Archives | Dunfermline 3 Aberdeen 0

A truly amazing night at KDM Group East End Park saw Dunfermline brush off the Scottish Cup holders to earn their place in the semi finals of the competition for the first time since 2009.

Manager Neil Lennon warned his players to play the game and not the occasion. However there was plenty of evidence of a big occasion. Halbeath Road was parked up and the traffic crawled past the stadium from hours before kick off, supporters buses were in the city early, their occupants pleasantly deposited at away fan friendly hostilities, an expectant buzz around the stadium as hospitality filled up and then all the stands. The Quarter Final Cup tie would be broadcast live on television but the sell out crowd of 10,399 were present for the atmosphere of the occasion and the hope of witnessing their team qualify for the semi final.

Neil Lennon brought back in players rested for Tuesday`s match against Ross County. There were five changes as Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Keith Bray and Shea Kearney dropped to the bench and Callumn Morrison was out suspended. Returning to the starting eleven were Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Robbie Fraser, Charlie Gilmour, Chris Kane and Andrew Tod.

Aberdeen`s starting eleven also showed five changes from the team that started on Wednesday night against Celtic. Out went Alexander Jensen, Gavin Molloy, Toyosi Olusanya, Dennis Geiger and Sivert Heltne Nilsen and in their places were Graeme Shinnie, Nicolas Milanovic, Tom McIntyre, Dylan Lobban and Topi Keskinen.

The warm-up period was noisy as both sets of fans loosened up their vocal cords. All four sides of the stadium filled up steadily before the teams emerged and formed up in front of the Centre Stand. Formalities over it was Alfons Amade who got the match underway with the home side attacking the goal immediately in front of the away fans in the Vertu Community Stand.

Within the first minute Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov was called upon to hold a low on target shot from Tod. The Pars started strongly and the Cup holders immediately felt the desire from their hosts. Aberdeen began to see more of the ball and a seventh minute Keskinen cross from the left whizzed through the six yard box. The Dons next ball into the Pars box required some serious defending and Aston Oxborough was called upon to hold a dangerous attempt from Stuart Armstrong.

A Cameron shot from 25 yards was deflected and landed straight into the Pars keeper`s gloves. Then in 14th minute the home fans erupted and the stadium rocked as the Pars took the lead. Kane fed the ball to Fraser on the left and Matty TODD had his hands aloft crying out for a cross to the back post. That was duly posted, a poor defensive header by Frame set up the Dunfermline no.10 to smash the ball in top right from a tight angle. 1-0

Oxborough was on his knees to hold a powerful Shinnie effort in response. The narrow lead was then doubled to great joy. Olly THOMAS was played through the middle by Fraser and the on-loan Bristol City striker opened his Pars account as his shot rebounded back off keeper Mitov and cannoned off him into the net. 2-0

The cup tie had not even reached midpoint of the first half and the Fifers had a dream two goal lead. The travelling support were booing their own side after Todd`s 28th minute corner was nearly headed home by Chilokoa-Mullen. They were not amused when their side`s first corner was punched away by Oxborough and Fraser speedily made grounded up the left to loft over another inviting ball for Todd to fire on target but this time see blocked.

Thomas made another lightning break but without anyone up in support was forced into a 35th minute shot that was blocked. The Dons were finding it hard to put together any real periods of possession with the Pars fans enjoying cheering every turn over. Three minutes from the interval Keskinen got in a decent shot from the left side of the Pars box but the ball cleared the goal to land in the McCathie. Chilokoa-Mullen required the physios attentions and the match halted for treatment to the Pars captain. Last opportunity of the half came after Thomas again broke towards the Dons goal, his cut back was timely met by Amade but McIntyre got in the block.

What a first half! Dunfermline had certainly looked the hungriest and we hoped that they could do it all again in the second half.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 Aberdeen 0

After his team was jeered off at half time it was no surprise when stand-in manager Peter Leven made three substitutions before play resumed. Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Gavin Molloy and Toyosi Olusanya replaced Mitchell Frame, Nicolas Milanovic and Lyall Cameron. Olusanya injected urgency and the Dons fans roared as Lobban forced a 49th corner but yet again that led to a Pars counterattack with Fraser sending Tod up the left. The teenager got in a shot but Mitov held.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half Aberdeen tried hard to find a way back into the tie. Dunfermline`s defensive qualities were put to the test by the Premier League team but the nerves were settled in 61 minutes when THOMAS made another break away speeding up the right to crash the ball in off the left upright. The hard work was done on the half way line, Tod winning possession, picking out Kane who threaded through the all important pass. 3-0

The North West Stand had sung their hearts out for the duration of the game but by this time even the Centre Stand was joining in. On the park the Pars continued on song. Charlie Gilmour launched a rocket narrowly wide left and then a Todd corner from the left was glanced just outside the right post by Chris Kane. That proved to be the striker`s last involvement as a double substitution was made in 65 minutes with Kane and Amade replaced by Shea Kearney and Chris Hamilton.

Thomas was on fire and despite being held managed to reach the left byeline and carry the ball into the goalmouth but as Pars fans rose to their feet the Dons defence came out on top. Neil Lennon introduced Kyle Benedictus, Josh Cooper and Tashan Oakley-Boothe as the clock ran down. The latter coming very close to netting in 86th minute, only a goalmouth scramble deterring him the glory.

The five minutes of time added on at the end only threatened to increase Aberdeen`s embarrassment. The travelling support had left in great numbers but no one of black and white disposition was leaving early. The final whistle was greeted with much aplomb, fantastic scenes as a trip to Hampden was booked. On this form Dunfermline should fear no one but what a night for every Pars fan to recall for years to come.

DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Freddie Turley (Kyle Benedictus 81), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kieran Ngwenya: Matthew Todd (Josh Cooper 81), Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade (Chris Hamilton 65), Robbie Fraser: Andrew Tod, Chris Kane (Shea Kearney 65), Olly Thomas (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Nurudeen Abdulai, Keith Bray, Lucas Fyfe, Billy Terrell (GK)
SCORERS: Todd (14), Thomas (22, 61)
YELLOW CARD: Gilmour (70)

ABERDEEN: Dimitar Mitov; Dylan Lobban, Jack Milne, Tom McIntyre (Liam Morrison 76), Mitchell Frame (Gavin Molloy HT); Lyall Cameron (Sivert Heltne Nilsen HT), Graeme Shinnie (c), Stuart Armstrong (Marko Lazetic 74); Nicolas Milanovic (Toyosi Olusanya HT), Kevin Nisbet, Topi Keskinen.
SUBS NOT USED: Rodrigo Vitols, Kenan Bilalovic, Afeez Aremu, Alexander Jensen.

REFEREE: Ryan Lee
ATTENDANCE: 10399 (inc 3796 away fans)
WEATHER: Fine 5°C

NEXT MATCH (home) v Raith Rovers, Saturday 14th March 2026, kick off 3.00pm

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