Peterhead 1 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 4th Apr 2015

SPFL League One: Michael Moffat and Allan Smith start upfront. Lewis Martin replaces Stuart Urquhart. Moffat (18) 0-1; Andy Rodgers (78) 1-1;

It was seventh v sixth at Balmoor when Peterhead hosted the Pars for the second time this season. With both teams equal on 44 points, just five behind the final play off place and, given the previous history in the three matches so far, this always promised to be a contest.

John Potter made three changes from the side that started against Morton. Lewis Martin returned from international duty so Stuart Urquhart dropped to the bench and Kyle McAusland was pushed up into midfield.

After scoring twice for the Under 20s at Dingwall on Tuesday, Allan Smith returned to the side and he was paired with Michael Moffat. Andy Barrowman and Faissal El Bakhtaoui found themselves on the bench.

Peterhead also made three changes with Andy Rodgers, David Cox and Ross Smith making way for the return of Gary McDonald, Nicky Reily and their top goalscorer Rory McAllister.

Moffat and Smith got the game underway attacking the goal at the north end of the ground. The visitors enjoyed the majority of the early play although Peterhead were giving them very little time to be comfortable on the ball. A McAusland header back into the Blues' box offered an early chance but neither Geggan nor Hopkirk could get a shot in.

Dunfermline forced the first corner of the afternoon but when Hopkirk eventually played that over from the left it was easily cleared. The first sub of the match was required after just ten minutes, Jamie Stevenson going off and David Cox coming on.

On the quarter hour Smith intercepted a clearance and Josh Falkingham accepted the lay off. With few options in the box the Pars captain tried a shot from 20 yards that only just cleared the crossbar. A Peterhead corner two minutes later was headed clear by McAusland and next Gregor Buchanan headed away the return.

When the ball returned to the other end Hopkirk's cross was defended out for Ross Millen to lob back in. It was 18th minute when he picked out Michael MOFFAT on the left side of the box and his header beyond keeper Graeme Smith went in off the right goalpost. It was just Michael's sixth goal for the Pars but it could prove very important. 0-1

Both teams continued to fight for everything and Cox wass warned for his challenge on Whittle and Buchanan shown the first yellow card on 25 minutes for his tackle on Nicky Riley. Dunfermline however looked the more composed and when they got forward it took some dogged defending to keep them away from Smith's goal.

In 31 minutes Ryan Scuilly went out bravely to hold a cross cum shot from the right with McAllister possibly hurting himself more than the keeper in the save. McAusland had a shot from 25 yards but it lacked power and trundled wide left. Back at the other end Kevin Dzierzawski shot wildly wide right but then a Cammy Kerr effort from the edge of box won a corner on the left. Martin headed that clear and then McDonald was blown up for bowling into Scully after he had held the follow up cross.

Then eight minutes from half time, the Pars created a great chance when Hopkirk in behind the defence on its right side. His delivery was behind the strikers but McAusland got in a shot that Smith held.

Whittle was next to provide a good delivery but again no one could capitalise on the opportunity. Peterhead's threats were coming from long balls towards the Pars penalty box but the defence were coming out on top of that assisted by a few illicit challenges that referee Nick Walsh picked up.

It had been a good first half from the Fifers. There had been more long balls but Dunfermline who had shown good appetite and desire, deserved to be ahead at the break.

Half time: Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 1

First attempt of the second half took six minutes to come and it was a drive from sub Cox, 25 yards out that deflected for Scully to save. Dzierzawski put through a ball that Whittle slipped at going to control but the ball skimmed on through for a goal kick.

Steve Noble's 55th minute cross was tipped over for a Peterhead corner and when thatr came in the ball was put behind again,. In the process Ryan Scully and Scott Ross clashed. The physios came on for both players. The Pars keeper appeared to sustain a bleeding nose and there was a lengthy stoppage. Ross was allowed back on before the corner was taken and when it was McDonald's chip across goal resulted in a good old stramash that the Pars thankfully survived.

in 61 minutes Andy Rodgers replaced Nicky Riley. Dunfermline were needing a respite but the home side were not for allowing that. Further pressure was sustained but Scully had to pull off a fine save as Noble got through into the left side of the box. A corner ensued and the over anxious Peterhead attack was penalised for pushing.

Scully held a Jamie Redman header from a free kick played in from deep left before the Peterhead man was subbed. The Pars first sub of the game was Ryan Thomson who replaced Kyle McAusland in 71 minutes and for a spell Dunfermline took play back into the Peterhead half. Thomson headed away a Ryan Strachan free kick but in the next move Noble got in behind the visitors' defence and Andy RODGERS was well placed to crash the ball home from eight yards. 1-1

With ten minutes remaining there was no doubt that it was the Blues who had their tails up and the home crowd urged them on. Whittle collected a yellow card when he stopped Rodgers threatening burst through but the Pars box was under siege. Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Andy Barrowman came on to freshen up the attack but they barely saw the ball as play continued towards Scully's goal.

McAllister was caught offside in 88 and next minute the keeper was out sharpish to sweep the ball away from the Peterhead number nine 30 yards out. A throw into the Pars box came up and off Millen's hand before the Pars forced a corner but there was to be no added time hero even after a Barrowman cross in 93 minutes was met by a Geggan header at the near post only to go behind.

Yet another 1-1 draw between these teams. Coupled with the news that Brechin City had taken three points at Greenock it seemed that there was little for either club to be happy about.

PETERHEAD: Graeme Smith; Cammy Kerr, Scott Ross, Gary McDonald, Steven Noble (c); Kevin Dzierzawski, James Redman (Jordan Brown, 70), Ryan Strachan, Nicky Riley (Andy Rodgers 61), Rory McAllister, Jamie Stevenson (David Cox 11).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Jarvie (GK), Ross Smith, Reece Donaldson, Dean Cowie
SCORERS: Rodgers (77)
YELLOW CARD: Strachan (79)

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Gregor Buchanan, Lewis Martin, Alex Whittle; Andy Geggan, Josh Falkingham (c), Kyle McAusland (Ryan Thomson 71), David Hopkirk; Allan Smith (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 81), Michael Moffat (Andy Barrowman 81)
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Urquhart, Lewis Spence, Shaun Byrne, Jamie Wilson (GK)
SCORERS: Moffat (18)
YELLOW CARD: Buchanan (25), Whittle (80)

REFEREE: Nick Walsh
WEATHER: Overcast damp 9C
ATTENDANCE 668

NEXT MATCH: SPFL League One (home) v Stranraer
Saturday 11th April 2015, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview Peterhead

Saturday, 4th Apr 2015

It is only the Fifers second visit to the Balmoor Stadium on league business and they badly need to improve on the 1-1 scoreline there back in November.

Last time Dunfermline Athletic travelled north to Peterhead the home side lay seventh as they do now. The Pars lay second but now they sit level on points with the Blue Toon and above them only on goal difference.

Both sides are only five points behind Brechin City who occupy the third play off place and with the Glebe Park side away to second top Morton there will be an eye all around Balmoor on Saturday on the updates from Cappielow.

Peterhead and fellow Highland League side Elgin City were admitted into the Scottish League for season 2000-2001 as a consequence of the SPL expanding. The first taste of playing at Balmoor was a League Cup match was on 5th August 2008 when Jim McIntyre's Pars won 2-0 thanks to goals early in the second half from Nick Phinn and Andy Kirk.

This season v Peterhead

Dunfermline secured a comfortable Scottish League One win over Peterhead, greatly assisted by the opposition's indiscipline. The visitors finished the match with eight men. James Redman saw red after 16 minutes when he scythed down Dunfermline's Josh Falkingham and Steven Noble and Jordon Brown were both dismissed after a mass brawl shortly before the break. Falkingham fired the opener, Gozie Ugwu poked home the second before James Thomas smashed in a late third on his the Pars debut.

Dunfermline Athletic drew first ever league game at the Balmoor Stadium. Pars team arrived confident and fielded an unchanged starting eleven.. Faissal El Bakhtaoui sent the Fifers into the lead after 19 minutes and should have been further ahead before the interval. A late Peterhead revival eventually earned them a point when Jamie Stevenson netted two minutes from time.The return at East End Park ended up with the same scoreline. Ross Forbes had made it 1-0 in 20th minute but Rory McAllister squared it from the spot in 63rd minute.

League Stats

Peterhead	Dunfermline
Current League Position
7	6
Last Six Games
LWWLDL	LDWDWL
League Points
44	44
Goal Difference
-3	+3
Home / Away League Record
P15, W7, D4, L4	P15, W5, D3, L7

It feels like Dunfermline have found it hard to pick up points of late but in the last six league matches they have actually picked up more than their opponents. The Pars are hoping to add to their league wins on the road which have been at Stranraer, Ayr (twice), Stirling and Stenhousemuir.

Recent Form this season - home / away
Peterhead (home)				Dunfermline (away)
Stranraer	L	1-2		Stenhousemuir	W	1-0
Brechin City	W	3-0		Brechin City	D	1-1
Forfar Athletic	W	3-2		Stranraer	L	1-5
Morton	L	1-3		Forfar Athletic	L	0-1
Ayr United	W	2-0		Ayr United	W	2-1
Stenhousemuir	W	2-0		Morton	L	0-2

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Ryan Scully; Gregor Buchanan, Kyle McAusland (Declan O'Kane 80), Stuart Urquhart (Michael Moffat 53); Ross Millen, Josh Falkingham (c), Andy Geggan, David Hopkirk, Alex Whittle; Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Andy Barrowman (Lewis Allan 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Spence, Shaun Byrne, Ryan Thomson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)

PETERHEAD (v Stranraer): Graeme Smith; Cameron Kerr, Scott Ross (Micky Riley 74), Ross Smith, Steven Noble; Kevin Dzierzawski, James Redman (Jordan Brown 79), Ryan Strachan, David Cox (Callum McDonald 60), Andy Rodgers, Jamie Stevenson.
SUBS NOT USED; Paul Jarvie (GK), Reece Donaldson, Dean Cowie

Peterhead's top goalscorer with eight league goals this season is Rory McAllister.

Referee will be Nick Walsh who the Pars last saw in their home against Ayr United but also took charge of away games at Morton and Stenhousemuir first time around.

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