Archives | Dunfermline 3 Ross County 0
In their third successive home league match, Neil Lennon`s Pars were seeking three points to consolidate their fourth place in the Championship. It was hoped that there would be momentum from the draw against Partick and the win over Queen`s Park in their last two games. Opponents Ross County had taken confidence from three wins and a draw in their last six league matches, since taking a 1-0 knock out from Motherwell in the Scottish Cup.
There were eyebrows raised when the team lines revealed six changes in the home line up from Saturday`s match against Queen`s Park. In came Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Shea Kearney, Matty Todd, Keith Bray and Freddie Turley. On to the bench went Charlie Gilmour, Nurudeen Abdulai, Andrew Tod, Josh Cooper and Robbie Fraser. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen was not in the squad.
In contrast Stuart Kettlewell went with the same side that defeated Raith Rovers on Saturday. The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end and Aston Oxborough was engaged within 20 seconds. Declan Gallagher fouled Olly Thomas on the left and Todd lofted the free kick from 24 yards out into the County box. Alfons Amade connected with the defended ball but his powerful strike floored Akil Wright who blocked it.
Ross County made Oxborough save a low Ross Docherty effort from 20 yards out before in tenth minute Connor Randall successfully intercepted a Callumn Morrison drive. The goalscorer from Saturday then prompted the celebratory `Glad All Over" as East End Park enjoyed the opening goal. It was 15th minute when Hamilton dispossessed Docherty and slipped the ball left to MORRISON who advanced into the left side of the County box to plant the ball in the bottom right. 1-0
The Fifers lead doubled in 26th minute when a superbly placed pass by Amade picked out MORRISON who produced a fine finish to beat Trevor Carson from the edge of the box. 2-0
The visitors forced a 32nd minute corner but Bray booted that away only for the second phase to earn them another. This time Uche Ikpeazu met the cross and his bullet of a header was well saved by Oxborough.
There had been several occasions when referee Chris Graham might have produced a yellow card but two minutes from the interval he showed two to players on each team. Turley and Mackie grappled on the right touchline, Thomas tried to be the peacemaker but all three and County captain Gallagher were booked.
It had been very satisfactorily first half for the Pars despite the stats showing majority possession to the Staggies.
Half Time: Dunfermline 2 Ross County 0
Ross County made two changes before the second half got going, Kieran Phillips and Jayden Carbon replaced Jay Henderson and Uche Ikpeazu. The changes appeared to make a difference with County gaining more possession in the Dunfermline half and putting over several crosses that required crucial headed clearances.
Thomas was really putting himself about and was not earning any favours from the officials as he suffered a great many harsh challenges. It was from the on-loan Bristol City man that Carson held a low shot in 59th minute.
For the final twenty minutes on came Andrew Tod, Charlie Gilmour and Chris Kane taking over from Alfons Amade, Keith Bray and Olly Thomas, the latter leaving to a well earned standing ovation. Matty Todd was next to be subbed by Robbie Fraser in 77 minutes.
In 80th minute a Chris KANE goal put the result out of the visitors touch. It came from a really nice flowing move up the left from Fraser to Tod, Morrison to Gilmour back to Fraser. The former Rangers player`s cross into the six yard box saw Gilmour pushed out of the way but the Pars striker was on hand to sink the ball into the bottom right corner of the County net. 3-0
As the clock ran down Carson stopped a powerful Kane shot. If there was to be any more goals it was clear that they would only be for Dunfermline. The match concluded 3-0, the best home win of the season and perhaps a nice selection dilemma for Neil Lennon.
Victory would have taken County out of the league`s bottom two, and within four points of the promotion play-offs. Instead Dunfermline`s first victory over the Dingwall club since 2011 strengthened their hold on fourth place coupled with Ayr United drawing at Arbroath.
DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Freddie Turley, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Shea Kearney (Josh Cooper 86), Chris Hamilton, Alfons Amade (Charlie Gilmour 70), Matty Todd (Robbie Fraser 77): Keith Bray (Andrew Tod 70): Callumn Morrison, Olly Thomas (Chris Kane 70)
SUBS NOT USED: Nurudeen Abdulai, Alasdair Davidson, Lucas Fyfe, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Morrison (15, 26), Kane (80)
YELLOW CARDS: Turley (43), Thomas (43), Ngwenya (82)
ROSS COUNTY: Trevor Carson: Akil Wright (Ben Crompton 78), Declan Gallagher (c), Levis Pitan, Sean Mackie: Connor Randall (Dean Cornelius 70), Ross Docherty, Jamie Lindsay (Ryan Duncan 70), Jay Henderson (Kieran Phillips HT), Jordan White: Uche Ikpeazu (Jayden Carbon HT)
SUBS NOT USED: Dylan Smith, Kaedyn Kamara, Josh Reid, Bradley Foster (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Mackie (43), Gallagher (43), Phillips (64), Cornelius (90+2)
REFEREE: Chris Graham
ATTENDANCE:4962 (inc 144 away fans)
WEATHER: Fine 6°C
50/50 Prize Draw, Winning Ticket: 67367 Prize: £681
NEXT MATCH (home), Scottish Gas Scottish Cup v Aberdeen, Saturday 7th March 2026 kick off 7.30pm at KDM Group East End Park
Highlights - Dunfermline 3 Ross County 0
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