Dunfermline 5 Ayr United 1
Saturday, 28th Sep 2013SPFL League One: Wallace in for Moore. Moffat (2) 0-1; Wallace (21) 1-1; Whittle (30) 2-1; Geggan (39) 3-1; Falkingham (40) 4-1; Wallace (65) 5-1.
MATCH PICTURES
Ayr United were the visitors for the final fixture in September; only the seventh meeting between the clubs this century. It brought the Pars defender Ross Millen up against his father Andy`s team. Andy Millen is assistant to Mark Roberts at the Somerset Park club but with it being Ross`s 19th birthday a home win was surely the order of the day.
Dunfermline gaffer Jim Jefferies made one change to the side that recorded a home win over Airdrieonians the previous Saturday, Ryan Wallace came in to replace Jordan Moore.
Gordon Pope and Alan Forrest returned to the Ayr United side following their suspensions. After signing on Thursday night, Kevin Kyle was named as a substitute while Player-Manager Mark Roberts and Anthony Marenghi dropped to the bench.
The teams changed ends before the Pars kicked off attacking the goal at the town end. Just 22 seconds into the game Alex Whittle was eased off the ball inside the box by Adam Hunter but too early for referee to give a penalty apparently. Then with their first sortie of the game the visitors went ahead. It came from a simple long ball from keeper David Hutton that was not taken by Luke Johnston. He allowed Craig Malcolm to bear in on Scully and when the keeper only parried the ball Ayr striker Michael MOFFAT was well placed to shoot diagonally from 15 yards between Callum Morris and Johnston to find the net at the left goalpost. 0-1 after just 61 seconds.
Wallace then had two chances to get the Pars back level. He came close to converting a Millen free kick and then in eighth minute he was played through to go one on one with the keeper but David Hutton came out on top.
Three minutes later Ayr were awarded a free kick just 27 yards out and Scott McLaughlin shot the setpiece over the wall and on target but Scully got down to his right to keep the ball out. He was maybe a shade lucky to see Moffat shoot the loose ball over the bar. Within the first quarter of an hour Husband tried to get in two efforts from long range but on both occasions the ball was blocked.
A 17th minute corner caused Ayr problems with Alan Lithgow closing down Josh Falkingham`s shot from the edge of the box and then McLaughlin putting in a desperate clearance on the right side of his six yard box. The pressure told when another cross was sent in from the right, As Andy Geggan challenged for the ball he was pushed away by Hunter to earn the Pars a penalty. A yellow card for the Ayr right back before Ryan WALLACE stepped up to convert his third penalty kick of the season. 1-1
Ayr came close to restoring their lead within four minutes when Johnston failed to prevent Craig Malcolm`s shot but the ball sailed narrowly outside Scully`s right hand post. Then controversy at the other end. Wallace earned a free kick out on the right near the byeline and when Millen delivered the ball into a crowded six yard box, Johnston was appealing that the ball had crossed the goalline before Hutton cleared.
There was no doubt however about Alex WHITTLE`s peach from 20 yards that was net bound as soon as it left his foot. He accepted the lay off from his captain to make it 2-1 on the half hour.
Ayr`s Robbie Crawford collected his side`s second yellow card in cutting down Shaun Byrne in 33 minutes setting up Stephen Husband for a free kick that was blocked out before it reached its intended target. Millen drove a powerful effort that just escaped on the wrong side of the right goalpost but this was just a foretaste of what was to come.
The match was in 39th minute when Pars top goalscorer Andy GEGGAN got his name on the scoresheet, converting in front of goal when the ball was yet again delivered into the danger zone, this time by Falkingham. Within a minute Josh FALKINGHAM smashed the ball into the net after a good switch in play involving Byrne and Geggan. 4-1 and 40 minutes on the clock.
Ryan Scully kept Ayr out when firstly McLaughlin shot and then the keeper`s knee denied Gordon Pope who connected really well with his shot. The Ayr manager Roberts could not wait for the interval and made a double substitution in the final minute of the first half. Off came McGowan and Forrest and on came Jackson Longridge and the manager himself.
It had been quite a first 45 for the Pars for whom both full backs had created immense problems for the visitors.
Half Time: Dunfermline 4 Ayr United 1
Ayr were out first for the second half but Andy Millen had the back four lined up in front of him for an extra on field lecture. In 49 minutes the woodwork kept Ayr out with Scully just left to spectate as Longridge`s shot rebounded back into play off the left angle of bar and post.
There was a spell Dunfermline played some nice football but they did not test the opposition keeper. Falkinghan and Byrne combined well but they were kept out of the Ayr box. The play got bogged down deep on the Pars right with several throw ins and blocked crosses attempted before a 62nd minute corner broke the mould. That changed nothing and the urgency had drained out of the game as the Fifers three goal cushion looked to be too great for Ayr.
Whittle cut inside and set up WALLACE to dispatch the ball high into the net from 20 yards. 5-1. That was Whitts last involvement and as Kerr Young came on for him he left the field to a standing ovation. Young picked up a yellow card in conceding a free kick within four minutes of him coming on and McLaughlin was close with his dipping effort from distance at the free kick.
French Morrocan midfielder Fayssal El Bakhtaoui had replaced Stephen Husband in 72 minutes and then Ryan Thomson for Geggan eight minutes later. The subs injected more appetite into the Pars game but even with both Robert Thomson and Ryan Thomson hitting high over the bar and Kyle getting two chances at the other end there were to be no more goals.
The Pars best result over Ayr United in fifteen matches, more importantly best result of this season so far and against the team in fourth place who were unbeaten going into this match.
MATCH PICTURES
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Moore, Allan Smith, Ryan Ferguson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
SCORERS: Wallace (21 pen., 65), Whittle (30), Geggan (39), Falkingham (40)
YELLOW CARD: Young (70)
AYR UNITED: David Hutton; Adam Hunter, Alan Lithgow, Scott McLaughlin (c), Michael Donald; Gordon Pope, Robbie Crawford (Kevin Kyle 75), Michael McGowan (Jackson Longridge 45), Craig Malcolm, Alan Forrest (Mark Roberts 45), Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Anthony Marenghi, Aaron Wyllie, Mark Shankland, William Muir (GK)
SCORERS: Moffat (2)
YELLOW CARD: Hunter (20), Crawford (33), Longridge (60), Kyle (82)
REFEREE: George Salmond
WEATHER: Sunny 18°C
ATTENDANCE 2743
NEXT MATCH: (away) SPFL League One v Forfar Athletic
Saturday 5th October 2013, kick off 3.00pm
50/50 PRIZE DRAW: Number 58353 won £534 BUCKET COLLECTION for U20s raised £1401.75
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Preview Ayr United
Wednesday, 25th Sep 2013The Somerset Park side return for the first time since 20th February 2010 and that day ended a run of ten trips to Dunfermline without a win.
Saturday`s visitors to East End Park are Ayr United. The Somerset Park side return for the first time since 20th February 2010 and a Tam McManus goal that day ended a run of ten trips to Dunfermline without a win. Ayr`s last had been the 3-1 win in October 1992. Mark Roberts brings his fourth placed side east to face the Pars two places above them and three points better off.
This will be the 100th league and cup game between the clubs and the 82nd league meeting; the Pars have won 34 to Ayr`s 26, 21 have been drawn.
|
Milestones v Ayr United (home) | |||
|
Last League Victory |
10/10/09 |
First Division | |
|
Last League Defeat |
20/02/10 |
0-1 |
First Division |
|
Best League Victory |
10/12/94 |
6-0 |
First Division |
|
Worst League Defeat |
13/10/73 |
0-4 |
Div One (old) |
The Pars have won nine of the last dozen league meetings. Ayr United have only won 5 of the last 31 games between the sides in all competitions stretching back to 1983.
Last Twelve League Matches v Ayr United | ||||
|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
W D L |
League |
| 10/04/10 | A | 2-1 | W | First Division |
| 20/02/10 | H | 0-1 | L | First Division |
| 05/12/09 | A | 0-1 | L | First Division |
| 10/10/09 | H | 3-1 | W | First Division |
| 11/04/00 | A | 2-0 | W | First Division |
| 22/01/00 | H | 2-0 | W | First Division |
| 04/12/99 | A | 3-0 | W | First Division |
| 25/09/99 | H | 2-1 | W | First Division |
| 22/04/95 | H | 3-0 | W | First Division |
| 25/02/95 | A | 2-1 | W | First Division |
| 10/12/94 | H | 6-0 | W | First Division |
| 15/10/94 | A | 0-0 | D | First Division |
Ayr United are unbeaten in the league this season but they have drawn their last four games. Last Saturday they looked as though they were cruising to a victory but let ten man Brechin City back into game through Alan Trouten and then lost 92nd minute equaliser to Paul McLean.
| Dunfermline | Ayr United |
| Current League Position | |
| 2 | 4 |
| League form: Last Six Games | |
| WLWWDW | WWDDDD |
| League Points | |
| 13 | 10 |
| Goal Difference | |
| +4 | +5 |
| League Record | |
| P6, W4, D1, L1 | P6, W2, D4, L0 |
Dunfermline have lost only one league game this season, at home to Arbroath. Since that reversal on 17th August, Stranraer and Airdrieonians have visited and been defeated but in both games the Pars winners came in the last ten minutes.
| Recent Home / Away Form | ||||||
| Dunfermline Home | Ayr United | |||||
| Airdrieonians (H) | W | 2-1 | Brechin City (H) | D | 2-2 | |
| Brechin City (A) | D | 1-1 | Stenhousemuir (A) | D | 1-1 | |
| Stranraer (H) | W | 3-1 | Airdrieonians (H) | D | 2-2 | |
| Falkirk (A) | L | 1-2 | Stranraer (A) | D | 1-1 | |
| Stenhousemuir (A) | W | 5-4 | Falkirk (H) | D* |
1-1 | |
| Raith Rovers (H) | L | 0-2 | Forfar (H) | W | 2-0 | |
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Airdrieonians): Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Luke Johnston, Callum Morris, Alex Whittle; Josh Falkingham (c), Shaun Byrne (Ryan Wallace 70), Stephen Husband, Andy Geggan; Jordan Moore (Allan Smith 62), Robert Thomson (Ryan Thomson 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Kerr Young, Fayssal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Ferguson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
AYR UNITED (v Brechin City): David Hutton; Michael Donald , Alan Lithgow, Scott McLaughlin, Adam Hunter , Anthony Marenghi, Robbie Crawford, Mark Roberts (Aaron Wyllie, 72), Michael McGowan (B Trialist, 67), Craig Malcolm, Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Wardrobe, Jackson Longridge, Mark Shankland, William Muir (GK).
Referee will be George Salmond.
C`mon Ye Pars!
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