Arbroath 1 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 26th Apr 2014SPFL League One; Four survivors from the team that started at Ayr. Ryan Thomson (14) 0-1; Michael Travis (54) 1-1; Andy Geggan (79) 1-2.
MATCH PICTURES
PARS TV VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
For the last away fixture of the league season, the Pars were in Arbroath to meet the team at the foot of the table. Paul Sheerin`s team began the match just one point behind fellow relegation candidates East Fife and there was clearly going to be a fight to the end from the opposition. Jim Jefferies side showed only four survivors from the Athletic side that started at Somerset Park the previous Saturday - Danny Grainger, Ross Forbes, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Ryan Thomson.
On the back of a vital win at Forfar, Arbroath made one change former Stranraer player, Kevin Nicoll in for Ross Chisholm. It was a pretty miserable day weatherwise but the home fans had plenty of optimism for their chances as the teams came out to the theme tune to The Great Escape.
The Pars kicked off through Ryan Thomson and Faissal El Bakhtaoui attacking the goal at the south end. The ball spent lots of time in the air in the opening minutes with headers and booted clearances endangering the seagulls. When the ball did get down on the deck it was the home team that had the first attempt at goal but Alan Cook`s seventh minute shot was blocked out by the Pars defence.
Arbroath`s player manager then was lined up with a neat lay off to him on the edge of the D but he completely miscued. A Dunfermline corner did little to dampen the Red Lichties fervour and Cook was well blocked by Morris. The stuffing was then well and truly knocked out of the home side when Dunfermliner took a 14th minute lead.
Stephen Husband launched a fierce shot from distance at the Arbroath goal and when keeper Scott Morrison could not hold on to the ball, Ryan THOMSON reacted first to chest the ball into the net. 0-1
On 20 minutes Pars keeper Ryan Scully did well to shut out a shot from close in from Paul McManus and then two minutes later when Colin Hamilton accepted a McManus pass at the left corner flag, the left back`s cross was headed on target by Kenny Deuchar only for Scully to pull off another impressive save.
Bobby Linn sent a cross through the Pars six yard box and this time Millen headed clear. Grainger quickly followed that up with a timely block on a Linn shot 20 yards out. In 29th minute a long throw from Grainger created two good chances for the Fifers. Ross Forbes effort was stopped but El Bakhtaoui got a second bite but that was well saved.
Three minutes later it was Grainger again who created the danger. He rounded Michael Travis and got in a shot that Morrison blocked and Thomson then drilled a shot back at the orange shirted keeper.
A Millen corner was delivered into the centre of the Arbroath box but the Pars attackers were penalised for climbing. In the minute of added time at the end of the first half Linn cut in from the right and released a shot from 25 yards out that went narrowly wide of the left goalpost.
Half time: Arbroath 0 Dunfermline 1
The teams and the supporters changed ends for the second half which took a little while to excite. Thomson ran on to a promising Grainger pass in 51 minutes but the striker`s first touch on the edge of the box took the ball too far ahead of him to set up a shot.
The home side then scored the equaliser they had sought in spectacular fashion. Bobby Linn sent in the corner from the left and TRAVIS made the run to the near post and his diving header was glanced into the top corner. 1-1
El Bakhtaoui nearly made an immediate reply but his stinging shot from 16 yards was well stopped by Morrison. Arbroath rallied and tried hard for another goal. McManus had a shot blocked and twice Page made important connections to deny the Lichties. Geggan blocked a Cook shot as Dunfermline continued to be pegged back and a Nicoll shot was then deflected behind for a corner. When Linn sent that over Travis again caused the problem and Scully did well to hold his header.
Lewis Spence and Shaun Byrne replaced Ross Forbes and Stephen Husband as the match entered its final quarter. Byrne cut inside to get into a shooting position but three defenders blotted him out. There was a welcome sight in 78 minutes when Ryan Wallace returned to competitive action for the first time in a month and there was a delay before the Pars free kick could be taken as David Banjo came on for the opposition.
Grainger played the free kick short to Spence when everyone was expecting the ball to be lobbed into the box. Banjo was left in Grainger`s slipstream as he received the return and took off down the left from where he delivered a great ball into the box that GEGGAN turned it into the net. 1-2
When Wallace broke through the middle but when one on one with Morrison, the keeper came out on top. The striker had another good chance quickly after that when Millen supplied a great cross in to the far post. An Arbroath free kick faced with a six man wall, sent the ball right to Banjo who headed on target but Grainger headed that away.
As the clock ran down the more comfortable Dunfermline looked and the only disappointment has to be the yellow card that Josh Falkingham picked up at the final whistle after Kevin Nicholl was shown yellow for dumping Ryan Wallace off the park. It takes Josh to five cautions, one away from suspension.
No Great Escape for Arbroath but since East Fife failed to win any points either the relegation and play off spot go to the final day of the campaign.
PARS TV VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
SUBS NOT USED: Lari Yao, Chris Scott, Ricky Little, Sandy Wood (GK)
SCORERS: Travis (54)
YELLOW CARD: Keddie (36), Sheerin (38), Travis (83), Nicholl (94).
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Callum Morris, Jonathan Page, Danny Grainger; Andy Geggan (c), Stephen Husband (Shaun Byrne 68), Josh Falkingham, Ross Forbes (Lewis Spence 68); Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Ryan Wallace 78), Ryan Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Goodfellow (GK), Ryan Williamson, Allan Smith, Lewis Martin.
SCORERS: Thomson (14), Geggan (79)
YELLOW CARD: Forbes (40), Falkingham (94)
REFEREE: Mat Northcroft
WEATHER: 10°C Misty
ATTENDANCE 1079
NEXT MATCH: SPFL League One (home) v Rangers
Saturday 3rd May 2014, kick off 3.00pm
Views : 6,039
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Arbroath 1-2 DAFC SPFL1
Sat, 26th Apr 2014
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Preview Arbroath
Wednesday, 23rd Apr 2014Arbroath have taken seven points from their last three games.
Saturday takes the Pars to Arbroath for just their second league match at Gayfield since 1985. Jim Jefferies men left last time with a 3-0 win but Arbroath won the first encounter of this season at East End Park. Saturday`s 2-0 win at Forfar was their third away from home this season but that win takes them top just one point behind fellow relegation contenders, East Fife. Earlier in the season Arbroath defeat Dunfermline 3-2 at East End Park but they haven`t beaten Dunfermline at home since 21st January 1984.
Previously
| Last Twelve Matches v Arbroath | ||||
|
Date |
Competition |
H/A |
W D L |
F-A |
| 25/02/14 | League One | H | W | 3-0 |
| 21/12/13 | League One | A | W | 3-0 |
| 17/08/13 | League One | H | L | 2-3 |
| 31/07/10 | League Cup | H | W | 5-2 |
| 24/07/10 | Challenge Cup | H | W | 1-0 |
| 25/07/09 | League Cup | H | W | 2-1 |
| 22/04/86 | Division Two | H | W | 2-0 |
| 23/03/86 | Division Two | H | D | 0-0 |
| 10/08/85 | Division Two | A | D | 3-3 |
| 09/03/85 | Division Two | A | W | 3-1 |
| 01/12/84 | Division Two | H | L | 1-2 |
| 06/10/84 | Division Two | A | W | 2-0 |
The teams have met 71 times in league games, Dunfermline have won 31, drawn 17 and lost 23.
| Arbroath | Dunfermline |
| Current League Position | |
| 10 | 2 |
| Recent League Results | |
| LLLDWW | LLWLDD |
| League Points | |
| 31 | 59 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -20 | +13 |
| Home / Away League Record | |
| P17, W6, D1, L10 | P17, W9, D2, L6 |
Arbroath have taken seven points from their last three games. One at Ochilview Park then full points from a home game against Stranraer before putting an end to Dick Campbell`s hopes of making the play offs.
| Recent Form this season - home / away | ||||||
| Arbroath (home) |
|
Dunfermline (away) | ||||
| Stranraer | W | 4-2 | Ayr United | D | 1-1 | |
| Rangers | L | 1-2 | Airdrieonians | L | 0-2 | |
| Airdrieonians | L | 0-1 | Rangers | L | 0-4 | |
| East Fife | W | 2-1 | Stranraer | L | 1-3 | |
| Forfar Athletic | L | 1-2 | Forfar Athletic | W | 4-2 | |
| Ayr United | L | 2-3 | Rangers |
L |
||
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Ayr United): Ryan Goodfellow; Lewis Martin, Kerr Young, Danny Grainger (c); Ross Millen, Shaun Byrne, Lewis Spence (Andy Geggan 78), Alex Whittle (Allan Smith 61); Ross Forbes; Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Scully (GK), Jonathan Page, Declan O`Kane, Ryan Williamson, Finn Graham
ARBROATH (v Forfar Athletic): Scott Morrison, Michael Travis, Alex Keddie, Colin Hamilton, Ryan McGeever, Paul Sheerin, Bobby Linn (Ricky Little 85), Ross Chisholm, Paul McManus, Kenny Deuchar (Leighton McIntosh 76), Alan Cook (David Banjo 74)..
SUBS NOT USED: Lari Yao, Chris Scott, Dayle Robertson, Sandy Wood (GK)
Referee will be Matt Northcroft
Views : 5,011
