Archives | Aberdeen 3 Dunfermline 0

From Championship to SPFL Trust Trophy the focus moved on to Scottish Cup business against the team sitting fourth in the top flight of Scottish football.

Michael Tidser made four changes from the side he fielded on Wednesday night against Livingston. In came Joe Chalmers, David Wotherspoon and Archie Stevens taking the place of Kieran Ngwenya, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Omar Taylor-Clarke and Ephraim Yeboah. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin also made four changes to his team. There was a debut for Mats Knoester the 26 year old Dutch centre back and starts for Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Jack Mackenzie and former Pars striker Kevin Nisbet.

Prior to kick off there was a fitting tribute paid by both sets of fans to the sadly departed Jimmy Calderwood who of course had managed both Dunfermline and Aberdeen. The PA blasted out the Undertones `Jimmy, Jimmy` and the Pars fans raised and waved large black and white flags. They then rolled out the banner `Oh Jimmy, Jimmy` as the Dick Donald Stand simultaneously unveiled a tapestry of `Thank You Jimmy` messages on large red and white cards and the banner that said `Stand Free Jimmy`.

Wotherspoon got the match underway just a fraction after the scheduled 12:30 starting time and it was the visitors who pushed up first. Pape Guèye but down Chris Hamilton to give the Pars a free 24 yards out on the right side. Wotherspoon flighted an inviting ball in and although Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen met it his header from eight yards out cleared the Dons crossbar. The home team`s response two minutes later brought a rudimentary save out of Tobi Oluwayemi after Guèye got the better of both Chilokoa-Mullen and Comrie to set up Topi Keskinen but his shot did not really trouble Tobi.

A 12th minute break by Archie Stevens saw him shake off three pursuing opponents to drill the ball into the six yard box but Ross Doohan dived forward to hold. Aberdeen were playing themselves into the cup-tie however and the Fifers had serious defending to do. Crosses from Alexander Jensen and Jeppe Okkels threatened and the Pars successfully defended a 19th minute corner. Pittodrie buzzed with expectations when Keskinen latched on to the ball midway into the Dunfermline half and drove towards goal. He elected to pass to Nisbet and Ewan Otoo intercepted the shot that was released.

That heralded a sortie that somehow the Pars survived. Keskinen, Nesbit and Jensen seemed to have good chances in a penalty box scramble where remarkable defending kept the scoresheet blank. At the mid point of the half Dunfermline won a corner on the left after Stevens cross was deflected behind but Nesbit`s two header`s extinguished any threat.

Hamilton headed an Okkels delivery behind and there was another corner to defend. This time Oluwayemi fisted the ball away. The Pars then created their best chance of the afternoon in 36 minutes. Lewis McCann released Otoo deep down the left and his cut back for Wotherspoon 16 yards out in front of goal was dispatched over the bar and into the Red Shed.

Back to the other end however and Jensen made ground into the Pars penalty box but with no shot following the home support were beginning to show signs of frustration.

A long throw in from McCann forced another corner on the left two minutes from the interval. Taken short by Wotherspoon to Stevens it was returned for Otoo in the centre of the box but he could not get sufficient on his shot and the defence blocked it.

Just as it looked Dunfermline had got through the first half untouched McCann conceded a free kick down by the corner flag in front of the away fans. Ante Palaversa delivered the set-piece and Pape GUEYE timed his run perfectly to power his header into the Pars net in the first minute of time added at the end of the first half. Renowned for being a bad time to lose a goal, let`s hope Dunfermline can turn it around in the second half.

Half Time: Aberdeen 1 Dunfermline 0

The first VAR decision was called upon one minute into the second 45 when Pape Guèye fell over in the right side of the box but no one was surprised referee Steven McLean was correct in letting play continue. Aberdeen would score their second goal in 50th minute. A cross from the left from Keskinen saw Nisbet swish at it but JENSEN was well placed behind him to rifle the ball low into the far left of the Fifers net. 2-0

Michael Tidser made a double substitution in 55th minute, Ephraim Yeboah and Kieran Ngwenya coming on for Joe Chalmers and the yellow carded Chris Hamilton. Ngwenya`s early shot earned another Dunfermline corner but again Nisbet was first to the cross. The away fans made loud appeals for a penalty when Benedictus at the far post headed down the ball and Stevens shot was blocked by the chest of Mackenzie.

The visitors showed that they had not given up forcing two saves out of Doohan in 64th minute. Firstly Kane latched on to Yeboah`s touch on McCann`s pass to drill a shot on target and then Stevens had a blast that again the keeper came off best. Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Michael O`Halloran were introduced for Chris Kane and Archie Stevens before Aberdeen hit the post when they should have scored a third. It was Guèye who again created the opportunity and it was Nisbet that disappointed the home fans.

Instead it looked like Dunfermline would given the chance from the penalty spot when Yeboah was taken down by Mackenzie. The referee`s decision to award the penalty was overruled by VAR and a free kick on the edge of the box given instead. Otoo managed to avoid the six man wall to pull a save out of Doohan. Kevin NISBET would put the tie out of any potential Pars comeback slipping home sub Shayden Morris` cut back. 3-0

It was Aberdeen who went into the draw for the quarter finals but Dunfermline had given them a testing time. As the six added minutes were concluding the Pars fans chant of `˜Jimmy, Jimmy Calderwood` was echoed by the Aberdeen support all around the ground.

ABERDEEN: Ross Doohan: Kristers Tobers, Mats Knoester (Graeme Shinnie 68), Alexander Jensen, Ante Palaversa (Leighton Clarkson 88), Topi Keskinen, Sivert Heltne Nilsen (c) (Alfie Dorrington 68), Jack MacKenzie, Kevin Nisbet, Jeppe Okkels (Shayden Morris 61), Pape Guèye (Fletcher Boyd 88).
SUBS NOT USED: Nicky Devlin, Peter Ambrose, Tom Ritchie (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Tobers (90+5)
SCORERS: Guèye (45+1), Jensen (50), Nisbet (85)

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Joe Chalmers (Kieran Ngwenya 55), Chris Hamilton (Ephraim Yeboah 55), Archie Stevens (Michael O`Halloran 67), Ewan Otoo, David Wotherspoon (Owen Hampson 88), Lewis McCann: Chris Kane (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 67)
SUBS NOT USED: Tommy Fogarty, Omar Rivaldo Taylor-Clarke, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (31), Yeboah (78)

REFEREE: Steven McLean
ATTENDANCE: 9893 (1700 Pars fans)
WEATHER: Cloudy 5°C

NEXT MATCH (away) William Hill Championship v Livingston, Saturday 15th February 2025 kick off 3.00pm at the Set Arena

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