Archives | Dunfermline 2 Morton 1

It was a gutsy comeback with ten men and a double from second half sub Chris Kane to make sure Dunfermline ended their five match run without a win,

Greenock Morton returned to KDM Group East End Park wary of a new look Dunfermline under Michael Tidser and a side bolstered by a number of new faces since the teams last met. Morton had conceded five goals in their last two games, albeit they were against Falkirk and Livingston, and there was some optimism that the Pars could end their run of five games without scoring. It was ninth v sixth in the William Hill Championship with seven points separating the teams for this the final match of the third quarter of the season.

Michael Tidser made three changes to his starting eleven. Aaron Comrie returned following injury, Connor Young came in for David Wotherspoon and new signing on-loan from St Johnstone, Andre Raymond replaced Kieran Ngwenya. Chris Hamilton was back on the subs bench beside the welcome sight of Chris Kane.

Morton`s starting eleven was the same as started against Livingston on Tuesday night and they named only six substitutes.

Dunfermline started in a positive fashion with Morton keeper deployed in the first minute. When Archie Stevens slipped a neat pass to Comrie his cross earned the first corner of the game in just fourth minute. From the right Stevens swept the ball across the six yard line where Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen just failed to get enough on the ball and it dropped over the bar.

Pars keeper Tobi Oluwayemi had had a quiet start to the match but in 12th minute he pulled off a great save from Owen Moffat as the former Par got on the end of a diagonal defence-splitting pass. Two corners followed for the `˜Ton that saw Lewis McCann breakaway from the second and Aaron Lyall registered the first yellow card of the afternoon in chopping down Lewis just inside the visitors` half.

Morton threaten again when Lamar Reynolds set up Nathan Shaw, his shot forcing a corner. Shaw`s cross from the right prompted some head tennis culminating in an Ali Crawford drive on target that was deflected for another corner off Chilokoa-Mullen. The second corner did not create the same danger and it was back to the other end with Cameron Blues tackle on Young earning a free kick 26 yards out. Young took charge of the setpiece but launched it for the keeper to hold.

Dunfermline pushed up and Morgan Boyes cut down Young for another free kick wide right in 25th minute. It was a Pars corner from the right three minutes later that yielded a great chance. Otoo sent the ball across the six yard box to be met by Kyle Benedictus but to howls from the home stands the captain blasted the ball over the bar.

The Pars paid dearly for the miss as Morton responded. Zak Delaney got forward to tee up Lyall for a 32nd minute shot that Oluwayemi stopped but next minute they would find the net. Chilokoa-Mullen and Reynolds rose to meet an Owen MOFFAT ball from the left, neither seemed to make contact and the ball sailed over them to bounce into the Dunfermline net. 0-1

There was only one opportunity for an equaliser before the interval from a 41st minute free kick from the right. Tashan Oakley-Boothe launched the ball into the Morton box where Chilokoa-Mullen and McCann got their heads to the. Ball but the defence swept away the impending threat.

It was Morton who closed off the first half with another Shaw corner from the right that Oluwayemi fisted away.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Morton 1

Stevens embarked on a cross field run in 51 minutes finally picking out Raymond on the left whose cross looked dangerous but was well defended. There was a spell where Yeboah and Raymond had plenty of possession deep down the left but they were denied much in the way of progress. Yeboah did eventually get away a decent effort from 25 yards out that escaped narrowly wide right.

In 58th minute Michael Tidser introduced his leading goalscorer off the bench. The decision to replace Connor Young with Chris Kane brought sounds of dissent from some of the Pars fans but within two minutes the mood in the ground changed altogether. Comrie`s pass into the right side of the visitors box was fought for by McCann and his perseverance let him play the ball in towards goal and KANE glanced home the equaliser at the near post. 1-1

The Pars joy turned to despair just seven minutes later. Morton had made three changes Michael Garrity, Grant Gillespie and Jordan Davies being introduced and it was the latter looking offside who broke through and was tackled by Benedictus some 26 yards out. The skipper took the ball first and felt aggrieved with his punishment. Referee Duncan Williams reached for his red card and Dunfermline would have to play the final quarter of the match with ten men.

Chris Hamilton replaced Tashan Oakley-Boothe and against the odds Dunfermline scored a second goal. Again it was KANE who was on target, after Comrie headed the ball forward the striker dispossessed Boyes to advance into the Morton box and crash the ball home. 2-1

Ten minutes remained to be seen out. Michael O`Halloran and Tommy Fogarty replaced Stevens and Yeboah. Kane had a chance of a hat-trick in 90th minute when O`Halloran prodded the ball into his path but he shot too early and Mullen held. McCann collected a yellow card in the second minute of added time and the defence had to deal with a Crawford free kick. Davies fired wildly over Oluwayemi`s crossbar and the Pars lifted the three points.

Dunfermline remained in ninth place now just one point behind Hamilton who drew 2-2 with Falkirk.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Andre Raymond: Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Chris Hamilton 72), Ewan Otoo: Archie Stevens (Michael O`Halloran 83), Ephraim Yeboah (Tommy Fogarty 83), Lewis McCann: Connor Young (Chris Kane 58).
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran Ngwenya, Joe Chalmers, David Wotherspoon, Omar Taylor-Clarke, Jay Hogarth (GK)
SCORER: Kane (60, 80)
YELLOW CARD: Comrie (43), Oakley-Boothe (71), McCann (90+2), Kane (90+4)
RED CARD: Benedictus (67)

MORTON: Ryan Mullen: Cammy Ballantine (Grant Gillespie 66), Jack Baird, Morgan Boyes (Dylan Corr 81), Zak Delaney: Owen Moffat (Niall McGinn 76), Cameron Blues, Ali Crawford, Arron Lyall, Nathan Shaw (Michael Garrity 66), Lamar Reynolds (Jordan Davies 66).
SUBS NOT USED: Gary Woods (GK)
SCORER: Moffat (33)
YELLOW CARD: Lyall (13), Baird (90+4)

REFEREE: Duncan Williams
ATTENDANCE: 4620 (inc 288 away fans)
WEATHER: Drizzle 8°C

WINNING 50/50 No: Ticket 02101 for £592

NEXT MATCH (away) William Hill Championship v Falkirk, Saturday 8th March 2025, 3.00pm kick off at The Falkirk Stadium

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