Dunfermline 1 Stranraer 3
Tuesday, 9th Dec 2014William Hill Scottish Cup Fourth Round Replay: Sean Winter (32) 0-1; Stephen Stirling (57) 0-2; Ross Millen (62 pen.) 1-2; Jamie Longworth (90) 1-3.
Stranraer earned their first win at East End Park in 35 years with a cup performance that was simply better than their opponents.
Following the Blues's fight back from two goals down ten days before, this replay came about through an 80th minute goal from former Par Willie Gibson and an unfortunate own goal in the fifth minute of added time.
Since then the draw for the next time had teed up an attractive home tie against Premiership, Dundee United. Both teams were keen to face Jackie McNamara's Tangerines. Jim Jefferies was without Chigozie Ugwu but Stuart Urquhart returned in defence meaning Ross Millen was back at right back and Andy Geggan back in a midfield role after an impressive fill in on the right side of defence.
The opposition were again without Willie Gibson and Chris Aitken was preferred to Jamie Longworth is an otherwise unchanged starting eleven. The Pars kicked off attacking the goal in front of the East Stand and in the second minute Ryan Thomson controlled a cross in from the left corner flag courtesy of Alex Whittle but neither he nor Smith could get a shot in.
At the other end Stranraer's Grant Gallacher whizzed a shot narrowly over the bar from 25 yards and pretty soon to be followed by a Craig Pettigrew effort that was deflected for a corner. Sean Winter, Aitken and Stephen Stirling kept the pressure up and Jackson Longridge was a little unlucky not to do better when Andy Stirling slipped up in his own box.
Smith was squeezed out on the counterattack between Scott Rumsby and Frank McKeown before play swung back to the Pars half. Steven Bell tried a run into the right side of the box while the Stranraer keeper David Mitchell's biggest task was to keep out a strong McKeown pass back.
On the quarter hour Whittle cut in and tried a right footed shot from the edge of the box but he was too high. Falkingham then picked out Smith and he forced a corner off Scott Rumsby on the left. Millen bent that in and Buchanan's powered a header but the ball rebounded strongly off the crossbar.
After 20 minutes the home side had a great chance. Deep inside his own half, Whittle scooped the ball over a tackle on the left and sent Thomson away with a through ball. He laid the ball off right for Stirling to run on to and although he got in a good attempt McKeown's block sent the ball behind for the Pars second corner of the night. Nothing came of that or one for Stranraer at the other end.
Aitken lobbed a 30th minute free kick into the goalmouth area and Bell made a good yet unsuccessful attempt to get his head on the ball. The home fans were growing increasingly concerned with the amount of time the visitors were getting on the ball and it was no real surprise when they took the lead in 32nd minute. Sean WINTER received the ball on the edge of the box and fired a shot at goal that beat Ryan Scully at his left hand post. 0-1
Two Pars corners in 38th minute were defended but when Falkingham gathered he returned the ball to Millen on the right and his cross was headed just outside the far post by Buchanan.
Stirling was hauled down by Bell in 43 minutes and a corner followed from Millen's free kick. When that was sent in from the right everybody but the match officials knew that it was a Stranraer player who headed behind. With a goalkick awarded Buchanan got yellow carded for overprotesting.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Stranraer 1
The pace of the Pars game was up a notch for the start of the second 45. Whittle immediately got to the corner flag to send over an early cross and Stirling got in a shot from the other side that Michell saved. There could have been a goal at the wrong end after Craig Malcolm fizzed the ball through the six yard box with Stephen Stirling coming desperately close to getting the necessary touch.
A Stranraer corner was most untidily defended but when Geggan broke he sent Falkingham away. He picked out Stirling who had stayed onside but he failed to get away the early shot that was required.
The Stranraer no.10 was to score however in 57th minute. He sent the ball out to the right for Winter to send it back through the six yard box and STIRLING tapped it in for 2-0.
Five minutes later Dunfermline were awarded a penalty that MILLEN took and scored to the keeper's left. The spot kick was given for a blatant push by McKeown on Buchanan as he challenged for the ball at a free kick. 1-2
Before the restart Jim Jefferies made a double substitution replacing his strikeforce of Smith and Thomson with Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Michael Moffat. Sorel Chemin quickly followed taking the place of Andy Stirling.
There were 73 minute on the clock when Moffat cut the ball back for Geggan but he drove his shot at the red shirted keeper. Another let off followed for the Pars with Malcolm firing over the bar.
Chemin tested Mitchell but as the clock ran down the Pars were being forced to shoot from far out. El Bakhtaoui made a good run down the left and there was some scrappy defending to keep the Pars out but Stranraer survived. Long range shots from first Geggan was blocked and then from Chemin was saved.
Sub Danny Stoney kept the Pars defence deployed, relieving his defence a little before Whittle had a chip from 15 yards that just fell wide right. Then in 90th minute Stoney caught the Pars on the break and he cut the ball back for Jamie LONGWORTH to net off the base of the left upright. 1-3
No way back despite a couple of near things in added time. Stranraer's first ever Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline and their first 90 minute win at East End Park.
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Gregor Buchanan, Stuart Urquhart, Alex Whittle; Shaun Byrne, Andy Geggan, Josh Falkingham, Andy Stirling (Sorel Chemin 69); Allan Smith (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 63), Ryan Thomson (Michael Moffat 63)SUBS NOT USED: Ross Forbes, John Potter, Lewis Spence, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Buchanan (44), Byrne (52)
STRANRAER: David Mitchell; Craig Pettigrew, Scott Rumsby, Frank McKeown, Jackson Longridge, Grant Gallagher (Barry Russell 77), Stephen Stirling (Daniel Stoney 79), Steven Bell, Sean Winter, Craig Malcolm (Jamie Longworth 77), Chris Aitken.
SUBS NOT USED: Anthony Marenghi, Danny Tobin (GK)
SCORERS: Winter (32), Stirling (57), Longworth (90)
YELLOW CARD: Bell (43)
REFEREE: Des Roache
WEATHER: Wet, windy 5C
ATTENDANCE 1436
NEXT MATCH: SPFL League One (away) v Airdrieonians
Saturday 13th December 2014, kick off 3.00pm Excelsior Stadium
50/50 ticket no. 127522 won £276
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