Archives | Dunfermline 2 Kelty Hearts 0

There were three changes to the Dunfermline starting eleven `“ Deniz Mehmet, Chris Hamilton and Andrew Tod all dropping to the bench. Billy Terrell returned for his first game between the sticks since Christmas, Alfons Amade who had been absent due to his involvement with Mozambique at AFCON, made his first Pars start since the second Saturday in December and Graham Carey made his starting debut.

Kelty Hearts were without the cup tied Dylan Corr, Craig Clay who was suspended and Sam Fisher unable to play against his parent club. James Graham was preferred to Cammy Cooper.

The teams changed ends before Amade kicked off with the home side attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand. The early action was all in at that end with Dunfermline forcing three corners within the first three minutes. These certainly rattled the visitors defence but it survived. A seventh minute Kelty corner was headed wide by Brydon before a Matty Todd pass sent Calumn Morrison through on goal but his low shot was stopped by keeper Kyle Gourlay.

Carey`s 13th minute corner from the left was met by the inrunning Kieran Ngwenya but he glanced his headed attempt wide of the far post. At the other end Aaron Arnott teed up Luke McCarvel for a shot from the left side of the box but it went straight to the hands of the Pars keeper. The travelling support were encouraged when Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen had to make a last ditch block to keep out Lewis Moore.

Having successfully negotiated the first twenty minutes the Maroon machine`s confidence had definitely grown. Terrell was forced out of his box three times to prevent chances developing. Carey collected the first yellow card of the tie for a foul as the visitors threatened on the break after a period of completed passes broke down.

Zak Rudden earned a 31st minute free kick 27 yards out but Carey swung the ball over the three man wall and wide right of target. Next the Pars striker and Brydon clashed and Rudden with treatment failing to fix him was forced off. Andrew Tod was the home side`s 36th minute sub. Tod`s first touch was a header that tested the keeper but the offside flag had been raised. Then the sub had his leg taken away from him after Amade`s pass to Carey was played into the box for a strike. No penalty given.

Kelty were defending well, getting all their men back to frustrate their neighbours. A Robbie Fraser effort whizzed over the crossbar while at the other end there was a let off as Arnott drove the ball narrowly wide of the left goalpost.

Todd forced an added time corner, Carey delivered from the right but Kelty cleared. The League One side had made a good account for themselves in the opening 45 minutes and it the home fans who were the ones who were disappointed.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Kelty Hearts 0

Chris Kane replaced Graham Carey before Kelty got the second half underway. Three Pars corners within the first three minutes were curled into the danger zone in front of goal but Kelty survived. When Fraser was taken down by Graham, Morrison sent the free kick wide from 24 yards out.

A poor goal kick by Gourlay supplied the next Dunfermline chance, Kane prodding the ball forward and Amade`s strong challenge winning him the ball. Unfortunately although his pass into the box found Kane the striker was closed down before he could do any damage.

Then on the hour Dunfermline were denied what looked like a good goal. Bursting forward down the middle of the park, Morrison slipped the ball to Kane to his left and the striker`s shot crashed down off the crossbar bounced up, hit the bar again and bounced behind the line a second time for most players and fans but not the match officials.

Shea Kearney had replaced Calumn Morrison midway through the second half and with quarter of an hour of tie remaining the substitute received the ball from Gilmour to deliver a very good cross from the right for KANE to turn in at the far post. 1-0

Kearney`s speed almost notched a second minutes later his final pass inside for Tod being directed wide. Suddenly Dunfermline looked like scoring with every move forward. Chilokoa-Mullen drove the ball over the Kelty bar and another Kearney shot narrowly evaded Todd and Tod.

Josh Cooper had been an 83rd minute replacement for Matty Todd and within four minutes his run at goal had produced a second goal for KANE. 2-0

The two goals were sufficient to see Dunfermline safely into Sunday night`s quarter final draw, the first time they had reached that stage since 2009.

DUNFERMLINE: Billy Terrell: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (c), Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya; Matty Todd (Josh Cooper 83), Alfons Amade, Charlie Gilmour, Robbie Fraser: Graham Carey (Chris Kane HT): Callumn Morrison (Shea Kearney 67), Zak Rudden (Andrew Tod 36).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Olly Thomas, Freddie Turley, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Carey (26), Kane (55), Morrison (60), Tod (69)
SCORER: Kane (75, 87)

KELTY HEARTS: Kyle Gourlay: Murray Thomas, Jack Wyllie, Jack Brydon (c), Brody Paterson: Aaron Arnott, Alex Ferguson (Cammy Cooper 76), James Graham, Lewis Moore (Clark Bexfield 90+1), Luke McCarvel: Arran Pettifer (Grant Leitch 90+1)
SUBS NOT USED: Adam Winiarski, Archie Margetts, Jay Snoddy, Ryan Adamson (GK).
YELLOW CARDS: Thomas (56)

REFEREE: Lloyd Wilson
ATTENDANCE: 4976 (inc 425 Kelty fans)
WEATHER: Overcast 7ºC

NEXT MATCH: (home) William Hill Championship v Partick Thistle, Saturday 14th February 2026, kick off 3.00pm at KDM Group East End Park.

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