Archives | Airdrieonians 3 Dunfermline 0

Dunfermline travelled to the Albert Bartlett Stadium to take on Airdrieonians. Heavy snow in North Lanarkshire from midday covered the pitch and the team arrived to see snow being cleared off the pitch. The tractors did their job although kick off was delayed until 3.15pm.

For his first league match in charge Michael Tidser made one change to the starting eleven that defeated Stenhousemuir 3-0 the previous Saturday in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Matty Todd starting in place of David Wotherspoon. New signing from Edinburgh City, striker Connor Young was on the Pars bench. Rhys McCabe made one change as well starting long throw expert, Lewis Strapp in place of Mason Hancock.

Aaron Comrie became the 40th player in the post-war period to make 200 first team appearances for Dunfermline, the last being Joe Cardle.

The home side sat tenth and the Fifers ninth in the William Hill Championship so this was an important match for both teams. Chris Kane got the match underway and Joe Chalmers had put a shot in within 38 seconds. Fed the ball from Todd, the Pars man was well off target however with his left footed attempt from 28 yards. Keeper Kieran Wright then had to parry away a Kane Ritchie-Hosler shot in the second minute after receiving a Kane ball that set the no.7 off down the right.

Three minutes later the on loan Rangers keeper tipped away an Ewan Otoo cross from the left that dipped towards the Airdrieonians net. The home side`s first threat came in the second phase of the game`s first corner in eighth minute. Strapp returned the ball and Craig Watson powered a header that was netbound until Tobi Oluwayemi threw himself to his right to palm away the ball. Gavin Gallagher pinged a good effort over the Fifers bar as Airdrie threatened to take a grip of the game.

Losing possession inside their own half led to Dunfermline conceding the opener on 14 minutes. Oluwayemi came out to block the first effort from Ben Wilson but Lewis McGRATTAN followed up to plonk the ball into the bottom right. 1-0

It was the 24 year old goalscorer who next tested Oluwayemi, cutting inside to fire on target from the edge of the Pars box. Again the keeper parried away the danger. Strapp headed the ball over off the top of the crossbar two minutes later.

McCann forced the Fifers first corner on the half hour but Todd`s delivery was headed clear by Sam Graham. Next the Englishman was forward to try and convert another Strapp long throw in but headed wide. A Wilson cross was headed behind by Kyle Benedictus and a Frizzell corner was duly defended. Then from Frizzell`s 41st minute corner Airdrie had the ball in the net only for the referee to blow them up for fouling in the challenge.

Dunfermline`s push towards the break saw Ritchie-Hosler play a 1-2 off Todd before his shot was deflected behind for a corner. When Todd sent that over from the left McCann narrowly failed to head home at the far post.

In the third minute of time added on at the end of the first half Dunfermline went further behind. A hesitation in defence saw Wilson break through and his cross picked out Chris MOCHRIE in the centre of the Pars box and he composed himself to place the ball in the bottom left.

It was a first half in which the home side enjoyed more possession and produced more shots even though Dunfermline had started the brighter.

Half time: Airdrieonians 2 Dunfermline 0

Frizzell had a 46th minute shot deflected away for a corner, one that Benedictus met with a rudimentary header. Tommy Fogarty prevented Mochrie`s cross but conceded a corner. Dunfermline actually got a good break on from the Airdrie setpiece, McCann streaking up the middle of the park. He elected to lay the ball off to Kane to his right and the former St Johnstone man was dispossessed before he could execute a shot.

Dunfermline would go three behind in 58 minutes when another lapse allowed Ben WILSON from a central position to speed in on goal and coolly slot the ball past Oluwayemi. 3-0

A double substitution in 62 minutes saw Michael Tidser introduce Kieran Ngwenya and Connor Young. The new signing was laid off a good chance by McCann in 67 minutes but it seemed to take him by surprise.

Another three subs were thrown on in 68 minutes, Ewan Otoo, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Chris Kane making way for Craig Wighton, David Wotherspoon and Michael O`Halloran.

An O`Halloran cross for Young earned a free kick 24 yards out and the 20 year old picked himself up and took charge of the 79th minute setpiece. Unluckily his effort hit the Airdrieonians wall. Craig Wighton had an on target shot blocked and a McCann cross set up Young but he turned the ball over the bar.

Ngwenya drove the ball into the sidenetting, Wotherspoon sent an effort over the bar, Young had a good attempt deflected for a corner and there was just going to be no way Dunfermline were going to score. It was an extremely disappointing day for the Pars whose opponents narrowed the gap on them to ten points with a game in hand.

AIRDRIEONIANS: Kieran Wright: Dylan Macdonald, Craig Watson, Sam Graham, Lewis Strapp (Flynn Duffy 65): Dean McMaster, Gavin Gallagher (Lewis McGregor 72), Adam Frizzell (c): Lewis McGrattan (Liam McStravick 72), Ben Wilson (Ricco Diack 65), Chris Mochrie (Rhys Armstrong 72)
SUBS: Cammy Cooper, Cammy Bruce, Rhys McCabe, Cade Melrose (GK)
SCORERS: McGrattan (14), Mochrie (45+3), Wilson (58)
YELLOW CARD: Strapp (26)

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Tommy Fogarty, Kyle Benedictus (c), Joe Chalmers (Kieran Ngwenya 62), Chris Hamilton: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Michael O`Halloran 68), Matty Todd (Connor Young 62), Ewan Otoo (David Wotherspoon 68): Lewis McCann, Chris Kane (Craig Wighton 68)
SUBS: Sam Young, Craig Clay, Dapo Mebude, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (33), Chalmers (50), Fogarty (84)

REFEREE: Duncan Williams
ATTENDANCE: 1865
WEATHER: Sunny 4°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (home) v Raith Rovers, Saturday 1st February 2025, kick off 3.00pm