Hamilton Accies 2 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 4th Aug 2007

McGuire sees red as Pars open their First Division campaign on the plastic surface at New Douglas Park.

Five of the side that featured in Dunfermline`s last competitive action at Hampden started at Hamilton and it was the new look Tam McManus that got the new season underway. Dunfermline attacked the goal in front of the very vocal and jovial travelling support.

A third minute free kick brought early gasps as Accies` David Elebert headed a Stephen Glass ball just outside his own right goalpost. Kevin Harper`s corner kick was easily defended.

Four minutes and twenty seconds into the match though Accies scored with their first attack of the game. A swift break down the left by Mark Gilhaney who turned inside Greg Shields produced cross that Stuart TAYLOR headed home for his debut goal from eight yards.

The home side followed that up with a Richard Offlong shot from the edge of the box that McKenzie held with ease. At the other end Tam McManus swept a seventh minute shot wide right but this was not the kind of start that Dunfermline needed.

Four minutes later Scott Wilson was forward for a Shields free kick lofted in from the right touchline. The crossed ball was not clearly taken by either side but McManus latched on to it to shoot and when a deflection took it to Mark Burchill he was desperately unlucky to turn the ball over the crossbar

Next Offlong found McArthur with a ball in from the right side of the box and McKenzie was forced to turn the header over the crossbar. That was defended off Scott Wilson`s head before a simple long ball up the park from McKenzie was not read by Chris Swailes and Mark BURCHILL nipped in between the centre half and Bryn Halliwell to steal a goal.

Back on level terms Dunfermline pressed. McManus shot one at the keeper that Halliwell took after a bounce back off his chest and then chased another high ball that Halliwell grabbed ahead of him.

Hamilton were keeping McKenzie alerted principally through Richard Offlong but thankfully his potentially dangerous attempts came to nothing.

After a swift move from McManus to Muirhead on the left wing and centred to Young, a fierce shot was deflected for the first of three corners. These successive corners were punctuated with a looping Kevin Harper shot that was very close as it went wide right.

A 41st minute free kick just outside the Accies box on the right side was sent into the six yard box by Stephen Glass with Bryn Halliwell injuring himself as he punched the ball clear. The former Pars keeper recovered and was kept busy as the Pars kept up the pressure on the Hamilton goal but it was the home side that almost grabbed a half time advantage.

A square ball across his back four was intercepted by the lively Offlong and Dunfermline were fortunate that his shooting did not match as he contrived to shoot wide from 16 yards when through on McKenzie.

Half Time: Hamilton Accies 1 Dunfermline 1

The second half was 78 seconds old when an Offlong ball into the box caught out Phil McGuire and he brought down Taylor as the Accies player set his sights on goal. Dougie McDonald showed the Pars defender his red card and to crown it OFFLONG sent the ball into the right side of the net from the penalty spot.

Reduced to a three man defence the visitors lived dangerously as their hosts tried hard to cash in quickly on their one man advantage. Fifteen minutes of the second half had passed before Dunfermline mounted an attack. Darren Young charged down Mark McLaughlin but despite the assistance of McManus and Harper Halliwell was not to be tested.

Gilhaney was allowed two crosses from the left that caused some concern and had Offlong not timed his leap wrong there might well have been further pain for the Pars.

At the midway stage in the half Tam McManus and Stephen Simmons were withdrawn to be replaced by Stevie Crawford and Owen Morrison. There was a glimmer of hope as Young got himself into a shooting position but from 25 yards was outside the right post.

Next Harper and Crawford combined to get a ball in for Young but his effort as he controlled the ball running away from goal was off target. Kevin Harper followed that with an individual effort getting close to the keeper on the right byeline but Halliwell saved.

Seven minutes from the end a Neill free kick was received by sub Brian Wake on the top of the box and his shot was destined for the right side of McKenzie`s goal until Wilson deflected it for a corner. Hamilton kept up the pressure with a Elebert header from a subsequent corner.

Jim Hamilton came on with three minutes remaining but it was the club of that name that looked more like scoring, Shields doing really well to block a Gilhaney effort from 15 yards but there was to be no change to the scoreline or result.

Nobody said it would be easy. On this showing it certainly won`t!

HAMILTON ACCIES: Bryn Halliwell; David Elebert, Brian Easton, Stuart Taylor, Chris Swales ((Tom Parratt HT), Mark McLaughlin, Paul McLeod ( Brian Wake 72), James McArthur, Richard Offiong (James McArthur 72), Alex Neil, Mark Gilhaney.
SUBS NOT USED: Marc McJimpsey, Tomas Cerny (GK)
SCORERS: Taylor (5), Offlong (48)
YELLOW CARD: Neill (77), Taylor (77)

DUNFERMLINE: Roddy McKenzie; Greg Shields (c), Phil McGuire, Scott Wilson, Scott Muirhead; Kevin Harper (Jim Hamilton 87), Darren Young, Stephen Simmons (Owen Morrison 68), Stephen Glass: Mark Burchill, Tam McManus (Stevie Crawford 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Thomson, Sean Murdoch (GK)
SCORERS: Burchill (17)
YELLOW CARD: Young (54), Wilson (77)
RED CARD: McGuire (47)

REFEREE: Dougie McDonald
WEATHER: Dry 19°C
ATTENDANCE 3383

NEXT MATCH: Scott Thomson Testimonial Match, Wednesday 8th August v Manchester United. 7.45pm kick off at East End Park.

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Preview Hamilton Accies

Wednesday, 1st Aug 2007

13 of the players who were stripped for the Scottish Cup Final are still at East End Park and many could feature on Saturday. One minute`s applause for Accies kitman prior to kick off.

Directions to New Douglas Park, Hamilton

The Club have received the following request from Hamilton Accies for Saturday`s match. Please note we wish to have a minute`s applause prior to the start of the match in memory of our long serving kitman, Jim Kennedy, who sadly died at the start of the week.

Dunfermline`s First Division campaign starts off at New Douglas Park.  This will be the club`s first ever visit to the artificial surface in Lanarkshire and the first away game against Hamilton since January 1996.  Fortunes have fluctuated between the two camps but overall the Fifers have a better record in the 60 previous league matches.

League v Hamilton Academicals
Pld	W	D	L
60	28	10	22

Last league away win over Hamilton was in 1995 but a repeat of the November 1965 match would be just the kind of beginning that would boost the campaign hopes. 33 years back it was Alex Ferguson who put the Pars into a two minute lead and then after goals from Pat Wilson, Hugh Robertson, Jim Fleming and Bert Paton, Fergie polished off the Accies with the sixth 8 minutes from time.

Milestones Hamilton Academicals (Away)
Last League Victory	07/10/95	3-1	SPL
Last League Defeat	12/11/94	1-3	SPL
Best League Victory	13/11/65	6-1	Div 1*
Worst League Defeat	18/10/52	1-7	Div 2*
*Pre league reconstruction

Over the past twelve matches between Dunfermline and Hamilton, the Pars have won eight, lost two with two games ending all square.

Last Twelve League Matches v Hamilton

Date	H/A	F-A
06-04-1996	H	1-3
20-01-1996	A	0-0
02-12-1995	H	4-0
07-10-1995	A	3-1
22-03-1995	A	3-1
21-01-1995	H	2-1
12-11-1994	A	1-3
10-09-1994	H	4-0
16-04-1994	H	2-1
02-03-1994	A	1-1
07-12-1993	H	4-0
29-09-1993	A	2-0

The Dunfermline team that kicks off the quest to escape back out of the First Division looks a bit different from the team that ended season 2006-07 in the Scottish Cup Final.  Dorus de Vries is now at Swansea City, Jamie McCunnie gone to Hartlepool United and on loan Adam Hammill will be a Southampton player this season but it is a credit to the management that 13 of the players who were stripped for the Final are still at East End Park and many could feature on Saturday.

DUNFERMLINE (v Celtic 26/05/07): Dorus de Vries; Greg Shields (c), Souleymane Bamba, Scott Wilson, Scott Morrison (Stevie Crawford 72); Adam Hammill, Darren Young, Jamie McCunnie, Scott Muirhead; Mark Burchill (Iain Williamson 89), Jim McIntyre (Jim Hamilton 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Roddy McKenzie (GK), Phil McGuire.

Add to that the return of Club Captain Scott Thomson looking extremely fit and keen to demonstrate to Stephen Kenny that he is worthy of a start.

Hamilton lost 2-1 to Falkirk on Tuesday night.  The players who featured were:-
HAMILTON (1st Half) : Bryn Halliwell; Tom Parratt, Brian Easton, Marc McJimpsey, David Elebert, Mark McLaughlin, Stuart Taylor, James McArthur, Richard Offiong, Neil Teggart, Mark Gilhaney. Subs: Kevin Davison, Tony Stevenson, Webster, Trialist (GK).
HAMILTON (2nd Half) : Bryn Halliwell, Webster, James Gibson, Marc McJimpsey, David Elebert, Evans, James McArthur, Tony Stevenson, Paul McLeod, Brian Wake, Kevin Davison. Subs : Alistair Crawford, Collins, McQueen, Trialist (GK).

Kevin Davison will serve a one match suspension on Saturday because of cautions received in last season`s Youth Cup with Gretna but no stranger to Pars fans will be keeper Bryn Halliwell.

Come on ye Pars!

Admission Prices at New Douglas Park

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