Archives | Dunfermline 0 Morton 0

With the return of Tobi Oluwayemi, manager James McPake made two changes in his line up to face Morton. A niggly thigh injury had kept out the on loan Celtic keeper and Matty Todd started after being a 13th minute sub for Dapo Mebude against Kelty Hearts the previous Saturday. Dougie Imrie`s Morton starting eleven showed just one change from the previous time out against Hamilton, Irishman Zak Delaney replacing the absent Cammy Ballantyne.

The sun brightly shone on the day-glo shirts of the visitors as they kicked off attacking the goal at the home end. It was there that Oluwayemi made the first save of the game holding a fourth minute header from Alex King. The home side soon turned the attention to the other end of the park pressing high and completing their passes. Former Par Owen Moffat`s first involvement on nine minutes drew the obligatory boos from the home support but Oluwayemi had to be alert to stop his dangerous shot.

Todd`s pass to the overlapping Ewan Otoo handed the Fifers a 16th minute corner, the first of the afternoon but Jack Baird headed away Joe Chalmers cross. Kane Ritchie-Hosler returned the ball across the goalmouth but too high for anyone to meet.

Four minutes later an Otoo shot brought about another corner from the left side and initially cleared Chalmers returned the ball into the Morton box where Wighton tried a shot that went wide left. First real threat to the Pars goal came from a 25th minute free kick 24 yards out for Wighton`s challenge on Stuparevic. The Morton no.9 blasted his effort high and well wide into the McCathie Stand.

A neat low ball from Sam Young set Wighton up for a move through Todd and back to Wighton to deliver into the `˜Ton box. The cleared ball dropped for Craig Clay but his attempt went wide left. Play was kept in the visitors` half for a period with both sides having their share of possession. Eventually Dunfermline forced a corner on the right but Hamilton`s header at the back post couldn`t get the purchase on it to endanger the scoreline.

Continued Pars pressure yielded two further corners. Clay`s header from the first was deflected behind for another and from the next Chalmers and Todd combined to set up Ritchie-Hosler for a fierce shot that keeper Gary Woods beat away. Kane was the next to threaten turning at speed to direct a Ritchie-Hosler cross at the keeper. Todd kept up the chances coming with a 43rd minute shot that rolled agonisingly wide of the left upright.

It had been a really positive first half from the home side but unfortunately they had no goals to show for it.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Morton 0

The second half continued with Todd earning an early corner that the keeper held and then combining with Otoo to create an opening for Wighton that was blocked by the Morton defence. Chris Hamilton was floored as he headed away a ball launched on target from 30 yards out.

Craig Clay and Matty Todd were replaced by David Wotherspoon and Kieran Ngwenya. Dunfermline were getting closer as Ngwenya caused problems in the Morton box and Ritchie-Hosler had the crowd shouting as he flashed an inviting ball through the six yard box. Chalmers 68th minute effort from 25 yards out had Woods scurrying across his goal but the ball fell wide left. Josh Cooper was the next Dunfermline sub with Craig Wighton withdrawn.

Morton were well and truly penned in, Dunfermline continued to create good chance but they just could not convert them. A 72nd minute run by Cooper got him in behind the defence and his cut back to Otoo had the crowd howling shoot, he did and the ball broke to Ritchie-Hosler at the right post but the defence thwarted his chance.

Woods pulled off a good save to next deny Cooper but this was uncomfortable viewing for the 305 strong travelling support in the East Stand. It was 85th minute when the Morton keeper clawed off the line what looked like a certain Pars winner.

Rarely can a side have dominated a match so much without winning. It was the 93rd minute before Tobi Oluwayemi had to make a save, albeit rudimentary. Morton wasted time whenever they could and it was a frustrated Dunfermline team that left the park with just one point.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Sam Young, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Craig Clay (Kieran Ngwenya 60), Joe Chalmers: Craig Wighton (Josh Cooper 66), Chris Kane, Matty Todd (David Wotherspoon 60)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Sam Fisher, Tommy Fogarty, Taylor Sutherland, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Clay (40), James McPake (59), Kane (71), Comrie (84).

MORTON: Gary Woods: Alex King (Logan O`Boy 77), Jack Baird, Kirk Broadfoot, Zak Delaney: Owen Moffat, Cameron Blues (Grant Gillespie 74), Arron Lyall, Michael Garrity (Iain Wilson 60): Niall McGinn (Jordan Davies 74), Filip Stuparevic.
SUBS NOT USED: Ali Crawford, Sam Murdoch (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Broadfoot (50)

REFEREE: Ryan Lee
ATTENDANCE: 4645
WEATHER: Fine 13°C

50/50 Half time draw: Winning Ticket Number 11455, Prize Amount £636

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