Archives | Dunfermline 0 St Johnstone 2

The Scottish Cup finalists faced league leaders St Johnstone in the fixture delayed due to the Pars cup commitments. The Perth side arrived at KDM Group East End Park in search of the win that would secure their promotion to the Scottish Premiership after a one year absence. Dunfermline on the other hand were after three points to seal their place in the Premiership Play-offs.

Pars boss, Neil Lennon, rested key players after Saturday`s Hampden Semi-Final success over Falkirk. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Robbie Fraser, Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade and Chris Kane dropped out of the side that started against the Bairns making way for Shea Kearney, John Tod, Chris Hamilton, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Josh Cooper.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari made one change to his starting eleven from the one that saw off Airdrieonians 4-0 a week past Saturday `“ 28 year-old Matty Foulds coming in for Jack Baird. The Saints brought with them a 2654 strong travelling support no doubt in anticipation of a celebration.

The home side kicked off and they were the first to create danger. Hamilton sprayed the ball out to Matty Todd on the right and in fourth minute he got two crosses into the Saints box both of which were defended. The visitors defence failed to cut out a long but low clearance from Aston Oxborough allowing Callumn Morrison and Andrew Tod to press but Toby Steward was out fast to deny the shot. St Johnstone then swung play to the other end forcing two corners in ninth minute.

When Jamie Gullan burst through into the Pars box the home side were happy to concede another corner. This time Gullan fed McPake a chance that he rattled the crossbar with and Morgan Boyes followed up only for his net bound shot to be blocked by Sam Stanton. The league leaders were taking a firm grip of the game and Gullan was unlucky not to connect with another fine ball played in from the left by McPake. Instead it fizzed all the way to Liam Smith whose effort was turned away for a fifth corner.

A Todd pass in from the left set up Cooper for a 22nd minute shot from 16 yards out but that was blocked. Play then again got bogged down in the Pars half. Tashan Oakley-Boothe pulled up after a challenge on Holt and had to be subbed by Charlie Gilmour in 31st minute. The stoppage helped Dunfermline settle and immediately Kearney produced a fine cross that required a diving header from Cheick Diabate to clear.

Boyes complained after Morrison`s steal off him but the Pars striker could not make sufficient progress to get as shot away. Back at the other end Oxborough held a 42nd minute shot from Gullan. Then Andrew Tod was off target after Cooper had laid the ball off to him on the left.

There was no argument that St Johnstone had enjoyed the better of the first half but at the break the match was still goalless and the Fifers had had their moments.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 St Johnstone 0

Both teams were attacking the goals in front of their own supporters for the second half and right away the Saints fans thought they would be greeting a goal but Gullan fired a good opportunity wide from 16 yards out.

Gilmour was yellow carded in halting a St Johnstone break. McAlear`s free kick earned a corner but Dunfermline defended easily before a double substitution saw Alfons Amade and Chris Kane come on for Chris Hamilton and Josh Cooper. Before they could make any appreciable difference Saints scored. A 56th minute shot from outside the box from McALEAR took a deflection that caused the ball to land in the Pars net. 0-1

The home side responded with A Tod pinging the ball across the six yard box and Todd sending over a cross that Kane just could get control of. A foul on Kane earned a 64th minute and a corner on the left. Morrison came close to robbing Steward as he played dangerously in his six yard box. The momentum had swung in Dunfermline`s direction. A great move from Todd to Kane looked promising but Saints stopped their former striker and A Tod from delivering into the box.

In a counter Smith ended up launching the ball from an angle narrowly over the top. The Perth side smashed home a 72nd minute second to send their fans into loud elation. It was Ruari PATON who struck giving the Pars keeper little chance with a header on the end of a cross from newly introduced sub Taylor Steven. 0-2

Replacing Matty Todd with 15 minutes remaining, Rory Macleod returned to competitive action for the first time since Christmas. Another player available to Neil Lennon for the season end although there had to be concerns about Oakley-Boothe after his first half substitution.

The three points opened up a seven point advantage over second placed Partick Thistle and so the title and promotion was certain for St Johnstone. Congratulations to a side that suffered just three league defeats all season, one of them of course at home to Dunfermline.

Fourth placed Dunfermline have a five point advantage over Raith Rovers both with two fixtures remaining.

DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Shea Kearney, Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya, John Tod: Matty Todd (Rory Macleod 75), Chris Hamilton (c)(Alfons Amade 54), Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Charlie Gilmour 31), Josh Cooper (Chris Kane 54): Andrew Tod, Callumn Morrison (Lucas Fyfe 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Keith Bray, Ewan McLeod, Billy Terrell (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Ngwenya (45+1), Gilmour (52)

ST JOHNSTONE: Toby Steward: Liam Smith (Adam Forrester 90+4), Cheick Diabeta, Morgan Boyes, Matty Foulds: Jason Holt, Jamie Gullan (Taylor Steven 71), Sam Stanton (Kai Fotheringham 90+1), Reece McAlear: Ruari Paton, Josh McPake,
SUBS NOT USED: Reghan Tumilty, Ola Jonathan Svedberg, Josh Fowler, Alfie Agyeman, Stephen Mallan, Ross Sinclair (GK)
SCORERS: McAlear (56), Paton (72)

REFEREE: Don Robertson
ATTENDANCE: 7691 (inc 2654 away fans)
WEATHER: Fine 9°C

NEXT MATCH (away) William Hill Championship v Queen`s Park, Saturday 25th April, kick off 7.45pm at The city Stadium, Glasgow