Archives | St Mirren 0 Dunfermline 1

Dunfermline emerged victorious to qualify for the knock out stages of the Premier Sports Cup

For the fourth time in 2026 Dunfermline took the scalp of a Premier League team in cup competitions. The 1-0 win in Paisley was enough to secure a place in the draw for the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup with the vital goal from the penalty spot coming two minutes from the end, scored by Chris Kane.

Dunfermline entered this match know that they had to beat their Premier League opponents on their own patch in order to qualify for the knock stages of the Premier Sports Cup. The nine matches in this Group C had witnessed 43 goals so far and St Mirren had scored four in all three of their previous group matches. Neil Lennon was forced into one change - Oli Shaw dropped out with a groin strain making way for Callumn Morrison to start his second game of the season.

For St Mirren manager Craig McLeish made four changes bringing in Jayden Richardson, Fraser Taylor, Eseosa Sule and 21 year old Ryan Carr for his debut start. St. Mirren got the match underway and enjoyed most of the early possession. Luke Robinson picked up a sixth minute yellow card before a long ball upfield travelled into the hosts` penalty box. Morrison tried to run on to it but Henry Fieldson mopped up the danger before the Pars man could get in a shot.

The first corner of the match went the home side`s way and from that captain Marcus Fraser headed over under pressure from Shea Kearney. With the home side in control, Dunfermline were doing a good job of containing the threat of Samuel Ramos, Eseosa Sula and Chris Mochrie. It was Alfons Amade who drew the first goalkeeper save. The Mozambique midfielder receiving a Zak Rudden pass to smash a low attempt that keeper Jacob Chapman had to dive low to his right to tip away for a corner. That 16th minute setplay from Corbally was fisted away by Chapman.

At the midpoint of the first half there was a major let off for the Fifers. A Killian Phillips pass set up Sula for a break up the left, he ran on to his tap inside Cleall-Harding inviting Aston Oxborough off his line to block. Sula clashed into the keeper and Ramos netted. Referee Sean Murdoch immediately blew up for a foul on the keeper and with good fortune there would be no goal. Even Pars fans reviewing that incident would struggle to agree with the former Pars goalkeeper`s decision!

The Buddies continued to put pressure on the Fifers, clinging hold to possession and giving the visitors the run around. Six slick passes played Richardson into position to cross from the right but the defence did its job to snuff out the danger.

A Ramos corner picked out Gogic and his header was held by Oxborough. The Pars then finished the half with a strong end to the half. With 43 minutes on the clock Kearney`s pass to A Tod set up Rudden for a shot that yet again the 25 year-old Australian keeper held at his right hand post.

Two shots on target but it had been a tame first 45. The Pars push in the two added minutes showed that they could create problems for Saints and it would require more of that in the second half since as it stood a draw would be good enough for the home side to top the group. That would mean Dunfermline would not qualify as one of the best second placed teams.

Half time: St Mirren 0 Dunfermline 0

After telling his team to have more belief in themselves at half time, Neil Lennon got a response from his side in the second half. Within the first minute A Tod forced corner on the right and when Corbally`s delivery came over Rudden was able to turn and from an angle on the right, fire on target. The shot was cleared off the line by Richardson hitting A Tod in the face and out for a goal kick.

Dunfermline continued to press their opposition. In 50 minutes A Tod won another corner but this time Cleall-Harding taken down by a high foot. St Mirren had their chances, Two minutes later, Sule launched a great shot but wide left. Oxborough then had to hold a Mochrie shot from the edge of the box held and at the second attempt from Phillips.

St Mirren`s defence was exposed as they made a poor effort to play out from the back. Gogic made a critical intervention to deny A Tod as Amade won possession and laced the ball back into the St Mirren box.

Chris Kane`s introduction heralded a final 30 minutes full of urgency and intent for Dunfermline. The Pars striker replaced Callumn Morrison as St Mirren, Roland Idowu for Mochrie. The Buddies` sub first involvement injured Kearney. The Lurgan man had to leave the park with a cut and in 66th minute Ewan McLeod came on in his place. Charlie Gilmour took over in from Alfons Amade in the centre of the park at the same juncture.

The second of two 69th St Mirren corners from Phillips led to Richardson hitting a left footed shot held by Oxborough. At the other end his counterpart Chapman held an A Tod attempt deflected off Fieldson. The newly introduced Josh Cooper whipped a cross over from left that was headed wide by Kane.

St Mirren`s efforts were thwarted with Taylor`s shot held easily and a Carr cross well defended by Kane. Douglas forced corner off Cleall-Harding before the Pars mounted all out attack. The Premier League side were forced into conceding two free kicks in similar positions 30 yards out. From the first in 84 minutes Cooper Picked out J Tod and when his attempt was blocked Cooper thrashed a chance wide right. Next minute Fraser`s setpiece was met by Robinson on the right side of the Saints box but he too was wide of target.

Kane swung over a cross that landed on top of the net and Cooper embarked on a run that ended with a pass for Keith Bray but he was closed out as a corner ensued. Ewan McLeod powered up the right and crossed for A Tod but unfortunately he couldn`t control the pass. Next however a penalty kick was awarded to Dunfermline. Fraser`s ball to the far side of the six yard box was headed down in front of goal by A Tod. Bray was well placed to finish but was clumsily taken out by Marcus Fraser. KANE stepped up and crashed the ball straight down the middle for 0-1.

Pushing on Chapman was made to hold A Tod cross. Dunfermline needed another goal to overtake St Mirren in the group table but despite play swaying from end to end in the four added minutes there was no further scoring. Both teams went through to the second round at the expense of Queen`s Park who did not want a Pars win.

Man of the Match selected by Charlie Mulgrew was Sam Cleall-Harding. The cup draw that followed immediately after the match saw Dunfermline drawn at home against League One side, Ross County.

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