Dunfermline 2 Forfar Athletic 2

Saturday, 9th Apr 2016

Ladbrokes League One: six changes to Pars starting eleven. Gavin Swankie (13) 0-1; Michael Moffat (30) 1-1; Andy Ryan (50) 1-2; Michael Moffat (60) 2-2

Visitors to East End Park on Grand National day were Gary Bollan's Forfar Athletic. For a team battling to avoid relegation coming up against the side that had already sealed the League One title, this must have felt like approaching Beecher's Brook.

Allan Johnston made six changes to the team that started the previous Saturday against Albion Rovers. Ben Richards-Everton was suspended but Josh Falkingham returned from suspension. Sean Murdoch returned in goal and captained the side in place of Andy Geggan who found himself on the bench along with Craig Reid, David Hopkirk, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and David Hutton from the last selection.

There was a welcome return for both Lewis Martin and Ryan Williamson, the latter returning against the side who were opponents when he sustained his double leg break in August. Starting as well were recent signings Scott Robinson and Conner Duthie.

Forfar showed one change from the team that defeated Peterhead the previous week, Bryan Hodge a 39th minute sub for Michael Kennedy last Saturday continuing in his place.

Forfar kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end forcing a corner with just two minutes gone but Gavin Swankie's cross was blocked by Rhys McCabe and then Brad McKay headed away the loose ball.

At the other end Williamson immediately looked himself with two overlapping runs to the byeline, the second picking out Michael Moffat but the ball ended up in the sidenetting. Duthie was soon to impress with a fine pass for Moffat and Robinson too had a nice pass for Ryan Wallace on the top of the Forfar box. In ninth minute Michael Paton created an opportunity for himself 20 yards out but his well struck shot landed just outside the right goalpost.

First threat to the Pars goal was from a 13th minute free kick and SWANKIE drove that low from 25 yards through the Pars wall to find the far right of the net. 0-1 Sean Murdoch had little chance of keeping it out but there will be arguments about whether or not Omar Kader was falling before coming into contact with Robinson in the first place.

Dunfermline's corner in 17th minute was overhit by Paton but Wallace retrieved the ball on the right and centred but McKay's header was all too easily taken by the all in purple keeper, Darren Hill.

Five minutes later when Wallace fed the ball out right to Williamson, the big right back gained ground into the Forfar box but seemed to surprise Duthie with a neat early lay off and the former Hibs man could not get enough on his effort to find the net.

There were some clever passing moves from the Pars but their ball in the final third was letting them down a bit. Forfar earned a 29th minute corner when Martin blocked Kader's cross. Martin headed away right back Scott Martin's delivery and then the Pars hit on the break benefitting from the full back being out of position. Wallace sent a fine ball through into the path of MOFFAT who running into the box from the left, netted in style for a 30th minute equaliser. 1-1

Williamson surprised the visiting defence with a cross from wide right and Thomas O'Brien's diving header took the ball over his own bar for a Pars corner on the left. Duthie got a good connection with his header but a deflection took the ball out right for another corner this time from the right that unfortunately caused no difficulties.

Two Forfar corners in 39th minute were ably defended but the Angus side had two good opportunities as the half concluded. Both fell to former Hamilton Accies striker Andy Ryan. His first crack almost catching out the defence but McKay was behind Murdoch to mop up after the keeper stopped the shot.

54% possession for the Pars in the first half but sides equal on shots and corners. Great to see Ryan Williamson straight back to his previous form.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Forfar Athletic 1

The second half started fairly evenly. Paton slipped a clever ball to Wallace and his lay off to Robinson was then lofted into the Forfar box but the defence headed clear. At the other end Martin looked like he had done really well to intercept a Forfar cross in from the left but RYAN pounced on the loose ball and drilled it into the Pars net to restore their lead just five minutes into the second half. 1-2

Immediately Dunfermline countered and there were some fairly worthy appeals for a penalty when Moffat was denied a shot as Forfar's Martin sat on the ball and appeared to handle it as well.

In 56 minutes Williamson was played into the box by Wallace and his cut back seemed ideal for Moffat lingering on six yards but he somehow managed to turn the ball over the crossbar. Quite a let off!

Two minutes later it was Wallace who was presented with a shooting chance but from 20 yards he too found the McCathie Stand. Then on the hour a 35 yard free kick was struck powerfully on target by McCabe, Hill did well to halt the ball but in doing so set up the alert, MOFFAT for a tap in. His 15th goal of the season made it 2-2

Duthie rose to direct a Wallace cross on target but the effort was defended. Talbot sprinted up the left in 65 minutes to win a corner off O'Brien and again Forfar cleared. The Loons found themselves pinned well back in their own half as the Pars went for a winner.

Paton was fouled by O'Brien to hand Dunfermline a free kick 28 yards out but this was driven into the wall by Paton. Yet another Williamson run and cut back was defended before play switched to the other end and McKay collected the first card of the afternoon as he halted Kader's progress.

There was a lengthy stoppage for treatment to Ryan in 70 minutes but he returned to carry on. On resumption Talbot tried a run up the left that he punctuated with too strong a cross before in 79 minutes Josh Falkingham replaced Scott Robinson.

It was the sub's pass to Moffat that forced an 84th minute corner but before that was taken Ryan Williamson left the pitch to much acclaim to be subbed by Craig Reid. When the setpiece came in from the left McKay rose to head the ball home but the referee had already blown up for a push on his marker. Little protest.

There was to be not one but two good chances for a home win after referee Craig Charleston awarded the Pars an added time penalty. Moffat stepped up and sent the ball over the bar but the referee ordered a retake due to infringing. The second attempt Moffat sent to the keeper's left and with Hill beaten the post denied the goal to guarantee Forfar a valuable point.

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch (c); Ryan Williamson (Craig Reid 84), Brad McKay, Lewis Martin, Jason Talbot; Michael Paton, Rhys McCabe, Scott Robinson (Josh Falkingham 79), Conner Duthie, Ryan Wallace, Michael Moffat
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Cardle, Andy Geggan, David Hopkirk, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, David Hutton (GK).
SCORERS: Moffat (30,60)
YELLOW CARD: McKay (71), Falkingham (88)

FORFAR ATHLETIC: Darren Hill, Scott Martin, Thomas O'Brien, Gareth Rodger, Bryan Hodge; Omar Kader, Scott Smith, Gavin Swankie (c), Danny Denholm; Steven Craig (Euan Spark 67), Andy Ryan
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Dunlop, Kerr Hay, Derek Young, James Yates, Frankie Devine, Jason King (GK).
SCORERS: Swankie (13), Ryan (50)
YELLOW CARD: O'Brien (91), Martin (92)
RED CARD: O'Brien (91)

REFEREE: Craig Charleston
WEATHER: Fine 11C
ATTENDANCE 3205

NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes League One: (away) v Stranraer, Saturday 16th April 2016, kick off 3.00pm at Stair Park.

50/50 winning ticket number 40454 won prize of £903!


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Preview Forfar Athletic

Saturday, 9th Apr 2016

Ladbrokes League One: Saturday 9th April 2016, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park

It is quite surprising in a league system where you meet opponents four times per season that Dunfermline have not played Forfar since Boxing Day. Back in December the Pars continued their recent success over the Loons with a 4-2 win at Station Park, extending their winning sequence against them to four matches.

Dunfermline Athletic welcome Gary Bollan's Forfar Athletic to East End Park on Saturday fully aware that Bollan's side is in a fight for it League One survival. Forfar sit joint on points with bottom club Brechin and just two behind Cowdenbeath in eighth. there remaining games are against Airdrieonians at home, Albion Rovers away and then what could be a big last day fixture at home to Brechin. So there can be no doubt that Forfar will be trying their hardest to take points from Saturday's game.

Milestones Forfar Athletic (home)
Last Victory	24/10/15	4-0	League One
Last Defeat	25/04/15	1-3	League One
Best Victory	08/09/51	7-2	Div Two*
Worst Defeat	10/03/51	2-4	Div Two*
*Pre league reconstruction

This will be the 71st league meeting of the teams and Dunfermline have won 42 to Forfar's 18.  Forfar have won only four times in Dunfermline; in seasons 1922-23, 1950-51 and 1983-84 - all in the Scottish Second Division. Then there was the 3-1 win in April 2015 against a very down beaten Pars side. The Pars have won the last four meetings but had only won one of the previous eight matches.

Last twelve matches v Forfar Athletic
26/12/15	W	Forfar Athletic	2-4	Dunfermline	League One
24/10/15	W	Dunfermline	4-0	Forfar Athletic	League One
05/09/15	W	Forfar Athletic	0-4	Dunfermline	League One
18/08/15	W	Forfar Athletic	0-3	Dunfermline	Petrofac Cup
25/0415	L	Dunfermline	1-3	Forfar Athletic	League One
21/02/15	L	Dunfermline	0-1	Forfar Athletic	League One
18/10/14	D	Dunfermline	0-0	Forfar Athletic	League One
16/08/14	L	Forfar Athletic	2-0	Dunfermline	League One
12/04/14	D	Dunfermline	0-0	Forfar Athletic	League One
15/02/14	W	Forfar Athletic	2-4	Dunfermline	League One
07/12/13	D	Dunfermline	1-1	Forfar Athletic	League One
05/10/13	L	Forfar Athletic	4-0	Dunfermline	League One

Meetings this season

This season Dunfermline first played Forfar Athletic in the Petrofac Training Cup. That Tuesday night's 3-0 win at Station Park was overshadowed by the double leg break to Ryan Williamson in the closing minutes but the winning goals came from a Michael Moffat penalty (32), Faissal El Bakhtaoui (44) and another from Michael Moffat (82).

How things have changed. When Dunfermline played Forfar in the league first time around it was the Angus side who were the league leaders.

The 4-0 league win in September is remembered for a Joe Cardle hattrick before Andy Geggan got a late fourth. when Forfar travelled to East End in October they suffered another 4-0 defeat. This time David Hopkirk (8) 1-0; Joe Cardle (63) 2-0; Ryan Wallace (75) 3-0; Ryan Wallace (84) 4-0.

The Boxing Day match in Forfar was a success for the home side in as much as they
scored two goals only to watch Dunfermline score another four. El Bakhtaoui opened the scoring in 18 minutes but Iain Campbell equalised with a penalty four minutes before the break. El Bakhtaoui restored the lead just four minutes into the second half. Cardle made it 3-1 on the hour and although Michael Travis got a goal back, Ryan Wallace made it 4-2 in 79th minute.

Dunfermline	Forfar Athletic
Current League Position
1	9
League Form last six results
WDWWWW	LDDWLW
League Points
72	30
Goal Difference
+57	-10
League Record Home / Away
P16, W3, D6, L7	P16, 3, D6, L7

League Form

Forfar Athletic's win over Peterhead on Saturday was just their second win in seven. The Loons have only won three away league games this season and their last a 4-1 win at Cowdenbeath was their first on the road since September. Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last ten league matches.

Form last six home / away
Dunfermline (home)				Forfar Athletic (away)
Brechin City	W	3-1		Stenhousemuir	L	1-2
Albion Rovers	D	1-1		Airdrieonians	D	1-1
Stenhousemuir	W	5-0		Stranraer	L	0-1
Stranraer	W	6-1		Brechin City	L	0-4
Ayr United	W	3-2		Cowdenbeath	W	4-1
Airdrieonians	L	0-1		Ayr United	L	1-2

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Albion Rovers): David Hutton; Craig Reid (Shaun Rooney 8), Brad McKay, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot; Michael Paton, Andy Geggan (c), Ryhs McCabe, David Hopkirk (Michael Moffat 81); Ryan Wallace (Joe Cardle 74), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Shaun Byrne, Lewis Martin, Scott Robinson, Cammy Gill (GK).

FORFAR ATHLETIC: (v Peterhead): Darren Hill, Martin, Thomas O'Brien, Gareth Rodger, Michael Kennedy (Bryan Hodge 39), Omar Kader, Craig Smith (Kerr Hay 91), Gavin Swankie, Danny Denholm, Steven Craig (Mark Fotheringham 86), Andy Ryan
SUBS NOT USED: Derek Young, James Yates, Frankie Devine, Jason King (GK).

Referee will be Craig Charleston.

Come on ye Pars!

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