United introduced Alfie Bavidge in place of Jamie Murphy before the second half got underway. Four minutes in Cooper fed Ritchie-Hosler a chance but his shot from 25 yards was held by the on-loan Hearts stopper.

Two minutes later Kane forced the Pars first corner of the afternoon. Kieran Ngwenya took it short to Ritchie-Hosler who played it back for the Dunfermline left back to send across the Ayr box but without the desired outcome. Then Kane won a free kick on the left and McCann`s wicked delivery only just evaded Kane`s leap.

McCann then produced a fine cross from the right but an Ayr defender slid in to block the danger. The match was very competitive and several challenges saw players on both sides taken on to the deck. Kane came a cropper in 59 minutes and the physios came on to his assistance. Fortunately he was able to continue.

A 61st minute Ayr corner from the right was fisted away by Oluwayami and Hamilton defended the follow up. David Wotherspoon replaced Josh Cooper to freshen up the offensive and six minutes later Craig Wighton followed to take over upfront from Chris Kane.

Andrew Tod had also come on when Lewis McCann was forced to retire and he met a Ngwenya cross at the near post but Stone held. Ayr were on the offensive when referee Ross Hardie halted play when the heads of Otoo and Bavidge clashed. The Fifers goalscorer walked off quick brightly to continue after a five minute stoppage during which the Ayr players head was strapped.

Tod was fouled on the left touchline and Wotherspoon curled in the added time free kick only for the 22 year old Ayr keeper to hold. Walker broke free to launch an on target shot that Oluwayami touched away for a corner on the left. That roused the 602 strong travelling support but the Pars defence came out on top after their keeper had touched away the cross. There was a let off when Ngwenya`s pass was beaten down and Ayr looked likely to find a winner but thankfully they never got the chance to release a shot.

Oluwayami made a great stop in the eighth minute of added time and so the match would end all square. Dunfermline`s first point of the campaign from a much more energetic performance.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayami: Aaron Comrie, Tommy Fogarty, Kyle Benedictus (c) (Sam Young HT), Kieran Ngwenya: Lewis McCann (Andrew Tod 75), Chris Hamilton, Ewan Otoo, Kane Ritchie-Hosler: Josh Cooper (David Wotherspoon 62): Chris Kane (Craig Wighton 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Chalmers, Sam Fisher, Michael O`Halloran, Rhys Breen, Taylor Sutherland, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Otoo (14)
YELLOW CARD : Comrie (21), Wighton (90+1)

AYR UNITED: Harry Stone: Dylan Watret, George Stanger, Michael Devlin (Nick McAllister 14), Patrick Reading: Ben Dempsey (c), Jamie Murphy (Alfie Bavidge HT), Jay Henderson (Ryan Howley 62), Marco Rus (Ethan Walker 62), Anton Dowds (Jake Hastie 79), George Oakley.
SUBS NOT USED: Mark McKenzie, Roy Syla, Scott Tomlinson, Liam Russell (GK)
SCORER: Watret (22)
YELLOW CARDS: Dempsey (24), McAllister(35), Walker (70)

REFEREE: Ross Hardie
ATTENDANCE: 4921 (inc 602 Ayr fans)
WEATHER: Sunny 19C

50/50 WINNER: Ticket Number 56581 for £632

NEXT MATCH (away) v East Fife, SPFL Trust Trophy Saturday 7th September 2024 kick off 3.00pm at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

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