Stranraer 4 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 16th Apr 2016Ladbrokes League One: three changes in team at Stair Park. Brad McKay (35) 0-1; Mark McGuigan (49) 1-1; Craig Malcolm (62) 2-1; Andy Stirling (68) 3-1; Craig Malcolm (86) 4-1
It was a beautiful sunny day in Stranraer when Dunfermline arrived for their third last match in League One. There was a cold wind to spoil the comfort, not that that bothered Josh Falkingham, David Hopkirk and David Hutton who came into the side at the expense of Michael Paton, Rhys McCabe and Sean Murdoch.
The home side named an unchanged team from that which saw off fellow play off challengers, Airdrieonians in their previous match. That meant four former Pars lined up against their old club - Steven Bell, Ryan Thomson, Andy Stirling and Willie Gibson.
Stranraer kicked off and their no.9 Craig Malcolm got in the first shot of the game but was wildly wide and high. Then right on two minutes Ryan Wallace sped down the right wing and delivered a great ball into the six yard box and Michael Moffat was only inches away from heading home.
Two minutes later Gibson sent the game's first corner in from the right and Scott Robertson rose to head an effort over Hutton's crossbar.
Full of confidence having just signed a new contract on Friday Hopkirk was just closed out by Robertson when he was given a seventh minute chance. After a fair number of passes involving Hopkirk, Falkingham and Wallace, Ryan Williamson was wide right to centre a dangerous ball that Bell turned behind for a corner on the right but unfortunately that was too strong.
A clearance from his own half by Falkingham put Hopkirk through but the Stranraer defence outnumbered him and the chance was mopped up. Then in 18 minutes Gibson took advantage of Conner Duthie and unleashed a fierce shot from 25 yards out that just cleared the crossbar.
Stranraer created the next chance when Stirling broke through from half way but he could only force a corner off Brad McKay and when that came over from the left Bell rose to head the ball back across goal and out wide left. On 24 minutes a Gibson free kick picked out Robertson in the Pars box but he powered his header wide.
Williamson earned the visitors a 28th minute corner but when Wallace delivered an outswinger Duthie could only send his effort wide. Play switched back to the other end and two Stranraer corners from the left. Scott Robinson eventually cleared the danger. Wallace picked out Williamson on another overlap but this time Stranraer had two men on him and Liam Dick cleared.
Hopkirk launched a strong effort from 20 yards out but this was deflected off a defender for another corner but that changed nothing. Ten minutes from the break Moffat and Wallace exchanged quick passes to set up Hopkirk but his attempt from an acute angle was beaten behind by keeper Cameron Belford. The Blues defending of the corner from the right was far from impressive and Moffat was able to direct the ball towards goal only for Brad McKAY to tap home the opener. 0-1
Three minutes later the home team and their vocal supporters were denied a penalty when Gibson's shot came off Falkingham's arm as he dived across to try and block the shot. No penalty. Gibson then tested Hutton from a free kick but the Pars keeper got down well to hold the shot at right post.
The home side kept up the pressure with Thomson chesting the ball down for Mark McGuigan but his orange boot sent the 18 yard chance over the bar. It had been a first half that the Fifers had edged on possession but the home side had more shots at goal leaving the home support believing that they were slightly unlucky to be behind after the first 45 minutes.
Half time: Stranraer 0 Dunfermline 1
The second half started badly for the Pars losing a soft goal in just the fourth minute. The defence looked sluggish as Thomson met the ball in front of goal and he teed up McGUIGAN who turned the ball in at the right post. 1-1
Gibson was able to embark on a run on goal and Falkingham's yellow card was definitely 'for the team' as he halted the zippy winger. Gibson assumed responsibility but drove the 28 yard free kick wide left.
Boosted by the equaliser Stranraer pushed for another. Thomson fired a 20 yarder over the bar, Pettigrew made Hutton tip his shot over and then Bell headed over from the subsequent corner.
On the hour Moffat fed Duthie the ball wide right and he beat his man to get in behind the defence. Williamson was on hand to knock the ball down but forced on to his left foot fired the shot high.
When play switched to the other end Robinson conceded the corner on the left and Gibson's delivery was met by Craig MALCOLM to the great delight of the home support, even though their announcer credited Ryan Thomson with the goal. 2-1
Stranraer were to increase their lead just six minutes later. There were groans from the crowd as Gibson hit a strange low ball that travelled across the 18 yard line and appeared to be wasted. However Bell gathered and cut the ball back to the unmarked STIRLING whose shot swerved away from Hutton to find the net just inside the right post. 3-1
The Pars had subbed Shaun Byrne for Conner Duthie and then Craig Reid for Lewis Martin but the loss of Gibson through cramp was a blow to the Stair Park side.
Dunfermline's reply was unconvincing, Robinson cut the ball back for Talbot and his cross did find Moffat to head at the keeper. Reid came close when Wallace directed an 80th minute free kick towards the left side of the six yard box but the sub's run from deep just failed to achieve a netbound touch.
McKay was booked for a challenge on Malcolm and after few pushes and shoves, Cairney pumped the 30 yard free kick into the box where MALCOLM latched on to net the chance off the left post. 4-1
The match was well and truly over as a contest and the Pars impressive unbeaten away league record was gone.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Turner, Chris Aitken, David Barron, Max Currie (GK)
SCORERS: McGuigan (49), Malcolm (62, 86), Stirling (68)
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton; Ryan Williamson, Brad McKay, Lewis Martin (Craig Reid 69), Jason Talbot; Ryan Wallace, Josh Falkingham, Scott Robinson, Conner Duthie (Shaun Byrne 61), David Hopkirk, Michael Moffat
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Cardle, Ben Richards-Everton, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Sean Murdoch (GK).
SCORERS: McKay (35)
YELLOW CARD: Falkingham (53), Byrne (78), McKay (85)
REFEREE: Crawford Allan
WEATHER: Sunny 9C
ATTENDANCE 545
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes League One: (away) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 23rd April 2016, kick off 3.00pm at the Excelsior Stadium
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Preview Stranraer
Saturday, 16th Apr 2016Fourth place is the best Stranraer can do but they will be hoping to stay ahead of their Lanarkshire rivals
This Saturday Dunfermline are on the road again, back to Stranraer. Last time the Pars were at Stair Park it was after their hosts sat out a week due to being out of the Petrofac Training Cup. Same again this time since Peterhead's appearance in that contest's final had brought forward the fixture, so it was two Saturdays ago that the Blues defeated Airdrieonians. That 4-0 win was a six pointer and now the Galloway side are in the final play off spot three ahead of Albion Rovers and five ahead of Airdrieonians.
It goes without saying that Stranraer go into the match with the greater incentive. With three games remaining Dunfermline sit top of the division 16 points clear of second placed Peterhead. Fourth place is the best Stranraer can do but they will be hoping to stay ahead of their Lanarkshire rivals with games away to Brechin City and at home to Cowdenbeath to follow.
|
Milestones v Stranraer (away) |
|||
|
Last Victory |
17/10/15 |
3-0 |
League One |
|
Best Victory |
30/01/54 |
4-1 |
Scottish Cup |
| Last Defeat |
28/02/15 |
1-5 |
League One |
|
Worst Result |
28/02/15 |
1-5 |
League One |
Stranraer have just five wins ever in the 37 league games between the sides, but their win in February last year was also their best ever against the Pars. That match will be remembered for the red card shown to Gregor Buchanan for standing on Longworth. Andy Geggan had only just got the Pars back on level terms when they were reduced to ten men and then Chris Aitken and Willie Gibson struck before half time. Longworth's 49th minute strike ended the contest and Jon McShane rubbed salt into the widening wound with an 83rd minute fifth.
| Last twelve matches v Stranraer | ||||
| Date | H/A | WDL | F-A | Scorers |
| 27/02/16 | H | W | 6-1 | [1-0] El Bakhtaoui, [2-0] Cardle, [2-1] McGuigan, [3-1] McKay, [4-1] El Bakhtaoui [5-1] Cardle, [6-1] Cardle |
| 17/10/15 | A | W | 3-0 | [1-0] Moffat, [2-0] Richards-Everton, [3-0] Antoine-Curier |
| 29/08/15 | H | W | 3-1 | [1-0] El Bakhtaoui; [2-0] Talbot; [3-0] Geggan [3-1] Longworth. |
| 11/04/15 | H | W | 1-0 | [1-0] El Bakhtaoui |
| 28/02/15 | A | L | 1-5 | [0-1] Gallagher; [1-1]Geggan (26), [1-2] Chris Aitken [1-3] Willie Gibson; [1-4] Jamie Longworth; [1-5] Jon McShane |
| 20/12/14 | H | L | 0-1 | [0-1] McKeown |
| 09/12/14 | H | L | 1-3 | [0-1] Winter, [0-2] Stephen Stirling, [1-2] Millen pen. [1-3] Longworth |
| 29/11/14 | A | D | 2-2 | [1-0] Geggan, [2-0] Buchanan, [2-1] Gibson, [2-2] Geggan o.g. |
| 30/08/14 | A | W | 2-1 | [1-0] Ugwu, [1-1] [2-1] Moffat |
| 10/05/14 | H | W | 3-0 | [1-0] Geggan; [2-0] Geggan; [3-0] El Bakhtaoui |
| 07/05/14 | A | L | 1-2 | [0-1] Grehan; [1-1] El Bakhtaoui; [1-2] Bell. |
| 01/03/14 | A | L | 1-3 | [0-1] Grehan pen, [0-2] McKenna, [0-3] McKenna, [1-3] Grainger pen. |
This Season
Dunfermline were comfortable 3-1 winners at East End Park back at the end of August. Faissal El Bakhtaoui shot the Pars into a 13th minute lead and the visitors found themselves 3-0 down just six minutes into the second half after Jason Talbot and Andy Geggan netted. Although Jamie Longworth got one back for Stranraer it turned out only to be a consolation.
In October at Stair Park Michael Moffat gave the Pars a fourth minute lead, Ben Richards-Everton scored his first ever Pars goal to make it 2-0 after 32 minutes. Mickael Antoine-Curier came off the bench to net the third near the end.
The return at East End Park was an emphatic win for Allan Johnston's team. A Joe Cardle hattrick, a doubles from Faissal El Bakhtaoui and a Brad McKay goal were only countered by Mark McGuigan's goal in the third minute of the second half.
Statistics
| Stranraer | Dunfermline |
| Current League Position | |
| 4 | 1 |
| Recent League Results | |
| WWDWLW | DWWWWD |
| League Points | |
| 45 | 76 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -9 | +58 |
| Home / Away League Record | |
| P16, W6, D2, L8 | P16, W12, D3, L1 |
Stranraer have won their last three home games and won four of their last six matches. Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last eleven matches and unbeaten in their last 14 league matches on the road.
| Last Six League Form | ||||||
| Stranraer Home | Dunfermline Away | |||||
| Airdrieonians | W | 4-0 | Albion Rovers | W | 1-0 | |
| Stenhousemuir | W | 3-1 | Cowdenbeath | W | 1-0 | |
| Forfar Athletic | W | 1-0 | Ayr United | W |
2-0 |
|
| Albion Rovers | D | 0-0 | Brechin City | W | 2-1 | |
| Brechin City | W | 2-0 | Stenhousemuir | W |
3-0 |
|
| Peterhead | L | 1-5 | Peterhead | D |
0-0 |
|
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Forfar Athletic): 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).
STRANRAER (v Airdrieonians): Cameron Belford; Craig Pettigrew, Scott Robertson, Steven Bell, Liam Dick; Andy Stirling; Ryan Thomson (Kyle Turner 81), Paul Cairney, Willie Gibson, Malcolm (Jamie Longworth 75), Mark McGuigan (Calvin Kemp 70)
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Aitken, Sam McCloskey, Kerr Samson, Scott Rumsby, Max Currie (GK)
Referee will be Crawford Allan.
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