Archives | Dunfermline 1 Arbroath 3

Arbroath deservedly took home the three points coming back from a goal down to snatch an injury time winner.

Dunfermline welcomed Arbroath in the hope that a home win would lift them above the visitors into a play-off place.

Neil Lennon who was serving the first of his six match sidelines ban made one change to his starting eleven. Charlie Gilmour was suspended and Tashan Oakley-Boothe dropped to the bench giving Alfons Amade a chance to make his first start since 8th November against St Johnstone. The Pars bench welcomed back Kyle Benedictus and Josh Cooper.

Arbroath`s starting eleven showed two changes from that which was fielded in the Scottish Cup against East Fife. Taylor Steven and Ryan Flynn came in for David Gold and Harry Cochrane. Two former Pars in the visiting eleven `“ Ryan Dow and Gavin Reilly and two on the bench `“ Nikolay Todorov and Dapo Mebude.

The Red Lichties kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end but it was their goal that was threatened first. Chris Kane released a good effort from 20 yards out that keeper Aidan McAdams turned around his right hand post. There was a stoppage in tenth minute when Nurudeen Abdulai was left lying on his back on the Dunfermline right. The physios attended the Ghanaian defender leaving the Pars to successfully defend a Jack Wilkie long throw in before Ewan Otoo became a 14th minute substitute.

A really good passing movement from Robbie Fraser through Keith Bray and Chris Hamilton to Matty Todd was completed with a tasty cross that slipped through the Arbroath six yard box untouched. Three minutes later Bray played Todd on the right for another cross into the box but this time McAdams held. Next Amade slipped a pass to Bray and again he set up Todd for the cross and again McAdams held.

At the midpoint of the first half keeper Billy Terrell had to block an attempt as Findlay Marshall broke into the right side of the home box, conceding a corner that was successfully defended. Nevertheless Dunfermline had enjoyed a good opening 25 minutes and a good break saw Andrew Tod picked out Kane on halfway. The former St Johnstone man swiftly switched play to Todd on the right but with Bray in support the Arbroath skipper Thomas O`Brien closed out the danger for his keeper to clear.

The visitors began to play more in the Pars half and the home crowd were beginning to vent their frustrations as Marshall dispatched a good chance over the bar. A surging run by Otoo playing the ball off Kane on the edge of the box earned a corner on the left but that didn`t work out and Terrell found himself making a save to deny Steven.

A clever flick on a Fraser cross from Kane went narrowly wide but still Arbroath were exercising the home defenders. Terrell held a Dow shot from 25 yards out as the Fifers keeper remained the more involved stopper. Steven grabbed an opportunity to drive a 43rd minute shot that travelled just wide of the right upright.

It had been a competitive first half contest and at the break Dunfermline could see they had a game on their hands.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Arbroath 0

Arbroath drew a save out of Terrell in the opening minutes of the second half but really Dunfermline should have notched the opener in 50th minute. Kane switched the ball across field for Todd to compose himself and deliver a really dangerous pass into the Arbroath goalmouth where Bray just failed to get the necessary touch. Then from a 53rd minute Todd free kick from the left there was an almighty scramble in front of goal that ended with Hamilton smashing a shot wide right.

Barney Stewart replaced Chris Kane before Todd tipped the ball down for Bray to shoot but he could only force a corner. A Todd cross then looked likely to be headed home at the near post by A Tod but he was knocked to the ground with boos resounding from the North West and McCathie stands. The disquiet quickly changed to cheers as Barney STEWART found the net after just three minutes on the park. Again a Todd cross created the danger and a deeper ball was perfect for the inrunning Fraser. His 60th minute header looked as though it would open his Dunfermline account until McAdams sprung to touch the ball away. Brooklyn Kabongolo`˜s attempt to head clear went straight to Bray who headed back across goal for the on-loan Falkirk player to net top left with a looping header. 1-0

Hamilton almost set up a second two minutes later sending A Tod powering up the left but he could not get in a telling shot. Jefferson Cáceres and Tashan Oakley-Boothe then became the next Dunfermline subs with Keith Bray and Alfons Amade withdrawn.

Arbroath pushed up and John Tod had to concede a 75th corner as Steven launched a shot destined for the top left. The setplay delivery was lofty and the danger looked over until Wilkie`s return. KABONGOLO, the defender on-loan from Livingston, got his head to the ball to direct it into the Pars net off the right goalpost. 1-1

Dunfermline cleared the threat from an 80th minute free kick 25 yards out and then a Steven free kick five minutes later that saw O`Brien head the ball into a busy Pars penalty box. The defence survived the hard Arbroath press but then had to thank Otoo for his timely tackle to prevent Mebude scoring on his return.

The match boiled over in the final minute when O`Brien took down Jefferson Cáceres on the top of the box. Tempers were frayed and the pair were shown yellow before Andrew Tod took the free kick. Faced with a six man wall that didn`t really look ten yards back, Tod slipped the ball to Todd on the right who had a shot at goal that was blocked by Mebude.

The 168 Arbroath fans then witnessed a 94th minute winner right in front of them as Brooklyn KABONGOLO glanced home from a Dow corner on the left. 1-2

This was certainly not one of Dunfermline`s best days this season. They gave the ball away too quickly, never looked like scoring a second and were hit with a sucker punch in time added on. Remarkably after losing back to back league games they remained in fifth place.

DUNFERMLINE: Billy Terrell: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Nurudeen Abdulai (Ewan Otoo 14), John Tod: Matty Todd, Chris Hamilton (c) (Josh Cooper 83), Alfons Amade (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 69), Robbie Fraser: Keith Bray (Jefferson Cáceres 69), Chris Kane (Barney Stewart 57), Andrew Tod
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Rory Macleod, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Stewart (60)
YELLOW CARDS: Otoo (65), J Tod (80), Cáceres (90)

ARBROATH: Aidan McAdams: Craig Watson (Aaron Muirhead 80), Brooklyn Kabongolo, Thomas O`Brien (c), Jack Wilkie: Jacob MacIntyre, Findlay Marshall, Ryan Flynn, Ryan Dow: Taylor Steven, Gavin Reilly (Dapo Mebude 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Colin Hamilton, David Gold, Arran Pettifer, Victor Enem, Nikolay Todorov, Jordan Pettigrew (GK)
SCORER: Kabongolo (75, 90+4)
YELLOW CARD: O`Brien (90)

REFEREE: David Dickinson
ATTENDANCE: 4900 (inc 168 away fans)
WEATHER: Fine 7°C

50/50 Draw `“ Winning Ticket: 65076 Prize: £788

NEXT MATCH: (away) KDM Trophy v Queen of the South, Tuesday 9th December 2025, kick off 7.45pm

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