Club History | Season 2020-2021
The Pars squeezed into the play-offs. May would determine Athletic`s fate and Fife rivals Raith Rovers stood in their way. The home leg ended 0-0 and the Pars lost, somewhat unluckily, 2-0 at Starks Park.
The previous season had ended with a double whammy. The brilliant Kevin Nisbet sustained a season ending injury at the end of February and the season was brought to a premature end midway through March, due to Covid, leaving The Pars in 6th place.
Stevie Crawford continued as manager, assisted by Jason Dair and Greg Shields. Players departing from the previous season squad were:- Ryan Scully, Tom Beadling, Stuart Morrison, Lee Ashcroft, Paul Paton, Andy Ryan, Josh Coley, Gabby McGill, Danny Devine, Tom Lang, Greg Kiltie, Jonathan Afolabi, Harry Cochrane, Anthony McDonald, Ethan Ross and Joe Thomson. Kevin Nisbet deserved to be playing at a higher level and moved to Hibs. Incoming were:- Paul Watson, Steven Whittaker, Kevin O`Hara, Kerr McInroy, Fraser Murray, Iain Wilson, Declan McManus, Lewis Mayo, Matty Bowman, Kyle McDonald and Vitas Gaspuitis. Dom Thomas who had been on loan from Kilmarnock joined on a permanent basis. Because of Covid restrictions, the season did not begin until 6th October.
Press conferences were held over zoom
The League Cup was in sectional format and The Pars` fellow section members were Dumbarton, Falkirk and Kilmarnock. Kevin O`Hara got things going, scoring the only goal to defeat Dumbarton at The Rock. Euan Murray got both goals to see off Falkirk at East End and he scored again as, along with two from Hibs loanee Fraser Murray, Kilmarnock were beaten 3-0 at Rugby Park and the section was won.
Still in October and the League campaign kicked off well with a 3-2 win at home to Inverness Caley Thistle. Alloa were next, at Recreation Park, and a hat-trick from Kevin O`Hara, along with a goal from Ryan Dow, brought a 4-1 win. A most satisfactory month was concluded with a 3-2 home win against Queen of the South.
Into November and a slight blip as Ayr United held out for a 0-0 draw at Somerset Park. The next round of the League Cup brought Clyde to East End Park and a tight game finished 3-2 to The Pars. Back to winning ways in the League with a 2-1 home win over Hearts. The month was completed with a fine 3-1 win at Arbroath to see progress in the League Cup.
Above: Declan McManus, Kevin O`Hara and Dom Thomas
After such a great start, December proved to be disappointing. It began with a 2-2 draw at Starks Park, but started to go wrong with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Morton. Next, Athletic went out of the League Cup on penalties, at home to St. Johnstone. Some pride was restored with a 3-3 draw at Dens Park. A Kevin O`Hara goal won the points at home to Arbroath and the year ended with a Kyle Turner goal earning a point at the Caledonian Stadium.
January`s fixtures did not begin until the middle of the month, because of the weather, a 0-0 draw being the result at Cappielow. No goals either in the draw at home to Ayr United. No Pars goals at Tynecastle but Hearts managed one to beat The Pars.
February began well when Raith Rovers were thumped 4-1 at East End but a 2-0 reverse at Gayfield was not at all welcome. Two Craig Wighton goals (newly signed from Dundee) were enough to beat Alloa 2-1 but another away defeat, this time 1-0 in Dumfries, brought the month to an end.
Craig Wighton was on the mark again to beat Morton 1-0 at East End, but Caley Thistle reversed that score the following week, also at East End. Morton in the Cup at Cappielow was next but although drawing 0-0, with no replays, Morton won on penalties. The rot had set in and the trip to Dens Park ended in a 3-2 defeat. No-one was prepared for what came next - a 5-1 drubbing at Starks Park.
April kicked off with a 0-0 stalemate, at home to Hearts. Two more draws followed, 1-1 at Somerset Park and 0-0 at home to Dundee. Things picked up when QoS were beaten 3-1 at East End and Arbroath 4-3 at the same venue. Although the last game was lost 1-0 away to Alloa, The Pars squeezed into the play-offs.
May would determine Athletic`s fate and Fife rivals Raith Rovers stood in their way. The home leg ended 0-0 and The Pars lost, somewhat unluckily, 2-0 at Starks Park.
Top for appearances was Declan McManus with 36, followed closely by Josh Edwards on 35. Top goal scorer was Kevin O`Hara with 11.
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