Archives | Partick Thistle 1 Dunfermline 4

With four points from two games under John McLaughlan`s guidance, the next Dunfermline manager will inherit a squad with rediscovered confidence.

The Pars first fixture of 2025 was at Firhill against a Partick Thistle team still smarting from a Hogmanay defeat away to Morton. Dunfermline were hoping to take confidence from their 3-3 draw against top of the table Falkirk. Head of Professional Development, John McLaughlan, was still in charge of the Fifers as the void created with the departure of James McPake and Dave Mackay had yet to be filled.

The caretaker manager made one change from the side that started against Falkirk eight days ago. David Wotherspoon was available after serving his one match suspension but he only made it to the substitutes` bench. Kane Ritchie-Hosler started in preference to Josh Cooper. Thistle manager Kris Doolan made two changes goalkeeper David Mitchell instead of Myles Roberts who had been recalled from his loan, and Kanayo Megwa preferred to Robbie Crawford.

Matty Todd kicked the game off with the visitors attacking the goal at the end with no spectators. Lewis McCann created the first chance of the game, making ground down the left he evaded Megwa to cross for Kane but Thistle stepped in to concede a corner. Aaron Comrie was deemed to be climbing over his marker and referee Steven Kirkland blew up against him.

Dunfermline were all over Thistle initially and cashed in with a fourth minute opener. Kieran Ngwenya accepted the ball from a long hit free kick, his cross from the left was cut out by a defender but headed back in the Thistle box by Ewan Otoo. Chris Kane then clipped the ball to McCANN who didn`t hesitate to hit a low curling ball that found the net just inside the right goalpost. 0-1

The away fans celebrations were short lived however when the Jags hit back just two minutes later. The ball was slickly passed across field to Logan CHALMERS on the right side of the Pars box and his shot went through Tobi Oluwayemi and it was back to all square. 1-1

All the action was packed into the opening minutes and was 20th minute before the first corner of the afternoon. Kane headed away Kyle Turner`s inswinger from the left. Dunfermline then forced a corner of their own after a superb through ball from Ritchie-Hosler sent Comrie up the right but Mitchell blocked his shot from the angle on the right and Thistle successfully defended Todd`s delivery.

Oluwayemi rose to hold a netbound cross from Megwa before the Fifers ventured back up the park with Ritchie-Hosler and Todd combining to send the ball along the 18 yard line for Kane who just could not control it enough to get in an attempt on goal. Chris Hamilton picked up a yellow card on the half hour for challenging for the ball with just too much gusto.

Then in 32 minutes Ngwenya fed Otoo the opportunity on the left side of the Thistle box and the 23 year old rattled the crossbar with a fierce-some effort that really deserved better. Three minutes later a Todd corner from the left dropped in the right in front of goal. COMRIE was the

Dunfermline continued to enjoy possession deep inside the home side`s half and in 43 minutes McCann tested Mitchell with a good effort from the right side that the keeper turned behind for a corner. The setplay was all too easily defended but when Ritchie-Hosler crossed from the right corner flag, KANE, despite the close marking of Lee Ashcroft, netted with a superb overhead kick. 1-3

Half time: Partick Thistle 1 Dunfermline 3

Thistle made one substitution for the second half withdrawing the former Tottenham youth, Charlie Sayers, to introduce Luke McBeth in central defence and moving O`Reilly to the left side. The Jags put Dunfermline under immediate pressure, Tommy Fogarty picking up a yellow card in conceding a free kick 19 yards out. Fortunately Turner`s rash attempt cleared both the four man wall and the crossbar.

A McCann break in from the left was halted by a challenge that only earned Kane a yellow card for his protests. Partick however were playing with much greater intent, not that it prevented the home fans shouting for changes before the hour mark. The Pars defended two corners and several dangerous moves as the home fans urged their team to `˜get into them`. Hoping to stem the tide of play towards the Dunfermline goal, John McLaughlan made a triple substitution in 68 minutes. Three more home corners came and went before Oluwayemi held an O`Reilly lob from the left. A good chance from a Chalmers cross was missed by Graham and after a number of completed passes Partick forced a 77th minute corner that Ngwenya headed away.

Play was almost entirely in the Dunfermline half and the Pars abilities to defend and restrict clearcut chances was being severely tested. The relentless pressure eased when a fourth Dunfermline goal arrived with seven minutes of the match remaining. Newly introduced sub David Wotherspoon threaded a fine pass for McCann to run on to and centre from the right byeline. Josh COOPER timed his run to perfection and with his left foot slotted home from close in. 1-4

Dapo Mebude next made a break and unselfishly laid the ball off for McCann but Mitchell blocked the 87th minute shot. For Thistle it was the end of their undefeated home league record but far more importantly Dunfermline`s first away league win this season and three precious league points.

PARTICK THISTLE: David Mitchell: Kyle Turner, Lee Ashcroft, Daniel O`Reilly, Charlie Sayers (Luke McBeth HT): Kanayo Megwa (Robbie Crawford 68), Stuart Bannigan: Logan Chalmers (Steven Lawless 84), Scott Robinson (Liam Smith 84), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Terry Ablade 68): Brian Graham
SUBS NOT USED: Ricco Diack, Matthew Falconer, Ben Stanway, Luis Cameron (GK)
SCORER: Chalmers (6)

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Tommy Fogarty, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Chris Hamilton (Craig Clay 68): Kane Ritchie-Hosler (David Wotherspoon 81), Matty Todd (Josh Cooper 74), Ewan Otoo (Joe Chalmers 68): Lewis McCann, Chris Kane (Dapo Mebude 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Sam Young, Taylor Sutherland, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: McCann (4), Comrie (35), Kane (45+2), Cooper (83)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (30), Oluwayemi (45), Fogarty (47), Kane (54)

REFEREE: Steven Kirkland
ATTENDANCE: 3938 (inc 619 away fans)
WEATHER: Cold 3°C

NEXT MATCH (home) v Ayr United, Saturday 11th January 2025 kick off 3.00pm at KDM Group East End Park.

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