Dunfermline Athletic

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Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 4th July 2026
New Central Park

For the second season running Dunfermline travelled to play Kelty Hearts on the first Saturday in July. It was the first opportunity for fans to watch loanee from Dundee United, Sam Cleall-Harding feature in a Pars strip. The 20 year-old returned to New Central Park, a ground familiar to him since he started 15 matches for Kelty Hearts while there on-loan in season 2024-2025. Also in the visitors line up were new signings Kian Corbally and Oli Shaw.

Neil Lennon fielded a strong eleven from the start although his bench was also filled with players who could be deemed probable starters. There was still no sign of Jake Sutherland, Connor Young or Chris Kane yet. Nurudeen Abdulai missed out after sustaining a shoulder injury the week before against Clyde. Billy Terrell`s absence with a calf injury meant that Rangers keeper Kieran Wright was played in goals, listed as a trialist. The 27 year old had 65 senior starts while out on loans to Albion Rovers, Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and Airdrie.

Kelty Hearts team included former Pars youth Callum Hannah and 37 year-old Kallum Higginbotham listed as one of four trialists in their squad.

Right from the off Dunfermline were commanding in this pre-season friendly. After a multitude of completed passes, Callumn Morrison`s third minute cross bounced off the top of crossbar. There would be several good passages of play from the Pars in the first half and after one such Robbie Fraser`s cross was hooked back out of his penalty box by Lewis Moore, Charlie GILMOUR crashed a low shot from 25 yards that beat keeper Jamie Smith just inside the left upright. 0-1

Kelty responded with an excellent long ball from Innes Murray controlled and launched narrowly wide right by Ryan Shanley. That was a brief respite for Kelty who had to be fully focussed on defending. In 19 minutes another piercing Fraser run set up Morrison but his effort was held by Smith, the former Annan and Hamilton keeper who Kelty have signed from Livingston.

The Pars completed many passes as they sought to create openings. Then at the midpoint of the half, Shaw`s pass through Morrison to Bray culminated in a dangerous cross from the right that was headed clear.

Andrew Tod free kick drove a 26th minute free kick low on target but held by keeper. Wright in the Pars goal was kept alert after Higginbotham and Shanley had combined to create a chance for Finn Moffett to deliver a shot but that was confidently held by the Trialist keeper.

Gilmour would test Smith again before the interval, once more set up by the advancing Fraser from the left but the captain`s shot was held. It had been a good first half performance from Dunfermline, very controlled and assured.

Half Time: Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 1

In the fourth minute of the second half A Tod from the left and Shea Kearney from the left saw inviting crosses go unaccepted. Higginbotham popped an opportunists shot over the Pars bar from 20 yards and it was 56th minute when Wright had to save a Gordon Walker effort after a good lay off by Moffett. From the conceded corner Murray smashed narrowly over the bar.

The introduction of six Dunfermline substitutes in 62 minutes served to quash the home side`s hopes of a comeback. Zak Rudden, Rory Macleod, Josh Cooper, Alfons Amade, Alasdair Davidson and Freddie Rowe replaced Shaw, Gilmour, Cleall-Harding, Corbally and the Tod brothers.

Two minutes after the multiple substitutions Morrison had a great effort that was matched by the quality of Smith`s save in turning the ball around his post. Josh Cooper sent the ball in from the left Keith BRAY headed forcibly on to the crossbar and followed up to touch the ball home. 65 minutes - 0-2

BRAY added his second seven minutes later after Zak Rudden had picked out Morrison on the right side of the box and his cut back teed up the man from the Western Isles to finish. 0-3

The contest was well and truly over although the League Two hosts brought a couple of save from the stand in keeper in the final 15 minutes.


Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 3



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