Dunfermline 1 East Fife 2
Saturday, 19th Oct 2013East Fife get out of jail and take three points back to Methil: Moore (42) 1-0; Brown (81) 1-1: Buchanan (84) 1-2
For the first time since January 1987, the Pars welcomed East Fife on league business. Jim Jefferies made two changes from the starting eleven at Forfar last time out. Jordan Moore and Kerr Young came in to replace Robert Thomson and Luke Johnston.
East Fife left out Scott Durie, Steven Campbell and Cyrus Moosari. They brought in Joe Mbu, Stephen Hughes and Alexis Dutot. Although spirits among the home fans may have been buoyed before the game by positive developments off the park, the visitors were the first to threaten when Stewart headed narrowly over the Dunfermline crossbar.
Despite some tidy play by the visitors, the early period was an end to end affair and the Pars soon notched up a couple of promising chances when a long range shot was spilled by Greg Paterson and Josh Falkingam came close with a header just over the target.
Stewart again threatened for the Methil men when a slack pass from Callum Morris gifted an attack their way. He seemed certain to score from close range but was denied by a superb block from Alex Whittle.
The Pars bounced back from this brief scare and began to exert more of an influence on proceedings. Stephen Husband fired a belter from 35 yards which whistled just over Paterson`s crossbar and minutes later was involved again when collecting a neat pass from Jordan Moore to find his way through the East Fife defence. Paterson was equal to his effort however and saved bravely, snatching the ball from the midfielder`s feet.
At the other end, keeper Ryan Scully had to be alert in the Pars goal with half time approaching, producing a couple of fine saves from two very threatening crosses but having again withstood the pressure the Pars fought back again and this time grabbed the lead.
With less than five minutes to go until the break, after a few attempts by the Pars to penetrate the visitors` box, the ball eventually found its way to Jordan MOORE who demonstrated some neat footwork to sidestep a tackle before poking the ball underneath Paterson.
The Pars might have snatched a second just on the break through Andy Geggan but as he powered into the box and prepared to shoot he was denied by a last ditch tackle by Stewart.
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 East Fife 0
The Pars started the second half strongly and carved out a series of chances to widen the gap. Substitute Robert Thomson did well to escape the grasps of Thom and run into the box but to the chagrin of the home fans referee Don Robertson called the play back for the foul. The booking for Thom was of scant consolation.
Thomson was involved again shortly afterwards when he collected a terrific through ball from Shaun Byrne and cut the ball back from the left wing. The ball found Husband in a promising position but his touch let him down and the danger was duly cleared.
Ryan Thomson was the next to threaten Paterson`s goal but while doing well to get his head onto a Byrne cross from the left, his header could only find its way into the former Par`s arms.
Thomson then almost turned provider when his low cross found Ross Millen inside the box. Millen looked odds on to bury it but in a reversal of Whittle`s effort in the first half, a brilliant block by Alexis Dutot cleared the danger.
Entering into a quiet spell later in the second half it looked like the Pars might have to settle for 1-0 but East Fife were having none of it, shaking things up with a double substitution, bringing Cedric Tuta and Pat Clarke into the match.
Tuta was to have an immediate impact with just ten minutes remaining. No sooner was he on the park than his involvement lead to a neat move by the visitors which ended with Ross BROWN firing high into the net from ten yards.
The Pars` misery was complete just three minutes later when Liam BUCHANAN picked up the ball deep inside the Pars half and, with little opposition from his former teammates, fired an impressive long-range effort curling over Scully to send the visitors back to Methil with all three points.
The result coupled with Ayr United`s 2-0 win over Arbroath meant that Dunfermline drop to fourth and sit just two points above next Saturday`s opponents Stranraer.
MATCH PICTURES
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Allan Smith, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Goodfellow
SCORERS: Moore (42)
YELLOW CARD: Geggan
EAST FIFE: Greg Paterson, Alexis Dutot, Gary Naysmith, Gary Thom, Joe Mbu, Stephen Hughes (Scott Durie 72), Johnny Stewart (Cedric Tuta 80), Ross Brown, Liam Buchanan, Craig Johnstone, Scott McBride (Pat Clarke 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Stewart, Ross Lennie, Barr, Michael Andrews (GK)
SCORERS: Brown (81), Buchanan (84)
YELLOW CARD: Thom, Brown, Johnstone
REFEREE: Don Robertson
WEATHER: Damp 14°C
ATTENDANCE 3131
NEXT MATCH: SPFL v Stranraer (away) Saturday 26th October 2013, kick off 3.00pm
50/50 DRAW: No. 62238 won prize of £695.00. BUCKET COLLECTION FOR TRIP TO ELGIN: raised £3116
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Preview East Fife
Tuesday, 15th Oct 2013Saturday 19th October
East Fife return to East End Park for first league game since 1987.
ADMISSION AND HOSPITALITY PRICES
For the second league fixture in succession Dunfermline meet the team lying bottom of the league. Last time Forfar won 4-0 so there`s no way the home team should take confidence from the bookies short odds of 7-4 on with East Fife at 7-2. It is a Fife Derby and so everybody knows that can throw the form book out of the proverbial window.
Ryan Wallace scored winner from a second minute penalty
It is East Fife`s first time there on league duty since New Years Day 1987, so that`s over 26 years ago. In the opening match of the Pars League One season against East Fife, Jim Jefferies` team squeezed out a 1-0 win. The Methil club have a reasonable league record against the Pars so much so before that win in August it was ten league games back since Dunfermline`s last victory. That 5-1 win was on 7th October 1978 and primarily due to four goals from Irishman Mike Leonard.
Last Twelve Matches v East Fife | ||||
Date |
Competition |
H/A |
W D L |
F-A |
10/08/13 | League One | A | W | 1-0 |
23/08/11 | League Cup | A | L | 1-2 |
18/01/05 | Scottish Cup | H | W | 3-1 |
08/01/05 | Scottish Cup | A | D | 0-0 |
17/08/88 | League Cup | A | D | 1-1 |
28/03/87 | Division One | A | D | 1-1 |
01/01/87 | Division One | H | D | 1-1 |
08/11/86 | Division One | H | L | 1-2 |
30/08/86 | Division One | A | L | 2-4 |
21/04/84 | Division Two | A | L | 0-1 |
31/12/83 | Division Two | H | L | 1-3 |
03/09/83 | Division Two | H | D | 1-1 |
Some would say that history of games played over 25 years ago aren`t really going to give a pointer to what will happen this Saturday but even in the cup ties played in the last decade East Fife have proved to be stubborn opponents. The League Cup tie two years ago was an embarrassing 2-1 defeat and then the last visit on East End was a cup replay in 2005 when the Premier League team eventually won 3-1.
Dunfermline | East Fife |
Current League Position | |
3 | 10 |
League form: Last Six Games home / away | |
WWDWWL | LLLWDL |
League Points | |
16 | 7 |
Goal Difference | |
+4 | -13 |
League Record | |
P8, W5, D1, L2 | P9, W2, D1, L6 |
Pars goalscorer in August 2011 was Liam Buchanan who will line up against the Pars this Saturday. Other possible opponents could be former Pars Greg Paterson, Paul Willis, Pat Clarke and Scott McBride. Dunfermline will field Ryan Wallace who was signed from East Fife at the start of the 2012-13 season.
Dunfermline have won four of their last six while their opponents have won only one of their last six league games. Even after losing 40 last time out, the Pars are the only team in the league apart from Rangers with positive goal difference.
Form last six league matches | ||||||
Dunfermline | East Fife | |||||
Forfar Athletic (A) |
L |
Ayr United (H) | L | 1-4 | ||
Ayr United (H) |
W |
Stenhousemuir (A) | D | 1-1 | ||
Airdrieonians (H) | W | 2-1 | Airdrieonians (H) | W |
1-0 | |
Brechin City (A) | D | 1-1 | Stranraer (A) | L |
0-2 | |
Stranraer (H) | W | 3-1 | Forfar Athletic (H) | L | 1-3 | |
Stenhousemuir (A) | W | 5-4 | Rangers (A) | L | 0-5 |
Dunfermline had a blank weekend due to the postponement of their match against Rangers and that allowed Stenhousemuir to take over in second place. East Fife took on Ayr United but lost 4-1 at home.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Forfar Athletic): Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Luke Johnston, Callum Morris, Alex Whittle; Josh Falkingham (c), Shaun Byrne (Jordan Moore 80), Stephen Husband (Allan Smith 74), Andy Geggan; Ryan Wallace, Robert Thomson (Ryan Thomson 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Fayssal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Ferguson, Kerr Young, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
EAST FIFE (v Ayr United): Greg Paterson; Scott Durie, Gary Naysmith, Steven Campbell, Gary Thom, Scott McBride (Ryan Stewart 44), Cyrus Moosari (Cedric Tuta 61), Jonathan Stewart (Alexis Dutot 84), Craig Johnstone, Pat Clarke, Liam Buchanan.
SUBS NOT USED: Nathan Austin, Connor Shaw, Joe Mbu, Ross Lennie
Referee will be Don Robertson.
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