Dunfermline Athletic

Archives | Morton 2 Dunfermline 0

On Pancake Day Dunfermline served up a very flat performance that saw them miss out yet again on an opportunity to lift themselves into a play-off position.

Dunfermline faced Ian Murray`s Morton side in this match postponed from the second Saturday in January. The home side were hoping to take three points that would see them leapfrog their visitors but for Dunfermline three points would take them into the play-off places. Plenty to play for then on a cold night in Greenock.

Neil Lennon made two changes for this match; Shea Kearney and Olly Thomas taking the places of Graham Carey and Zak Rudden. Cammy Blues was missing for the home side so Cammy Macpherson started in his place.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen led the Pars on to the field at Cappielow, along with Charlie Gilmour, sole survivors from the Dunfermline side that kicked off their league season against Morton at the same venue. The hosts kicked off attacking the goal at the empty Wee Dublin end but it was the Fifers who started with plenty of intent. Callumn Morrison was very unlucky to be deemed offside as he broke into the `˜Ton box on five minutes.

Billy Terrell pulled off a fantastic save to keep out Curtis Main in ninth minute. Zak Delaney had sent Michael Garrity flying down the left and his cross looked certain to be converted by Main in front of goal but the 22 year-old Englishman pulled off a truly remarkable save. Eight minutes later Morrison earned the first corner and Matty Todd`s delivery from the left was inviting but there were no takers.

Play switched to the other end where a Cammy Ballantyne swung the ball in from the right and again Main found himself in front of goal with a great chance but again defensive Pars heroics denied the home side. The warnings had been posted and in 22 minutes Morton found the net. Owen Moffat supplied the cross from the right and Eamonn BROPHY was well placed to turn the ball in for the opener.

Delaney was next to try an attempt after intricate play on the left side created a chance for the full back to blast a shot from 15 yards out that screamed over the bar. Chilokoa-Mullen surged forward on the half hour and his fierce cross was turned behind by Lolita-White. Unfortunately the corner altered nothing.

The Morton defender then earned a 33rd minute penalty after Nurudeen Abdulai`s efforts to see the ball out for a goal kick failed, Lopita-White stole the ball away and the Pars centre back took him down. Morton captain Grant Gillespie stepped up and smashed the ball to the right but over the bar.

Dunfermline`s response in 38 minutes was cut out by Iain Wilson after Thomas` switch to Morrison was played into the path of Fraser to his left to shoot. Next Garrity had time to travel down the left and pop a 42nd minute shot that also cleared Terrell`s crossbar.

There is little doubt that the Greenock side had the better of the first half. Not a lot was coming off for the visitors and they could consider themselves relieved that they were only one behind at the break.

Half time: Morton 1 Dunfermline 0

Shea Kearney was replaced by Andrew Tod for the second 45 with Matty Todd moved to right wing back. Four minutes in Olly Thomas was sent through by the substitute and having been forced wide by keeper Murray Johnson the Pars striker crashed the ball on to the right goalpost.

Things went from bad to worse as the Pars were reduced to ten men in 52nd minute. Kieran Ngwenya was shown red for denying a goalscoring opportunity taking down Moffat 20 yards out. The resultant free kick was driven into the defensive wall but Morton continued to be a real threat. Main and then Brophy were kept out and Robbie Fraser was shown yellow for pulling down Ballantyne.

Then in 64 minutes Morton were awarded their second penalty of the game. Michael O`Halloran had just replaced Eamonn Brophy and it was the former Par`s shot that was blocked and then followed up by Delaney. Chilokoa-Mullen pleaded that the ball had hit his chest but referee Greg Soutar pointed to the spot and showed him a yellow card. This time the penalty taker was MACPHERSON and he converted clinically 2-0.

A double substitution saw Chris Kane and Freddie Turley replace Callumn Morrison and Alfons Amade in 69th minute. Two Dunfermline corners were defended before strong play by Turley sent Tod into the box on the left side but Wilson cut out the shot to concede just a corner. When Todd sent that over from the left it was Chilokoa-Mullen who ended up in the net as he headed the ball wide left.

Fraser drilled a 80th minute effort narrowly wide as Dunfermline made positive moves to get something out of the game. Tod picked out Kane on the edge of the box and his turn back for Gilmour was dispatched over the crossbar.

This was an extremely frustrating 90 minutes for both management and fans, the only bright spot the team`s fighting spirit after being reduced to ten men. Somehow they need to find ways of exercising the opposition goalkeeper.

MORTON: Murray Johnson: Cammy Ballantyne, Iain Wilson, Reuben Lopita-White, Zak Delaney: Owen Moffat, Cammy Macpherson, Grant Gillespie (c), Michael Garrity (86): Eamonn Brophy, Curtis Main.
SUBS NOT USED: Kian Taylor, Aaron Comrie, Ali Crawford, Fergus Owens, Louie Murphy, Michael O`Halloran, Sam Murdoch (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: O`Halloran (84), Delaney (90+2)
SCORERS: Brophy (22), Macpherson (65 pen.)

DUNFERMLINE: Billy Terrell: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (c), Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya: Shea Kearney (Andrew Tod HT), Alfons Amade (Freddie Turley 69), Charlie Gilmour, Robbie Fraser: Matty Todd: Callumn Morrison (Chris Kane 69), Olly Thomas.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Keith Bray, Josh Cooper, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Fraser (58), Chilokoa-Mullen (64)
RED CARD: Ngwenya (52)

REFEREE: Greg Soutar
ATTENDANCE: 1559 (inc 281 Dunfermline fans)
WEATHER: Fine 1ºC

NEXT MATCH: (away) William Hill Championship v Arbroath, Saturday 21st February 2026, kick off 3.00pm at Gayfield Park.



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