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Partick Thistle were the Pars opponents in the first leg of the William Hill Premiership Play-off Semi-final played at KDM Group East End Park on Tuesday evening. It was the fourth placed against the second placed sides in the Championship with the Jags favourites but with Dunfermline hoping that their late season momentum could take them through to this season`s Play-off Final. For the visitors it was their fifth consecutive appearance in the Premiership Play-offs

Neil Lennon`s starting eleven showed two changes from the one that battled for a draw at Gayfield Park four nights previous. Alfons Amade returned in midfield and Shea Kearney at wingback. There was no Nurudeen Abdulai out with an ankle knock, and John Tod was on the subs bench.

From the side he fielded against Queen`s Park, Partick boss Mark Wilson made five changes. Lee Ashcroft, Dan O`Reilly, Ben McPherson, Ben Stanway and Ts`oanelo Lets`osa all started.

The teams changed ends and Alfons Amade kicked off for Dunfermline into the sun and attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. Early shots from Matty Todd and Ben McPherson were blocked. In ninth minute Todd won the first of three corners, Josh Clarke finally clearing with his fists. The Pars kept up the pressure and in 11 minutes from a Kearney cross that was chested down by Charlie Gilmour, Chris Kane got away an on-target shot that Clarke dived to his left to turn the ball around the post.

There followed a spell where both sides cancelled each other out but then in 23 minutes Amade`s free kick set up an opportunity. The Mozambique internationalist`s long diagonal ball picked out Todd on the left. He took the ball to the byeline before cutting the it back in front of goal where Callumn MORRISON met the pass to net. 1-0

Unfortunately the lead would only last 79 seconds since Ben STANWAY would receive an Aidan Fitzpatrick pass to force his way between Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Kieran Ngwenya to slip the ball past the Pars keeper for the equaliser. 1-1

Logan Chalmers sent his attempt five minutes later wide right from 25 yards out. Three more minutes passed before Morrison shot wildly into the McCathie but Andrew Tod got much closer with the next effort launched narrowly over Clarke`s bar from 30 yards. Clarke held a speculative low shot from Todd before referee Duncan Nicolson warned Ashcroft for flattening A Tod but kept his cards in his pockets. The game had barely restarted when the former Pars defender did the same again! Same result.

As half time approached the Pars earned two more corners but it was from a Kearney cross in 44 minutes that Todd met only for Clarke to hold. Then controversy after a fine pass sent Matty Todd away down the left. The 24 year old was taken down by McPherson whose arm was firmly round his opponent and the pair entered the penalty box on the left side but no infringement was the decision from Mr Nicolson.

It had been a hard fought half with few decisions going the Fifers way. The extremely loud boos at half time were clearly aimed at the match officials.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 1

There were a few uncomfortable moments in the first few minutes of the second half. Fitzpatrick had the ball in the net but was flagged offside and then Aston Oxborough had to beat away a Stanway shot when a Ngwenya clearance rebounded to the Thistle midfielder. A Smyth shot bounced into the McCathie before Dunfermline were awarded a free kick 24 yards out when Stanway dumped Amade. It was Robbie Fraser`s left foot that delivered the shot that Clarke stopped and following up Morrison was closed out by Fitzpatrick.

Dunfermline pressed and Kearney was next to try his hand. The Lurgan man beating two players before blasting a 57th minute shot that whizzed over the bar. An O`Reilly foul on Kane destroyed a potential 1-2 with Matty Todd. The resultant free kick from 24 yards out Morrison crashed into the Thistle wall. This was a strong period of play from Dunfermline and Clarke cut out a cracking ball into the danger area by Fraser as the Pars attackers were poised to strike.

Lucas Fyfe replaced Chris Kane for the final twenty minutes and while the Pars maintained the upper hand they were finding it hard to execute decent direct shots on target. Then on 75 minutes Todd switched the ball to Morrison who fed Fraser who had made the run outside him but the former Rangers youth had to watch his attempt bounce narrowly wide of the far post.

The visitors pushed for a winner and made the final five minutes stormy. Freshly introduced sub Fraser Taylor made Oxborough pull off a fine save. Alex Samuel headed a good chance wide and then there were three vital goalmouth clearances in which Todd and Ngwenya twice were the saviours.

The 1840 Partick Thistle fans would know that they had witnessed a Dunfermline performance that had given their side a good test. It would have been nice to have had a lead to take into the second leg but Friday is another chance to defeat Thistle.

DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Shea Kearney, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen,, Kieran Ngwenya, Robbie Fraser: Matty Todd, Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade, Callumn Morrison, Andrew Tod (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 86), Chris Kane (Lucas Fyfe 70)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Keith Bray, Rory Macleod, John Tod, Josh Cooper, BIlly Terrell (GK)
SCORER: Morrison (23)

PARTICK THISTLE: Josh Clarke: Ben McPherson (Cale Loughrey 66), Lee Ashcroft (c), Dan O`Reilly, Paddy Reading: Logan Chalmers (Gary Mackay-Steven 79), Ben Stanway (Fraser Taylor 86), Ts`oanelo Lets`osa (Robbie Crawford 66), Oisin Smyth, Aidan Fitzpatrick: Tony Watt (Alex Samuel 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Luke McBeth, Cammy Logan, Kyle Turner, Lewis Budinauckas (GK)
SCORER: Stanway (24)
YELLOW CARD: Smyth (65)

REFEREE: Duncan Nicolson
ATTENDANCE: 6873 (inc 1840 away fans)
WEATHER: Sunny 12°C

NEXT MATCH: (away) Second Leg William Hill Premiership Semi-final Play-off v Partick Thistle, 7.45pm kick off at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill.


Highlights | Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 1



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