Dunfermline 1 Morton 4

Saturday, 23rd Feb 2013

Pars made four changes. McDonald (32 pen) 0-1. Barrowman misses penalty (43); Tidser (46) 0-2; McDonald (50) 0-3; Tidser (64) 0-4; Morris (83) 1-4.

Morton returned to East End Park a venue they left with a 2-2 draw back in October.  Josh Falkingham was out after sustaining injury at The Falkirk Stadium in the previous game. Andy Geggan returned from injury meaning Ross Millen dropped to the bench, Joe Cardle, Chris Kane and Andy Barrowman also started with Stephen Husband and Andy Kirk dropping out.

Pre kick off there was a minute`s appreciation for Ian Lister.

Kyle Wilkie and Tom O`Ware dropped out of the Morton team to make way for Martin Hardie and Craig Reid.  It was the visitors who kicked off defending the goal in front of their travelling support. Dunfermline immediately won possession and pressed right away. There were promising breaks from Barrowman and Thomson but Ryan Wallace`s early deliveries from the right failed to endanger the Greenock men`s defence.

In ninth minute Ryan Thomson lit up the game receiving a Geggan throw in level with the 18 yard line, turning and testing keeper Derek Gaston with a fine shot. Wallace delivered the resultant corner but Morton cleared but not as convincingly as they would have liked. Dunfermline kept up the pressure with a Cardle free kick that Thomson headed narrowly outside the right post.

The visitors earned themselves a free kick in 14th minute after Fouad Bachirou was taken down. Michael Tidser pumped that into the Pars box, fortunately none of his team mates seized on the chance and Geggan got it away. At the other end Geggan`s cross was blocked and but when Wallace sent in the 18th minute corner the ball swung in from out of play.

A great chance did come in the following minute when Craig Dargo broke clear midway inside the Morton half. He chose a diagonal pass from the edge of the box but Gaston got to the inviting ball just ahead of the inrushing Wallace and Cardle. There was hopes of cashing in on a poor clearance as Gaston skied a Kevin Rutkiewicz pass back but Dargo couldn`t get in the cross that might have been made to count.

Dunfermline looked the more likely to score with Dargo forcing another save out of the bright orange kitted keeper. A 27th minute corner on the left was fed to Cardle but his cross to Callum Morris just couldn`t be converted. Another corner one minute later flashed all the way across the `Ton penalty box.

Morton had hardly had a shot for Gallacher to save but on the half hour Fouad Bachirou was adjudged to have been fouled by Morris in front of goal and Referee Craig Charleston awarded a penalty. Peter McDONALD sent the ball past Gallacher, in off the base of the left post and then rattling across goal to land in the net. 0-1

The referee was unpopular again in 32 minutes when he pulled a hattrick of yellow cards. Dowie, McMillan and Geggan appeared to be cautioned for over protesting a decision that they clearly felt should have gone their way. The Pars were then unlucky as Thomson, Dargo and Barrowman created danger in the visitors six yard box but the yellow shirts defended the problems to survive.

There was then a great chance for the Fifers to get back on level terms. Cardle was tripped in a challenge from Bachirou on the left side of the penalty area but Barrowman`s 43rd minute spot kick crashed back off the crossbar. So the league leaders went in with the lead they barely deserved.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Morton 1

Dunfermline were back out waiting to take up the battle against Morton but when the `Ton resumed they got down the left and although Kane on 18 yards headed the crossed ball away, it dropped nicely for TIDSER to drill the ball home from 25 yards. It had taken only 38 second half seconds for the scoreline to go to 0-2.

The Pars responded and there were loud appeals for a second Dunfermline penalty as Geggan attacked on the right but Morton broke and again exploited the left side on the counter. When the ball was played into the far side of the six yard box McDONALD arrived timeously to head diagonally beyond Gallacher, 0-3 with forty minutes remaining.

Morton continued to look the more likely goalscorers. On the hour Paul Gallacher made a really good save from McDonald`s header from a Scott Taggert cut back. Then a David O`Brien shot was blocked and another Morton corner was sent in from the left. The 64th minute setpiece was not properly cleared and TIDSER drove the ball into the bottom right of the Pars net.

Peter Weatherson had replaced McDonald and he fired a 69th minute chance over the crossbar. Dunfermline sub, Stephen Husband (for Kane) had an early opportunity in 71 minutes but his 27 yard free kick was well wide of target. Fayssal El Bakhtaoui then replaced Dargo and the subs first touch was a shot at goal but the ball was taken by a fan half way up the McCathie Stand.

With a header, Callum MORRIS got a consolation goal back with seven minutes remaining but the Pars were to slump to their fourth successive defeat at home. Six defeats out of the last seven games but with the defeat to Allan Moore`s men went any hope the Pars had of catching the league leaders.

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Andy Geggan, Andy Dowie, Callum Morris, Jordan McMillan (c); Chris Kane (Stephen Husband, 67), Ryan Thomson, Joe Cardle; Craig Dargo (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 76), Andy Barrowman, Ryan Wallace.
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Millen, John Potter, Michael Hrivnak (GK)
SCORERS: Morris (83)
YELLOW CARD: Kane (23), Dowie (32), McMillan (32), Geggan (32), Wallace (57).

MORTON: Derek Gaston; Scott Taggart, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Craig Reid, Willie Dyer, Fouad Bachirou, Martin Hardie (David Graham 79), Michael Tidser (c), David O`Brien; Peter McDonald (Peter Weatherson 65), Colin McMenamin (Archie Campbell 74)
SUBS NOT USED: Tom O`Ware, David Hutton (GK).
SCORERS: McDonald (30 pen., 50), Tidser (46, 64)
YELLOW CARD: Bachirou (43), Hardie (43)

REFEREE: Craig Charleston
WEATHER: Overcast 4°C
ATTENDANCE 2720

NEXT MATCH: (home) Scottish First Division v Partick Thistle
Saturday 2nd March 2013, kick off 3.00pm

50/50 HALF TIME DRAW: Winning ticket was No. 28580. The prize amount: £527.00. The second prize of a DAFC £20.00 gift voucher was ticket No. 28570.


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Preview Morton

Wednesday, 20th Feb 2013

IRN BRU First Division: Saturday 23rd February 2013

Saturday`s opponents are league leaders, Morton. Allan Moore`s side are five points ahead of Partick Thistle but Thistle have two games in hand on them. The Pars lie five more behind Thistle but having played 24 matches - the same as Morton. So far the Pars have dropped five of the six points available from the fixtures between the teams this season and that one was a hard fought comeback in October for a 2-2 draw.

Pars v Morton: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End	42	24	9	9	84	44
At Cappielow	41	16	12	13	52	48
TOTALS	83	40	21	22	136	92

Morton have won just nine times in 42 visits to East End Park and the Pars hold the upper hand with 40 wins in the 83 league meetings.

Milestones v Morton (Home)
Last League Victory	14/08/10	2-0	SFL
Last League Defeat	05/03/11	1-3	SFL
Best League Victory	29/01/66	6-0	Div 1*
Worst League Defeat	1953/54 05/03/11	1-3 1-3	Div 2* SFL
*Pre league reconstruction

Dunfermline have won seven of the last twelve meetings with Morton. The last time the teams met at East End Park, Archie Campbell had the visitors two goals up after 75 minutes but then a Stephen Husband penalty eight minutes from time reduced the deficit and Ryan Wallace prevented a defeat with an 87th minute equaliser.  Former Pars - Kevin Rutkiewicz, David Graham and Martin Hardie all played against their previous club that day and could repeat that on Saturday.

Last Twelve Matches v Morton
29-12-12	A	L	2-4	Scottish Division One
22-10-12	H	D	2-2	Scottish Division One
30-04-11	A	W	2-0	Scottish Division One
05-03-11	H	L	1-3	Scottish Division One
06-11-10	A	L	1-2	Scottish Division One
14-08-10	H	W	2-0	Scottish Division One
14-04-10	H	W	4-1	Scottish Division One
27-02-10	A	W	2-1	Scottish Division One
24-10-09	H	W	3-1	Scottish Division One
15-08-09	A	W	2-0	Scottish Division One
05-05-09	H	W	2-1	Scottish Division One
28-02-09	A	L	1-2	Scottish Division One

Last time Morton came to Dunfermline the sides were top and third but this time it is the other way around.  Away form with six wins, five draws and no defeats is a major contributor to the Greenock side`s success. In contrast Dunfermline`s form of late has been poor and they have lost five of their last six games and the last three in a row at East End Park.

Dunfermline	Morton
Current League Position
3	1
League Points
39	49
Goal Difference
+13	+20
Last 6-Match League Form
WLLWLL	DWWWWD
Home / Away League Record
P11, W5, D2, L4	P11, W6, D5, L0

Morton are unbeaten on the road in this league campaign and at home have only lost three to Falkirk, Hamilton and Dumbarton. Their most recent defeat was the 5-1 loss to Dundee at Dens Park in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Recent League Form
Dunfermline				Morton
Falkirk (A)	L	0-1		Partick Thistle (H)	D	2-2
Cowdenbeath (A)	L	2-4		Airdrie United (A)	W	4-0
Hamilton Accies (A)	W	2-1		Dundee (A)	L	1-5
Hamilton Accies (H)	L	0-2		Raith Rovers (H)	W	1-0
Livingston (H)	W	0-1		Livingston (H)	W	2-1
Airdrie United (H)	W	1-3		Falkirk (A)	W	1-0

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE  (v Falkirk): Paul Gallacher; Ross Millen, Andy Dowie, Callum Morris, Jordan McMillan (c); Josh Falkingham (Alex Whittle 31), Ryan Thomson, Stephen Husband; Craig Dargo (Joe Cardle 74), Andy Kirk, Ryan Wallace.
SUBS NOT USED: John Potter, Allan Smith, Michael Hrivnak (GK)

MORTON (v Partick Thistle): Derek Gaston; Tom O`Ware, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Willie Dyer, Scott Taggart, David O`Brien, Kyle Wilkie (Martin Hardie 46), Michael Tidser, Fouad Bachirou (Peter Weatherson 74), Peter McDonald, Colin McMenamin (David Graham 74).
SUBS NOT USED: David Hutton (GK), Jordan Halsman.

Referee will be Craig Charleston.

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