Brechin City 1 Dunfermline 5
Saturday, 3rd Sep 2016Irn-Bru Cup: Lee Ashcroft (17) 0-1: Dougie Hill (25 og) 0-2: Ally Love (26) 1-2: Paul McMullan (49) 1-3: Gavin Reilly (80) 1-4: Lee Ashcroft (90+2) 1-5.
The Pars eventually ran out comfortable winners in this third round tie in the Irn Bru Cup, but were made to work hard by their lower division hosts.
Allan Johnston took the opportunity to make four changes to the team that had lost to Queen of the South – giving a debut to Nicky Clark, replacing the suspended Talbot with Martin and also allowing Fordyce and McMullan a chance to stake their claims. Among the familiar faces in the Brechin line-up was former Par Finn Graham.
After a 10 minute delay to accommodate Pars fans caught in tailbacks at the Friarton Bridge, the Pars took the kick-off and were soon on the front foot with Williamson seeing lots of the ball in an advanced position, but although he won a couple of corners the Pars were unable to worry Smith in the Brechin goal – an early McCabe shot being well off target.
Reilly was the more prominent of the front pairing, but good interplay set up his partner Clark in nine minutes, but he stumbled just as he got clear of the home defence.
Paton picked out Reilly after a break down the right in 14th minute, but the striker couldn’t get his header on target. Two minutes later the same player was denied in the act of shooting after Smith elected to clear another Paton cross with his foot. However, the Pars won a corner, and this time Smith chose to punch, mistimed it, and the ball flew to ASHCROFT who was able to nod it into the net. 0-1
Graham picked up an early booking after a firm tackle on McCabe as the home team tried to get back into the match. They won their first corner half way through the first period, but this was easily defended. instead defensive problems at the other end proved costly as a fine McMullan pass into the channel sent Reilly away. His cutback was met by Willie Dyer who under pressure from Paton only managed to ricochet the ball off HILL past his own keeper. 0-2
Brechin needed a quick response, and got it immediately – the Pars only half-cleared a cross and LOVE hit a fine volley from the edge of the box past the despairing dive of Hutton. 1-2
Four minutes later and it could have been two apiece – a ballfrom the left was flicked on by Caldwell but Love put the ball over the bar from close range.
The Pars had a late chance when McCabe slipped the ball through to Geggan, but Smith was out quickly to fall on the ball. Nevertheless, the Pars would have been happy to have had the lead at the break.
Half time: Brechin City 1 Dunfermline Athletic 2
Brechin kicked of the second half and Hutton was soon in action, sprinting 20 yards from his line to clear after Love appeared to have sprung the off-side trap. The Pars keeper was less bothered soon after by a long distance shot from Paul McLean which failed to find the target.
However, some of Brechin’s resistance was snuffed out when the Pars extended their lead with a well taken goal. Paton made space on the right before switching play to McCabe on the left, he laid the ball back to MCMULLAN who had time to turn and place the ball beyond Smith. 1-3
Again Love had an immediate chance to pull one back – a cross from the right was not fully cleared, the ball being returned to the back post but Love’s acrobatic effort was off-target. One minute later and again it was Love, this time on the left, picking up a cross-field pass but this time Hutton did well to save at his near post.
Having survived this, the Pars looked to extend their lead further. McCabe showed excellent technique with a volley from 25 yards, but Smith was well-positioned to save. The Brechin stopper again showed his experience to smother a Clark effort from close range after McMullan’s teasing chip into the box had set up the chance.
The Pars’ defence then appeared to switch off on a couple of occasions – from a 56th minute free-kick the substitute Ford was allowed a free shot, which he failed to take, before Martin had to concede a corner when Brechin made ground down the right.
Cardle replaced Paton, then Herron made his debut at the expense of McCabe. Cardle soon won a corner, which he took himself and Clark nearly got himself on the scoresheet with a glancing header.
The Pars did score a fourth after a mistake by Rodgers – the centre-back allowed his clearance to hit REILLY who ran onto the loose ball before a composed finish beat Smith from 15 yards. 1-4
Higginbotham got a late run in place of Clark and as the home team tired, Dunfermline had chances to embellish the score-line. Geggan slipped at the crucial juncture shaping to volley Cardle’s chip and Joe himself was frustrated by Smith’s save at the near post. Then, with the game into stoppage time, the Pars won a free-kick on the right, 30 yards from goal. Higginbotham slung the ball to the back post where an unmarked ASHCROFT completed a double with a simple header. 1-5
BRECHIN CITY: Graeme Smith, Paul McLean, Willie Dyer (Elliot Ford 59), Euan Smith, Dougie Hill, Gareth Rodgers, James Dale, Finn Graham, Ross Caldwell, Aron Lynas, Ally LoveSUBS NOT USED: Darren McCormack, Chris O’Neil, Darren Dods, Patrick O’Neil (GK)
SCORERS: Love (26)
YELLOW CARD: Graham (20)
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton, Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Callum Fordyce, Lewis Martin, Michael Paton (Joe Cardle 68), Andy Geggan, Rhys McCabe (John Herron 76), Paul McMullan, Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark (Kallum Higginbotham 82)
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Spence, Michael Moffat, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Ashcroft (17, 90+2), Hill (o.g. 25), McMullan (49), Reilly (80)
REFEREE: Crawford Allan
WEATHER: 18C overcast
ATTENDANCE 577
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Dundee United
Saturday 10th September 2016, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park
Views : 9,705
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Preview Brechin City
Saturday, 3rd Sep 2016Kick off 3.00pm at Glebe Park
Brechin City have lost the last four matches against the Pars.
This Saturday`s Irn-Bru cup tie takes the Pars back to Glebe Park. Brechin City and Dunfermline did not meet in any competitive fixtures for almost two decades but then met twelve times over the last three seasons in League One. Undefeated against the Fifers in season 2014-15, Brechin have now lost the last four matches against the Pars. The Dunfermline record in the last twelve games is six wins, three draws and three defeats. Overall the Fifers have won 38, drawn 10 and lost 9 of the 57 matches in which they have played Brechin City.
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Milestones v Brechin City (away) |
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Last Victory |
20/02/16 |
2-1 |
League One |
|
Last Defeat |
18/04/15 |
0-3 |
League One |
|
Best Victory |
07/03/79 |
6-1 |
Div Two |
|
Worst Defeat |
07/11/31 |
0-3 |
Div Two |
The teams met in the opening game of the 2015-16 league season when the Pars left Glebe Park as 6-1 winners. Goals from Faissal El Bakhtaoui (8), Michael Moffat (23), Joe Cardle (31), El Bakhtaoui (44), Ryan Wallace (80) had Allan Johnston`s team well ahead before David Weatherston got a consolation in 89 minutes only for Josh Falkingham (90) to restore the five goal advantage.
That 6-1 win was the first victory there on league business since 4th January 1994. The August 2015 result also matched the best Pars result in Brechin, a 6-1 win in 1979 courtesy of a Mike Leonard hat trick and goals from Jimmy Mullin, Kevin Hegarty, and Walter Borthwick.
| Last twelve meetings | ||||
| 2015/2016 | ||||
| League One | Dunfermline | 3-1 | Brechin City | 26/03/16 |
| League One | Brechin City | 1-2 | Dunfermline | 20/02/16 |
| League One | Dunfermline | 3-1 | Brechin City | 05/12/15 |
| League One | Brechin City | 1-6 | Dunfermline | 08/08/15 |
| 2014/2015 | ||||
| League One | Brechin City | 3-0 | Dunfermline | 18/04/15 |
| League One | Brechin City | 1-1 | Dunfermline | 02/03/15 |
| League One | Dunfermline | 0-1 | Brechin City | 24/02/15 |
| League One | Dunfermline | 0-0 | Brechin City | 09/08/14 |
| 2013/2014 | ||||
| League One | Dunfermline | 2-1 | Brechin City | 29/03/14 |
| League One | Brechin City | 3-2 | Dunfermline | 25/01/14 |
| League One | Dunfermline | 3-1 | Brechin City | 23/11/13 |
| League One | Brechin City | 1-1 | Dunfermline | 14/09/13 |
Last time at Glebe Park - Saturday 20 February 2016
Ladbrokes League One: Allan Johnston went with the same starting eleven for the third match running. Josh Falkingham opened the scoring for the league leaders but Robert Thomson got Brechin back level in 17 minutes. Ben Richards-Everton scored what turned out to be the winner four minutes before half time.
BRECHIN CITY: Graeme Smith. Gary Fusco, Paul McLean, Lukas Culjak, Willie Dyer. Jonathan Tiffoney (David Weatherston 57 (Scott Shepherd 71)), Craig Molloy (Euan Smith 85), James Dale, Jamie Montgomery. Andy Jackson, Robert Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Johnston, Darren Dods, Darren McCormack, Patrick O`Neil (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch. Craig Reid, Brad McKay, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot. Michael Paton (Ryan Wallace 81), Andy Geggan (c), Josh Falkingham, Joe Cardle (David Hopkirk 77). Michael Moffat, Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys McCabe, Shaun Byrne, Shaun Rooney, Paul Joseph Crossan, David Hutton (GK).
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Recent Form this season - |
||||||
| . Brechin City | .
. .. |
. Dunfermline | ||||
| . . East Fife (A) |
.W |
2-1 | . Queen of South (H) | .L |
.0-1 |
|
| . . Queens Park (H) | D | 0-0 | . Raith Rovers (A) | L | 0-2 | |
| . . Cove Rangers (H) | W | 4-1 | . Hibernian (A) | L | 1-2 | |
| . . Albion Rovers (A) | W | 2-0 | . Dumbarton (H) | W | 4-3 | |
| . . Stenhousemuir (H) | W | 2-1 | . Dundee United (A) | L | .0-2 | |
| . . Falkirk (A) |
L |
0-2 | . Inverness Caley (H) | . L | .1-5 | |
Brechin got through to the Third Round of the Irn-Bru Cup by disposing of Highland League club Cove Rangers by four goals to one. On Saturday Brechin City travelled to Bayview and recorded a 2-1 win over East Fife with former Par Finn Graham netting the winner five minutes into the second half. That took their record to five matches without defeat.
Meantime at East End Park the 1-0 reversal at the hands of Queen of the South means that Dunfermline have won just once in their last six matches.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Queen of the South): David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot: Rhys McCabe (Lewis Spence 80), Andy Geggan (c), Kallum Higginbotham (Paul McMullan HT), Michael Paton: Michael Moffat (Lewis Martin 64), Gavin Reilly.
SUBS NOT USED: Euan Spark, Callum Fordyce, Cammy Gill (GK)
BRECHIN CITY (v East Fife): Graeme Smith. Chris O`Neil (Paul McLean 75), Dougie Hill, Gareth Rodgers, Willie Dyer: James Dale, Finn Graham (Aron Lynas, 89), Euan Smith, Ally Love: Ross Caldwell, Andy Jackson.
SUBS NOT USED: Elliot Ford, Darren MacCormack, Gary Fusco, Darren Dods Patrick O`Neil (GK).
Referee will be Crawford Allan
Views : 9,135
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