Dunfermline 3 Arbroath 0

Tuesday, 19th Jul 2016

Betfred Cup: Both teams name unchanged starting elevens. Michael Moffat (44) 1-0. Andy Geggan (61) 2-0. Michael Moffat (66) 3-0

The heat was certainly up for the Pars opening match of their competitive season against Dick Campbell`s Arbroath. 26 degrees centigrade inside East End Park so one way or another this cup tie was going to be a cauldron.

The visitors held Dundee United to a 1-1 draw on Friday night only losing the bonus point on penalties. It was no surprise then that the visitors were unchanged.

Pars manager Allan Johnston made no changes from the side that was so successful against Heart of Midlothian in a pre season friendly a week past Saturday. New signing Kallum Higginbotham was on the bench as Gavin Reilly kicked off with the Pars playing towards the strong evening sun.

Rhys McCabe`s fourth minute corner was blown up before it reached Ben Richards-Everton at the far post presumably for going behind but then two minutes later Martin Scott was penalised for a dangerous tackle on McCabe and the Pars no.7 drove the 28 yard free kick into the four man Arbroath wall.

A Wedderburn chip three minutes later sent Joe Cardle up the left and it looked like he might choose to try and finish it himself but opted for a pass to his right across the top of the Arbroath box to McCabe but his left footed blast went high and wide.

Arbroath ventured into the Pars half but were kept well away from the bright yellow kitted David Hutton. In 12th minute Andy Geggan took the play deep right and crossed but the ball was put behind for another corner. This time McCabe`s delivery was headed away by Steven Doris.

The Red Lichties threatened on a counterattack, Bobby Linn playing the ball into Doris on the left side of the Pars box and a neat back heeler set up Linn for the breakthrough but Lee Ashcroft read it well and swept away the danger.

A Cardle cross forced an 18th minute corner again on the right and this time McCabe found Ashcroft but he couldn`t get enough on his header. Very quickly Geggan fed the next chance to Moffat but his shot was touched behind by Robbie Mutch. Cardle was next to create a chance beating his man to get to the byeline but Colin Hamilton cleared as Reilly lined himself up.

As the midway point of the half arrived Cardle`s promising run was halted by Hamilton and then at the other end Ryan McCord set up Doris for a shot from 14 yards that Hutton had to drop to his left to hold.

Arbroath fans were appealing for a penalty in 28th minute when Doris broke forward, picked out Bryan Prunty who switched the ball on to Linn on the left. The winger hit Williamson with the cross but from where the fans were there was no way they could tell where it had hit.

Dick Campbell`s side began to look a little more confident. They pressed with Omar Kader eventually producing a powerful cross that evaded everyone until Williamson on the far side who booted the danger away. The Pars were frustrated by the Lichties offside trap but Moffat forced a free kick near the right corner flag but Mutch plucked out the McCabe cross.

Gary Phillips conceded a 36th minute corner when Williamson got deep, then another followed from the other side. This one escaped right through the box without a touch. Arbroath`s first corner was sent over from the left by Scott but Richards-Everton headed clear.
As the interval beckoned Dunfermline got the breakthrough. Robbie Mutch tried to redeem himself for a poor kick and raced out of his box on the right, Reilly beat him to it and his cross into an empty six yard box saw MOFFAT arrive to convert. 1-0

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Arbroath 0

The second half started with chances for Moffat in 47 and 50 minutes. His first Mutch did well to save the second from a Reilly cut back zoomed over the top from close in. Arbroath too had early chances Kader trying a shot and Doris sending a header wide.

Ashcroft`s block on a Linn shot earned Arbroath a 56th minute corner on the left and the visitors then appealed for another as Richards-Everton was the one left on the deck after the challenge went up. Back to the other end and Cardle shot one over the bar and then on the hour, the almost super Joe hit the left upright from 25 yards out.

Then in 61 minutes Reilly sped in from the right, picked out Moffat who slid the ball forward for GEGGAN to stick the ball away for 2-0.

Following the second goal, Paul McManus and Kallum Higginbotham were introduced, McCabe and Reilly going off. Higginbotham had barely been on the park three minutes when he picked out Williamson to take the ball to the byeline and cross for MOFFAT to sweep the ball into the Angus side`s net. 3-0

Higginbotham drove a 30 yard free kick into Doris who knew all about its force as he beat it away. The sub next whipped over a great ball from the right but Moffat just couldn`t get the right touch to make it four. Moffat had a further chance and Cardle netted only to be flagged for offside.

Cardle was straight through in 86 minutes but Mutch saved the shot and as McMullan went to control the rebound Ricky Little went straight through him to cause referee David Munro to brandish his red card. Higginbotham drove the free kick over the crossbar from 25 yards.

It was a workmanlike performance for the Pars who never looked back after Moffat`s opener. Higginbotham made a mark on his debut but the Betfred Man of the Match went to Ryan Williamson who tormented all game on that right flank.

Pars TV highlights
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin: Rhys McCabe (Paul McMullan 62), Andy Geggan (c), Nat Wedderburn (Lewis Spence 71), Joe Cardle: Michael Moffat, Gavin Reilly (Kallum Higginbotham 62)
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Callum Smith, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Moffat (44, 66), Geggan (62)
YELLOW CARD: Geggan (74)

ARBROATH: Robbie Mutch. Gary Philips (Gavin Malin 75), Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton, Mark Whatley (c), Ryan McCord (Liam Callaghan 75), Martin Scott, Omar Kader, Bryan Prunty, Steven Doris, Bobby Linn (Josh Thomson 75)
SUBS NOT USED: David Gold, Michael Dunlop, Kane Hester, Ricky Gomes (GK),
YELLOW CARD: Doris (90)
RED CARD: Little (86)

REFEREE: David Munro
WEATHER: Sunny 26C
ATTENDANCE 1974

NEXT MATCH: Betfred Cup. (away) v Cowdenbeath
Saturday 23rd July 2016, kick 3.00pm at Central Park

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Preview Arbroath

Tuesday, 19th Jul 2016

Betfred League Cup: Tuesday 19th July
7.45pm kick off at East End Park

The Pars first two competitive matches of the 2016-17 season will be against the same opponents as last season. The venue for both matches this year are reversed so this Tuesday Arbroath will be the visitors and the following Saturday the Pars travel to Central Park to face Liam Fox`s Cowdenbeath. These matches are in the re-vamped Scottish League Cup now sponsored by Betfred.

Allan Johnston will be hoping that his Championship team will make a good impression in the Betfred Cup but even he would doubt their ability to repeat last season`s first four scorelines - 4-1, 5-1, 6-1 and 7-1. Arbroath are now managed by former Pars gaffer Dick Campbell. after over seven years in charge the 62 year old left Forfar Athletic in December last year and within three months was installed as manager of the League Two club. 

After taking over on 8th March Dick won two, drew one and lost six as the Red Lichties finished ninth in League Two. They kicked off this season on Friday night with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United in the first match of this Betfred Cup section. Their added time goal tied the game at 1-1 and in the next format for the competition a penalty shoot out decided the bonus point and United won that.

Previously

Last Fifteen Matches v Arbroath
Date	Competition	H/A	W D L	. F-A  .
25/07/15	Challenge Cup	A	W	4-1
26/04/14	League One	A	W	2-1
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
15/08/84	League Cup	H	W	4-0

In the last thirty years the sides have only spent one season together in the league and have met as many times in cup competitions in that time. Arbroath were the visitors for the opening league match of season 2013-2014 and it was to be the Angus club`s first win at East End Park since December 1984. . In the interim Arbroath had three times come to Halbeath Road on cup business but the Pars had successfully negotiated League Cup and Challenge Cup ties against them.

Milestones Arbroath (home)
Last Victory	25/02/14	3-0	League One
Last Defeat	17/08/13	2-3	League One
Best Victory	1931-32	6-0	Div Two*
Worst Defeat	12/12/36	1-4	Div One*
*Pre league reconstruction

Last Meeting at East End Park

League One: Tuesday 25th February 2014
Jim Jefferies went with unchanged starting eleven and for the first time that season the team achieved back to back shut outs. At the other end Stephen Husband, Ross Forbes and Josh Falkingham found the net to record an emphatic victory.

In 26 minutes Falkingham won another Pars corner and when that became another after the Arbroath clearance, Dunfermline got the goal that their pressure fully deserved. Keeper Sandy Wood could only punch Ross Millen`s free kick as far as Stephen Husband and from 15 yards Hubby made no mistake with a perfectly executed volley into the left corner of the Arbroath net. On the hour Ross Forbes just inside the box finished a Falkingham delivery from the right. Forbes was involved in Pars third goal in 71 minutes. His pass set Danny Granger off down the left wing and Danny`s low dipping cross found Falkingham charging in at the back post to slide home goal number three.

Last Meeting at Gayfield Park

Pertrofac Training Cup: Saturday 25th July 2015
Allan Johnston`s first competitive match as Dunfermline manager turned out to be an emphatic away win at Gayfield. His selection for this match had been worked on all pre season but in the end he was missing three of the players who had faced Hibs the previous Saturday.

No Josh Falkingham out with a hip injury, no David Hopkirk and no Jason Talbot due to his red card against Hibs. That made way for Lewis Martin, Shaun Byrne and the return of Joe Cardle. Faissal El Bakhtaoui scored the opener in just the eighth minute when Martin passed infield for the striker who took a touch before sending a 25 yard shot low into the bottom left.  Michael Moffat made it two 12 minutes later finishing a Ryan Williamson cut back. An El Bakhtaoui header and Wallace with a 20 yard strike made it four before substitute Martin Grehan stuck away a 72nd minute consolation.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Hearts): David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin: Rhys McCabe, Andy Geggan (c)(Lewis Spence 84), Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle: Michael Moffat (Paul McMullan 77), Gavin Reilly
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Callum Smith, James Thomas, David Hopkirk, Euan Spark, Cammy Gill (GK)

ARBROATH (v Dundee United):  Robbie Mutch. Gary Philips, Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton, Mark Whatley, Ryan McCord (Josh Thomson HT), Martin Scott, Omar Kader, Bryan Prunty (David Gold 75), Steven Dorris, Bobby Linn (Liam Callaghan 86)
SUBS NOT USED: Ricky Gomes (GK), Michael Dunlop, Gavin Malin, Kane Hester

Arbroath have signed goalkeeper, Ricky Gomes who has represented Canada at international level. Ricky who is 23 years old last played for Atletico Club Malveira in Portugal and impressed during training and in the second half of the friendly against Raith Rovers. They also have keeper Robbie Mutch on loan from Aberdeen. The seventeen year old was man of the match in Arbroath`s first Betfred match against Dundee United.

Referee will be David Munro.

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