Dunfermline 0 Alloa Athletic 0

Saturday, 15th Sep 2018

Ladbrokes Championship: Kallum Higginbotham out, Myles Hippolyte in

From the side that played the previous week at Borehamwood, Kallum Higginbotham dropped out and Myles Hippolyte came in.

For their first league match at East End Park since May 1985, Alloa Athletic made five changes from the side that knocked Dundee United out of the Irn Bru Cup on penalties last time out. Out went Jon Robertson, Greig Spence, Connor Shields, Adam Brown and Reid Peggie, in their place there was Sam Roscoe, Steven Hetherington, Kevin Cawley, Jake Hastie and Alan Trouten.

Dunfermline wore Poppy red shirts to commemorate “The Seven Heroes of Moeuvres, September 1918” and the teams changed ends before the home side kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand End. First keeper in serious action was Alloa’s Neil Parry scurrying to gather a Faissal El Bakhtaoui prod into the left side of the penalty box that sought Jackson Longridge.

In third minute Louis Longridge sent in a good cross from the right that skipper Andy Graham headed clear before the visitors forced two fifth minute corners with James Craigen eventually clearing the threat.

There was more action right in front of the Alloa goal as El Bakhtaoui sent a L Longridge pass across the goalmouth and Craigen turned it back for Hippolyte but he could not direct the shot on target. Alloa pushed up with Lee Ashcroft clearing. Dario Zanatta collected but his cut back was intercepted. Hippolyte was sent away on the counter but opted to try a shot himself and that was blocked.

Robbie Muirhead was played a nicely waited pass from El Bakhtaoui but chose to shoot from the angle as he made the penalty box. Parry dropped to his right to hold the 19th minute effort. Two minutes later Muirhead provided his partner with a good chance 15 yards out but Parry was out quick and got the break to deny the goal.

An El Bakhtaoui shot deflected off Graham for another Pars corner but that was ably defended. Then on 25 minutes two telling blocks kept out strong attempts from Zanatta and then Trouten. Ashcroft and J Longridge making the important interventions.

Next El Bakhtaoui got the better of Graham, survived Cawley’s effort to disposses him and sent the ball to the far corner of the Alloa box but L Longridge was robbed by Dick. Joe Thomson’s 30th minute snapshot was deflected for a corner and even though the Fifers forced another Parry got both hands to Muirhead’s second setpiece.

Alloa forced two corners in 33rd minute raising the hopes of the travelling support but Jake Hastie‘s second was well held by Lee Robinson stretching high above everyone else.

When J Longridge slid in to meet Hippolyte’s 41st minute cross, the Pars man was really unlucky not to add to his tally but the ball sneaked wide left. 54% first half possession, five corners and five shots but no goals at the interval.

Half time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Alloa Athletic 0

First note of the second half was a 52nd minute yellow card for Hippolyte for cutting down Hetherington but when he sent in the free kick from the right it was an easy take for Robinson. A Muirhead free kick three minutes later found Durnan on the far side of the box but his headed attempt went wide right.

The on loan Jambo Zanatta was next to threaten and it was a fine tackle from Craigen that prevented a shot. Then a Durnan challenge on Trouten gave Alloa another opportunity to lob a long ball towards the home box. Graham rose to head the ball across goal and Robinson’s chest kept out Trouten’s touch.

The keepers then held crosses, Robinson from Taggart and then Parry from Muirhead. Allan Johnston made a 64th minute double substitution, Louis Longridge and Myles Hippoyte being withdrawn to be replaced by Andy Ryan and Aidan Connolly. The latter showed early intent striking a low shot narrowly wide right.

Next Connolly fed El Bakhtaoui but his shot was beaten away. Alloa had everyone back and El Bakhtaoui ran out of space as he tried to get in a shot. Connolly again raced upfield from an El Bakhtaoui pass but Thomson’s shot did not trouble Parry.

Graham picked up a 79th minute yellow card as he tumbled Muirhead 20 yards out and from the free kick Connolly hit the roof of the Alloa net but unfortunately the outside of it. Next as Ryan was stopped on the left the ball came back to Muirhead but his shot was wayward.

Another Alloa setpiece in 82 minutes was headed away by Durnan but Alloa were not giving up in their quest for the winner. Ryan was offside when Longridge tried to switch play to the other end and then Craigen’s pass was taken out by Dick as the home side attacked.

Shields was offside as Hastie tried to pick him out on the right and Ryan was yellow carded a the frustration showed. Connolly’s free kick was headed away by Graham and Parry held the last attempt a lobbed effort from Durnan.

Alloa celebrated what they clearly felt was a good point and extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Mark Durnan, Jackson Longridge: Louis Longridge (Andy Ryan 64), James Vincent, Joe Thomson, Myles Hippolyte (Aidan Connolly 64): Robbie Muirhead, Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Malaury Martin, Matthew Todd, Danny Devine, Cammy Gill (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Hippolyte (52), Ryan (86)

ALLOA ATHLETIC: Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Andy Graham (c), Sam Roscoe, Liam Dick: Kevin Cawley (Connor Shields 76), Iain Flannigan, Steven Hetherington, Jake Hastie, Alan Trouten (Liam Burt 61), Dario Zanatta (Greig Spence 73).
SUBS NOT USED: Jon Robertson, Adam Brown, Reis Peggie, Chris Henry (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Flannigan (60), Graham (79), Hetherington (88)

REFEREE: Mike Roncone
WEATHER: Cloudy 14C
ATTENDANCE 4568

NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (away) v Morton, Saturday 22nd September 2018 at Cappielow

50/50 half time draw winning ticket is ticket: 306359 for the prize of £640


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Preview Alloa Athletic

Saturday, 15th Sep 2018

Ladbrokes Championship: (home) Saturday 15th September 2018, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park.

Following the Irn Bru Cup draw this will be the first of three matches against Alloa Athletic in the next nine. However it is almost 34 years since Alloa Athletic last travelled to meet Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park for a league match on 27th October 1984.

The most recent home match against Alloa was the second leg of First Division play off on 19th May 2013, a match the Pars won 1-0 but not enough to counter the 3-0 defeat in the first leg.

Before meeting twice in the space of four days the last meeting was on 26th August 2008 when an Andy Kirk goal saw the Pars through by 1-0 to the next round of the League Cup. Before that on 26 September 2001 Barry Nicholson and Gary Mason (2) were the matchwinners for the Pars in a straightforward 4-0 victory in the same competition.

Milestones v Alloa Athletic (home)
Last home win | 19/05/13 | 1-0 | First Division Play off
Last home defeat | 18/09/76 | Second Division
Best home win: | 30/01/58 | 8-1 | Second Division
Worst home defeat: | 11/09/1886 | 4-8 | Scottish Cup
Last home goalless draw: never
First home league meeting: | 10/09/21 | 0-1 | Division Two

Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic

21/01/17 | Alloa 2 Dunfermline 3 | Scottish Cup
19/05/13 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | Div One Play off
15/05/13 | Alloa Athletic 3 Dunfermline 0 | Div One Play off
26/08/08 | Dunfermlne 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | League Cup
26/09/01 | Dunfermline 3 Alloa Athletic 0 | League Cup
20/08/91 | Dunfermline 4 Alloa Athletic 1 | League Cup
05/05/85 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 0 | Second Division
26/02/85 | Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline 3 | Second Division
27/10/84 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Second Division
26/03/83 | Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline 1 | First Division
03/01/83 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 0 | First Division
06/11/82 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 2 | First Division

Last time at East End Park
Sunday 19 May 2013, Division One Play Off
Dunfermline 1 Alloa 0

On Sunday 19th May Dunfermline Athletic were relegated as a result of failing to claw back the three goal deficit from the first leg against Alloa Athletic.

The only goal of the game came in 73 minutes when Josh Falkingham’s cross from the right evaded the heads of the Pars attackers and Alloa defenders to drop for SMITH and at an angle from the left he drilled his shot into the bottom right of the Alloa goal.

As the clock ran out few chances came Dunfermline’s way and their fate was sealed when Stephen Husband was red carded in 86 minutes for high kick that felled Darren Young. Falkingham almost carved a route to goal and Craig Dargo had a run. A Smith shot was beaten away by Bain and in 90 minutes Kerr Young had a good header tipped over the bar by the keeper.

DUNFERMLINE: Michal Hrivnak; Ross Millen, Kerr Young, John Potter (Craig Dargo HT), Alex Whittle; Josh Falkingham (c), Stephen Husband, Chris Kane, Andy Geggan; Ryan Thomson, Allan Smith.
SUBS NOT USED: Shaun Byrne, Lewis Martin, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)

ALLOA ATHLETIC: Scott Bain; Michael Doyle, Ben Gordon, Jason Marr. Daryll Meggat, Ryan McCord (Darren Young 60), Kevin Moon, Stephen Simmons, Graeme Holmes, Calum Elliot, Kevin Cawley.
SUBS NOT USED: Jonathan Tiffoney, Mark Docherty, Martin Grehan, Craig McDowall (GK).

Alloa Athletic have played ten competitive matches this season. They have already met Dundee United three times and on every occasion the matches have been drawn. They played Ross County back to back as well so they have not had easy games but they have registered wins in their cup matches against Arbroath, Elgin City and Stirling Albion.

Form Last Six Matches

DUNFERMLINE
Boreham Wood (A) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-3
Ayr United (A) L 1-4
Hearts (H) L 0-1
Inverness Caley Thisle (A) W 2-1
Ross County (H) L 1-3

ALLOA ATHLETIC
Dundee United (A) D 1-1
Dundee United (H) D 1-1
Inverness Caley (A) D 2-2
Stirling Albion (A) W 3-1
Morton (H) L 0-2
Ross County (A) L 1-0

League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
Position: 8th
P4 W1 D0 L3
For 5 Against 12
Goal Difference -7
Points 3

ALLOA ATHLETIC
Position: 9th
P4 W0 D2 L2
For 3 Against 6
Goal Difference: -3
Points: 2

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Boreham Wood): Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Mark Durnan, Jackson Longridge: Kallum Higginbotham (Myles Hippolyte 54), James Vincent, Joe Thomson (Malaury Martin 68), Robbie Muirhead: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Louis Longridge (Aidan Connolly 76).
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Ryan, Lewis McCann, Cammy Gill (GK).

ALLOA ATHLETIC (v Dundee United): Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Liam Dick, Andy Graham, Jon Robertson, Iain Flannigan, Adam Brown (Alan Trouten 57), Reis Peggie, Greg Spence (Ahmed Aloulou 74), Dario Zanatta, Connor Shields (Kevin Cawley 62).

Referee will be Mike Roncone.

Other Championship fixtures
Ayr United v Falkirk
Dundee United v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Partick Thistle
Queen of the South v Ross County

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