Dunfermline 0 Morton 1

Saturday, 22nd Nov 2008

Pars out to change their fortunes at home but Morton one up after 25 minutes hold out for the win.

There was three changes in the Dunfermline starting line up from the side that successfully returned from Livingston last Saturday with all three points. Scott Wilson was serving the first of his two match bans, Greg Shields took over in central defence. Nick Phinn and Scott Muirhead made way for Steven Bell and Austin McCann.

Dominic Shimmin replaced Stewart Geachen in a Morton team that showed just the one change from the side that won 4-1 at Dumfries a fortnight ago. The teams changed end for the kick off and the visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the Cowdenbeath end. An early Morton corner picked out Shimmin but then Gallacher was fouled and any danger was ended.

James Grady fifth minute shot was the first of the afternoon but that went comfortably wide of the left post. Stephen Glass tried a long range effort for the Pars but that was blocked and next James McAllister evaded the challenges of both Greg Ross and Steven Bell before releasing a wild shot from 30 yards.

A David McGregor cross from the right in tenth minute was neatly flicked on by Peter Weatherson but his deflection whizzed wide at the near post. Erik Paartalu launched a long throw into the Pars box and another corner was swung in from the right before the 17th minute DA crowd had something to warm them.

Calum Woods delivered the Pars first corner of the afternoon and Glass` header was aimed for the inside of the right post until Kevin Cuthbert`s lunge turned the ball behind for another. Shimmin was penalised for feet up in a challenge with Graham Bayne and when Glass sent in the 22nd minute free kick Bayne met the ball with a powerful header that just looped over the bar.

Morton eventually capitalised on their pressure with Erik PAARTALU driving the ball home from 27 yards out. Glass and Bell couldn`t get close enough to close him down as the big 22 year old of Estonian descent found the net low to Gallacher`s right.

The visitors continued to prevent Dunfermline string passes around or settle and it was 38 minutes before Kirk could try and shoot in a McCann  cross.  Paartalu came away with that and still the side in yellow looked the brightest and more skillful. McGuffie did well to steal the ball away in midfield and after a move that swept left and back Thomson had to blot out a Weatherson chance.

Ninety seconds from the break perseverance got the ball forward through Kirk to Glass but his squared ball to Bayne was hooked and it was back to the other end. Some harsh words would be required from Mr McIntyre at the interval.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Morton 1

The only visible change for the second half was Ross pushed forward and Woods back in his most accustomed role on the right of the back four. Glass fired in the first attempt of the second period but Cuthbert held that.  In 54th minute however Glass sent a great 25 yard strike past the Morton keeper only to be ruled out for illegal force. The chance came from a Woods cross that was knocked down for Bell to feed back.  Stephen Glass gestured to Mike McCurry that it had been a fair shoulder charge but that made no difference.

Graeme Holmes made his East End Park debut as he replaced Alex Burke and perhaps roused by the disallowed goal they appeared to look much livelier. The referee played on as McGuffie tried to pull down Bell on the edge of the box and Ross certainly got the advantage but shot narrowly wide of the left post.

Glass then Bell were involved in a move that sent Ross deep right but it was a Holmes ball that eventually looked most inviting but that slipped away to the left. McCann got to the byeline to cross but the keeper held that one. A Kirk dink from the left was headed behind for a corner but as the match slipped into its 70th minute, Dunfermline were not producing anything that was troubling Cuthbert.

In 75 minutes a neat pass from Holmes was flicked into the path of Glass and the home fans hopes were raised until his touch looking for a striker was hammered behind for a corner. When that was defended Glass was able to resend his delivery but Cuthbert fisted that away.

Nick Phinn replaced Ross with 12 minutes remaining as the Pars tried valiantly to avoid their third successive home league defeat. Twice in a minute sub Brian Wake had chances to finish the contest.  In the first he was well tracked by Shields and when eventually one on one with the keeper Gallacher pulled off a great save.  Next a Morton free kick found the former Hamilton Accies striker free to shoot from the right side of the box but fortunately he swept the ball out at the far post.

Paul Willis came on for Greg Shields six minutes from time and play was forced to the Morton end but Dunfermline were vulnerable to the counterattack. Having taken play away to the right corner flag they ran down the clock and despite some high balls into the Greenock teams box there was no salvation for Jim McIntyre`s team.

With St Johnstone without a game Dunfermline lost the chance to top the First Division for the first time since 2000.

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Greg Ross (Nick Phinn 78), Scott Thomson, Greg Shields (Paul Willis 84), Austin McCann; Calum Woods, Steven Bell, Stephen Glass (c), Alex Burke (Graeme Holmes 55); Graham Bayne, Andy Kirk
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Dearden, Calum Reidford (GK)

MORTON: Kevin Cuthbert; David MacGregor, Barry Smith, Allan McManus, Dominic Shimmin, Eric Paartalu, Ryan McGuffie, Allan Jenkins (c), James McAllister, Peter Weatherson (Steven Masterton 87), James Grady (Brian Wake 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan McWilliams (GK), Iain Russell, Alex Walker.
SCORERS: Paartalu (25)

REFEREE: Mike McCurry
WEATHER: Cloudy 1°C
ATTENDANCE 4400

NEXT MATCH: SFL First Division (away) v Ross County
Saturday 6th December 2008, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview Morton

Wednesday, 19th Nov 2008

The Pars were held to a draw at Cappielow in September when a late Ross Campbell goal levelled the scoring after Brian Wake had put the home side ahead.

The Pars are just three points behind St Johnstone and with the Perth men swapping their free Saturday so that they can have the only match in Dundee next weekend there is the opportunity for the Pars to top the table for the first time since they returned to the First Division. 

Pars v Morton: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End	35	20	8	7	70	35
At Cappielow	35	13	12	10	42	39
Division One (up to 1975)	20	10	5	5	38	22
Division Two (up to 1975)	16	7	5	4	27	22
Premier League (since 1975)	4	3	1	0	10	3
First Division (since 1975)	29	13	9	7	37	26
TOTALS	70	33	20	17	112	74

The Pars certainly fair better historically and they did win the last time the Greenock side came to East End Park.   The best performance came in February 1965 when two goals each from Jackie Sinclair and Alex Ferguson, and one each from John McLauchlin and Bert Paton set the record league win over Morton at East End Park.

Milestones v Morton (Home)
Last League Victory	26/01/08	2-0	SFL
Last League Defeat	11/08/07	0-1	SFL
Best League Victory	29/01/66	6-0	Div 1*
Worst League Defeat	1953/54	1-3	Div 2*
*Pre league reconstruction

In the last twelve meetings honours are even, the Pars have only won four, Morton four and there have been four draws.

Last Twelve Matches v Morton
27/09/08	A	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
19/04/08	A	L	0-3	Scottish Division One
26/01/08	H	W	2-0	Scottish Division One
26/12/07	A	W	1-0	Scottish Division One
11-08-07	H	L	0-1	Scottish Division One
06-05-00	A	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
12-02-00	H	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
11-12-99	A	L	3-0	Scottish Division One
21-08-99	H	W	2-1	Scottish Division One
10-08-99	H	D	2-2	Scottish League Challenge Cup
19-03-96	A	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
02-03-96	H	W	4-1	Scottish Division One

The Pars were held to a draw at Cappielow in September when a late Ross Campbell goal levelled the scoring after Brian Wake had put the home side ahead. 

Dunfermline	Morton
Current League Position
2	9
Form last six league matches
WWLWLW	DLLWLL
League Points
24	13
Goal Difference
+8	-14
Home/Away Record
P7, W3, D1, L3	P7, W1, D1, L5

At their seventh attempt Morton won their first away match of the season last Saturday at Dumfries.  While we might have celebrated that at the time this fires caution since that is three wins for the ninth placed team in their last four league games.

Recent League Form
Dunfermline Home				Morton Away
Dundee	L	0-1		Queen of the South	W	4-1
St Johnstone	L	1-2		Livingston	L	0-1
Partick Thistle	W	1-0		Ross County	L	0-3
St Mirren	W	2-0		Partick Thistle	L	1-2
Ross County	W	3-1		Airdrie	L	0-5
Livingston	L	1-2		Dundee	L	1-0

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: (v Livingston) Paul Gallacher; Greg Ross, Scott Thomson, Scott Wilson, Scott Muirhead (Austin McCann 42); Calum Woods (Steven Bell 64), Nick Phinn (Jim McIntyre 75), Stephen Glass, Alex Burke; Graham Bayne, Andy Kirk
SUBS NOT USED: Calum Reidford, Iain Williamson.

MORTON: (v Queen of the South) Kevin Cuthbert; David MacGregor, Barry Smith, Allan McManus, Stewart Greacen, Eric Paartulu, Ryan McGuffie, Allan Jenkins, James McAllister, Peter Weatherson (Steven Masterton), James Grady (Brian Wake 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Iain Russell, Ryan McWilliams, Kevin Finlayson.

Referee for the match will be Mike McCurry, his first return to East End Park since the 1-0 Scottish Cup win over Hearts in 2007.

C`mon Ye Pars!

 

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