Dunfermline Athletic

Archives | Ross County 3 Dunfermline 2

The Pars in fifth place met ninth placed Ross County in Dingwall for their first league match there since April 2019. Seven points separated the teams and Neil Lennon`s men, after wins over Raith Rovers and Airdrieonians, were seeking their third consecutive victory. Tony Docherty was looking for his County side to react to their defeat to Partick Thistle the previous week. He made three changes from the eleven he started in Maryhill `“ Ross Docherty, James Scott and Jay Henderson dropped out, Ben Crompton, Ryan Duncan, and former Par Jordan White started.

Neil Lennon was without the injured Billy Terrell so Mason Munn resumed between the sticks. Both Charlie Gilmour and Barney Stewart were fit to return meaning Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Rory Macleod were on the bench.

Chris Hamilton got the match underway attacking the goal at the home end and playing into the sun. It took the home side just 96 seconds to find the Pars net. Declan Gallagher launched a long throw into the penalty box, White headed down and the ball was cleared only as far as Scott FRASER who hooked the ball into the visitors` net from 20 yards out. 1-0

As if that wasn`t a bad enough start, 70 seconds later County managed to net a second. Slackness in defence allowed Ronan Hale to square for the unmarked WHITE to slot home. 2-0

It was to be an uphill task after that kind of start and Neil Lennon grew increasingly frustrated trying to impress on his team to go forward. Passes were intercepted and County denied their opponents any great stretches of possession. Trevor Carson had to hold a Robbie Fraser cross but Dunfermline`s forwards were being kept well away from him. Jamie Lindsay sent a shot wide before Shea Kearney surged forward exchanging passes with Keith Bray to force the Fifers first corner in 28th minute. When Matty Todd sent that in from the right, Carson plucked the cross out of the air.

Alex Iacovitti was pulled up for fouling Andrew Tod and Todd took a quick free kick to Bray, his lay off allowed Kearney to cross but it had too much on it. A 36th minute Staggies corner was headed out by Nurudeen Abdulai but in the scramble for the ball County got away a shot that thankfully fizzed well wide right.

A Todd cross was easily held by Carson and the keeper and in 40 minutes Todd drove up the left to deliver a better ball but still Carson held. Then in the first minute of added time, with County down to ten men as White was having his head wrapped in bandages, Kearney broke down the right and Andrew TOD rose at the far post to get a much need goal back. 2-1

After the early goal one-two there had really been a shortage of opportunities with Dunfermline failing to get a shot on target until Tod`s goal. It was hoped that would change the momentum of a match in which the Pars had struggled to cope with County`s physicality.

Half Time: Ross County 2 Dunfermline 1

Both sides made substitutions for the restart, Ewan Otoo replaced Keith Bray as the Fifers went with three at the back and Nicky Clark replaced Jordan White. A 49th minute long throw created an opportunity that Crompton drilled on target but was deflected for a corner on the right that Tod headed away.

Just minutes later the Pars fans burst into song to celebrate a 53rd minute equaliser. Gilmour had played the ball left for Robbie Fraser and he played the ball forward down the wing for Tod to take on Akil Wright and despite the efforts of Connor Randall to sweep the ball away Barney STEWART got the touch to net at the near post. 2-2

Stewart smashed a shot wide right three minutes later after the referee had played advantage after to strong challenges on Tod and then Kearney. Munn held a Staggies corner from the left before Todd powered forward to pick out Tod and County conceded a throw in in front of the Pars fans. It was Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen who threatened from that but the defence cut out his cross.

In 64 minutes Todd chased a pass back and was denied the challenge with a forearm smash from Gallagher. The Pars bench was incensed as the referee saw no issue. Three minutes later the home side restored their lead from a free kick conceded by Chilokoa-Mullen out on the left. Duncan lofted the ball into the Pars six yard box and there were headers and challenges by players on both sides with Gallagher`s knock down sitting up for HALE to nick the ball in. 3-2

Further changes saw Alfons Amade and Jefferson Cáceres committed as Matty Todd and Chris Hamilton were withdrawn with just under twenty minutes remaining. Cáceres sent a shot wide but the Pars lived dangerously with Dean Cornelius firing on target and Hale`s follow up hitting the crossbar.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Chris Kane came on with seven minutes remaining. Both sides were still seeking goals though and Dunfermline had to be wary as they threw everything into pushing for a point. Amade was taken down on the edge of the box and County formed a six man wall that did its job. There was a frantic scramble as the clock went beyond the five added minutes but the ball just wouldn`t go in the County net.

The Pars made a contest of it after making a disastrous start but unfortunately it remains 14 years since Dunfermline`s last win in Dingwall.

ROSS COUNTY: Trevor Carson; Akil Wright, Declan Gallagher (c), Alex Iacovitti (Dylan Smith 71); Connor Randall, Ben Crompton, Scott Fraser (Dean Cornelius 73), Jamie Lindsay, Ryan Duncan; Jordan White (Nicky Clark HT), Ronan Hale (Kieran Philips 90+2)
SUBS NOT USED: James Scott, Jay Henderson, Gary Mackay-Steven, Len O`Sullivan, Bradley Foster
SCORERS: Fraser (2), White (3), Hale (67)
YELLOW CARDS: Hale (31), Crompton (72), Kieran Philips (90+2), Smith (90+4), Lindsay (90+6)

DUNFERMLINE: Mason Munn: Shea Kearney (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 83), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Nurudeen Abdulai, Robbie Fraser: Keith Bray (Ewan Otoo HT), Charlie Gilmour, Chris Hamilton (c) (Alfons Amade 71), Matty Todd (Jefferson Cáceres 71), Barney Stewart (Chris Kane 83), Andrew Tod
SUBS NOT USED: Rory Macleod,, John Tod, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Deniz Mehmet (GK).
SCORERS: Tod (45+1), Stewart (53)
YELLOW CARDS: Neil Lennon (70), Kearney (79), Chilokoa-Mullen (90+2)

REFEREE: Duncan Nicolson
ATTENDANCE: 3271
WEATHER: Fine 8°C

NEXT MATCH: (away) William Hill Championship v Ayr United, Friday 31st October 2025, kick off 7.45pm at Somerset Park


Ross County 3 Dunfermline 2



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