Dunfermline Athletic

Archives | Dunfermline 2 Airdrieonians 0

A unique double by the teenager Tod brothers set up Dunfermline`s first league win of the season.

Dunfermline Athletic welcomed Airdrieonians for what promised to be an intriguing opening home league match. After a summer of preparation under Neil Lennon`s guidance, the Pars were ready to bring their quest for Championship success to home soil. The two sides met four times last season, with each encounter proving to be a closely fought affair. That familiarity between the teams suggested this match could be decided by fine margins.

Neil Lennon named an unchanged starting eleven from that which played the previous Saturday at Cappielow Park. Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe made three changes `“ 22 year-old Matthew Connelly having arrived on-loan from Motherwell replaced Cade Melrose between the sticks, Jamie Barjonas dropped to the bench and Alex King was out having been injured early into the previous match at home to Ross County. Craig Ross continued as his replacement and Liam McStravick was given the nod in place of Barjonas.

The visitors kicked off and immediately took the game to their hosts. A fourth minute free kick was swung into the Pars box and despite Kyle Benedictus heading away, Rhys Armstrong fired a shot wildly wide right.

Referee Ryan Lee then made himself the centre of the attention yellow carding two Dunfermline players within a minute. Firstly in fifth minute, Connor Young was deemed to have dived when most expecting a decision to award the home side a free kick on the edge of the Diamonds` box and then John Tod was rather harshly shown yellow as he conceded a free kick 22 yards out. Euan Henderson sent the ball around the four man wall and Mason Munn pulled off a fine save to turn the ball around his left goalpost.

The home fans cheered when Ross was shown yellow in 18th minute and the Pars were awarded a free kick midway into the Airdrie half on the left side. A very clever flick on by Young breached the defence and Josh Cooper was through but Connelly made a good save to deny the former Morton youth. Dunfermline continued the press with Kane Ritchie-Hosler forcing himself deep up the right to then pick out Young on the edge of the six yard box. The player signed from Edinburgh City in January eased off his defender to turn and shoot but again the debut keeper was on fine form to hold the effort.

McStravick was next to be yellow carded in 32 minutes for a late tackle on J Tod. This time the referee was criticised for halting play just as it looked like a promising Dunfermline break was on. Aidan Wilson`s header on a corner from the right was held by Munn and then ten minutes from the break, a free kick on the right, 18 yards out was defended. The Pars keeper fisted away a Dylan Macdonald cross but the visitors continued to be a threat.

It has been a first half in which the visiting team had come and not been afraid to attack but they would be hit by two Tod goals in three minutes to place the Pars firmly in the driving seat. It was John TOD`s run through the middle, playing the ball off Young before evading two challenges and crashing the ball home from 16 yards, that opened the scoring.

Just three minutes later Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen intercepted a Sean McGinty clearance to cross towards the far post where it was met by Andrew TOD. The 19 year-old made no mistake and the Pars had a two goal lead to take in at the interval. Airdroeonians had come back from two goals down the previous week so there was still work to be done.

Half Time: Dunfermline 2 Airdrieonians 0

Patient build up on the right led to Ritchie-Hosler creating the first opportunities of the second half with deliveries into dangerous areas. Ewan Otoo forced a 55th minute corner and when Cooper swung it in from the left, the ball just evaded J Tod but when cleared out Otoo was able to return the ball from the left side and Chilokoa-Mullen`s header at the back post just dropped wide.

Shea Kearney and Alfons Amade were the first Dunfermline subs, introduced on the hour for Connor Young and Tashan Oakley-Boothe. Kane Ritchie-Hosler moved up front but it was Cooper who had the next effort just clearing the Airdrie crossbar from 25 yards out. Next a forceful cross from Cooper on right was held by Connelly at the near post. Chris Mochrie flashed the ball across the face of the Pars goal as the Diamonds tried their best to get back into the game. The 361 strong travelling support booed their side`s negative passes in their own half as the Fifers made it very hard for them to make any progress towards the Pars goal.

Matty Todd and Keith Bray were brought on for the final 15 minutes and in 83 minutes Bray cut back to tee up Charlie Gilmour who struck a fierce effort on target that Connelly held. Connelly next held a Chilokoa-Mullen header from a corner.

It was a well deserved three points for Dunfermline who never really looked back after their two quick goals.

DUNFERMLINE: Mason Munn: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), John Tod: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Lucas Fyfe 89), Charlie Gilmour, Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Alfons Amade 60), Ewan Otoo: Josh Cooper (Matty Todd 78), Connor Young (Shea Kearney 60), Andrew Tod (Keith Bray 78)
SUBS: Kieran Ngwenya, Chris Hamilton, Sam Fisher, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: J Tod (40), A Tod (43)
YELLOW CARDS: Young (5), J Tod (6)

AIRDRIEONIANS: Matthew Connelly: Craig Ross, Aidan Wilson (c), Sean McGinty, Dylan Macdonald: Dean McMaster, Liam McStravick (Jamie Barjonas 56), Rhys Armstrong: Lewis McGrattan (Cammy Cooper 84), Ewan Henderson: Chris Mochrie
SUBS: Adam Aird, Rhys McCabe, Cole Williams, Dylan Williams, Cade Melrose (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Ross (18), McStravick (32), McMaster (85)

REFEREE: Ryan Lee
ATTENDANCE: 5598 (inc 361 away fans)
WEATHER: Changeable 18°C

50/50 Half Time Draw: Winning Ticket `“ 20753, won £613.

NEXT MATCH: (away) William Hill Scottish Championship v Raith Rovers, Friday 22nd August 2025, 7.45pm kick off at Stark`s Park


Dunfermline 2 Airdrieonians 0



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