Archives | Dunfermline 2 Kelty Hearts 1

SPFL Trust Trophy Fourth Round

Two changes for Dunfermline as they took on Kelty Hearts in the SPFL Trust Trophy. Matty Todd dropped to the bench and centre back Tommy Fogarty was away on international duty with Northern Ireland U21s. That made room for the return of Sam Young in defence and a home and starting debut for Dapo Mebude.

The visitors were missing their three cup tied players `“ Ruairidh Adams, Sam Harding and Connor Allan. Player/manager Michael Tidser was also missing from the side that convincingly defeated Queen of the South on their own patch the previous Saturday. Into the Kelty side came keeper Ryan Adamson, Billy Owens, Robbie Cole and Callum Flatman.

Craig Wighton kicked the match off with Dunfermline attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. There was early pressure from the home side but it was Kelty who forced the first corner of the afternoon inside three minutes. The setplay was duly defended and next Craig Clay found Kane Ritchie-Hosler high up the right and he produced a cross that was just too high for Mebude to connect with. Unfortunately that would be the 23 year olds last real involvement. He went down in 11th minute, with a slash to his left shin and despite the physios` attentions had to go off. Matty Todd entered the action a good bit earlier than expected.

A snapshot from 30 yards by Ross Cunningham was well stopped by Deniz Mehmet but Craig JOHNSTON followed up and netted the loose ball. 0-1

Ritchie-Hosler had an attempt that went over the crossbar before midway through the half a Todd cross from the left was glanced in at the far post by Chris KANE. 1-1

Very quickly Ritchie-Hosler fired at goal from the edge of the box. Having been deflected for a corner the setplay taken short to Ritchie-Hosler did not trouble the defence. Todd was next to get in a shot from 18 yards but that was held by keeper Ryan Adamson. It wouldn`t be long however before the Pars sub was on the scoresheet. In 32 minutes he started and finished the move sending the ball wide right for Wighton to cross, Chalmers turned the ball back across goal and TODD didn`t hesitate to net, smashing home a left footed finish. 2-1

The margin could have been greater at the interval. Kane won possession out on the left and unchallenged advanced until he could tee up Wighton. Unfortunately the Pars striker guided the ball wide of the near post. There was another good chance when Todd`s cross in from the left was deflected for a corner before it could reach Ritchie-Hosler.

Half Time: Dunfermline 2 Kelty Hearts 1

The second half got started in horrid wet and windy conditions and Kelty found it very difficult to get out of their own half. They successfully negotiated two early Pars corners before Ewan Otoo had a 53rd minute shot held by Adamson at the base of his right hand post. Todd played a fine through ball for Kane that he netted but the offside flag went up. Chalmers tried a shot from 35 yards but was wide.

Nobody was enjoying the relentless rain but the home side was dominating the game. David Wotherspoon replaced Craig Clay in 67 minutes and it was his ball to Otoo running up the left that brought Adamson into play yet again to save from the former Celtic man. In a rare push forward Kelty won a corner but wasted it by challenging too aggressively.

A showy turn from Wotherspoon in 76 minutes started off a slick move where Wighton played the ball off Kane before firing the ball across the face of goal. While still only one ahead there was always the opportunity for Kelty Hearts to spring a surprise and with ten minutes remaining a misplaced pass and a slip on the sodden field let Williamson in on goal but he was clearly offside. Then Cunningham whistled a free kick from the left side narrowly wide of the Pars right goalpost.

Mehmet fisted away a 90th minute corner and Hamilton headed away the returned ball. Returning to his position after the corner Brody Paterson blasted the ball off target. There was no equaliser for the New Central Park outfit. It had not been the most exciting or pretty of cup ties or local derbies but the Championship prevailed to be in the draw for the quarter finals.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Sam Young, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Craig Clay (David Wotherspoon 67), Joe Chalmers,: Craig Wighton, Chris Kane, Dapo Mebude (Matty Todd 13).
SUBS: Kieran Ngwenya, Josh Cooper, Michael O`Halloran, Taylor Sutherland, Lewis Briggs (GK).
SCORERS: Kane (23), Todd (32)

KELTY HEARTS: Ryan Adamson: Scott Mercer, Callum Flatman, Tam O`Ware (c), Brody Paterson: Ross Cunningham, Billy Owens (Murray Thomas 69), Jacob McIntyre, Craig Johnston, Scott Williamson (Rudi Bryce 84), Robbie Cole.
SUBS: Liam Brown, David McGurn (GK)
SCORER: Johnston (15)
YELLOW CARD: Owens (40)

REFEREE: Graham Grainger
ATTENDANCE: 1821
WEATHER: Cold, wet 7°C

Related Stories

• Airdrieonians 1 Dunfermline 1
• Dunfermline 1 Queen’s Park 2
• Dunfermline 2 Raith Rovers 0
• Partick Thistle 1 Dunfermline 0