Dunfermline 3 Ayr United 2
Saturday, 19th Oct 2019Ladbrokes Championship: Paul Paton returns, Tom Beadling on the bench. Greg Kiltie (29) 1-0: Lee Ashcroft (og 43): Alan Forrest (57) 1-2: Lee Ashcroft (63) 2-2: Andy Ryan (84) 3-2
The Pars returned to East End Park after the international break with Paul Paton also back after missing the last two matches at home to Alloa Athletic and away to Morton. Tom Beadling dropped to the bench where Gabby McGill also returned.
Opponents Ayr United made one change from the side that lost at home to Inverness Caley Thistle last time out, 37 year old Mark Kerr brought in to relegate Jordan Houston to their subs bench. Other former Pars facing their old team were Andy Geggan and Michael Moffat.
Ayr United do not seem to be overly distracted since manager Ian McCall’s departure and sat joint top level with Dundee United on 18 points from the first eight league fixtures, going into this match. The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end but it was the Pars who produced the first shot of the game, Ryan Dow’s third minute shot being deflected wide right for a corner.
There were loud appeals for a penalty when Josh Edwards sent the ball over from the right, Kevin Nisbet appearing to be pushed off his header attempt by Daniel Harvey. No decision from referee Alan Muir but clearly cause for complaint by the Pars striker.
Dunfermline 3-2 Ayr United
Sat, 19th Oct 2019
Nisbet was taken our rather sorely five minutes later when Aaron Muirhead crudely stopped him benefiting from a neat Paton pass. A yellow card for the former Falkirk defender, Nisbet was able to continue after physio’s treatment but Greg Kiltie drove the 25 yard out free kick into the Ayr wall.
First real threat from the Somerset Park side came in 14 minutes when Moffat sent Luke McCowan away down the right. His cross was good but Alan Forrest could not meet it at the far post.
Two McCowan corners were then sent over from the right. Geggan met the first forcing a good save from a Cammy Gill down at the base of his left hand post. The second was headed into the far sidenetting by centre half Sam Roscoe.
Ayr began to get a disturbingly good period of passing play together and the East End Park support watched as their side found it hard to gain much possession. Harvey tripped Kiltie to hand the Fifers a 27th minute free kick on the right. Edwards crosses and three times Ayr cleared through Geggan, Roscoe and Docherty. Play stuck in the Ayr half and good play between Dow and Nisbet allowed the latter to pick out KILTIE who dragged the ball left away from the committed Ross Doohan to tuck away the opener from close range 1-0.
The lead could have doubled immediately with two great chances for Nisbet. Kiltie’s through ball put the former Rovers man in on the right side of the box but this time Doohan did well to turn the ball over his bar. Then from the resultant corner the Pars striker time his run in from the left to meet the ball with a powerful header that just cleared the crossbar.
In 37 minutes Kyle Turner took on Geggan and having turned on him on the left side of the box hit a low cross towards the awaiting Kiltie and Nisbet in front of goal but the Ayr defence cleared. A Kelly shot was deflected for an Ayr corner five minutes from the break but that was easily cleared but then Kelly had another pop that went wide right.
Dow to Kiltie on the Dunfermline right but the cross was cleared by Muirhead. Back to the other end and under tremendous pressure from a Geggan cross, the Pars defence and keeper made several good blocks before eventually the ball ended up in the net. It looked like Forrest’s header was the decisive touch but it was an unfortunate Lee ASHCROFT who caused the ball to cross the line 1-1.
A cruel blow just as it looked like Stevie Crawford`s men would take in an interval lead.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Ayr United 1
On loan Rangers player Jordan Houston replaced Mark Kerr before the second half resumed and Josh Coley came on for Harry Cochrane after Ayr started the better. A Forrest ball in from the left was just too strong for McCowan and Gill did really well to fist away a cross destined for the head of inrunning Geggan.
There had been an intensifying threat from the Ayr left this half and in 57 minutes Alan FORREST cut into the top corner of the Pars box and despite Aaron Comrie’s best attempts, the 23 year old hit an unstoppable effort into the far side of the Pars net. 1-1
Nisbet was then again toppled in the box but no penalty and he was then subbed for Andy Ryan in 61 minutes. Two minutes later an equaliser had East End rocking. It came from a fantastic Lee ASHCROFT volley from 25 yards out. 2-2.
Andy Ryan reacted to a quickly taken free kick by Paton but his shot from an acute angle on the right was turned behind by Roscoe. Ayr survived the corner but the Fifers were pushing hard for a winner.
Comrie evaded a wild Harvey tackle to get in behind on the right but the defence cleared Dow’s attempt.
Ayr countered through Forrest his ball across the top of the six yard box evading all and Edwards hooked the ball out for a 72nd minute corner that Geggan headed wide.
Turner had a right footed shot blocked and Andy Ryan a header saved from under the crossbar. In 79 minutes Ryan created another great chance to be the hero. The second half sub beat off Muirhead on half way and combined with Kiltie before getting a shot away but it was wide of goal.
Tom Beadling replaced Kyle Turner after he picked up a yellow card but it was Ryan again who played the ball on to Kiltie. The ball broke for Paton whose hammered shot was blocked.
Nine minutes from time and the result was going either way. Gill made a terrific save from a powerful Kelly shot and that allowed for three minutes later a winner to duly arrive at the right end.
Kiltie played a superb ball into the right side of the Ayr box where RYAN evaded the offside trap to find the far corner and make it 3-2
A Forrest cross this time from the right was defended. A Kelly cross was blocked by Comrie for a corner on the left. That produced a cracking shot from Kelly at the quickly taken setpiece but the quality of the shot was matched with a quality save from Gill.
With the match in time added on Dunfermline defended comfortably. In the third extra minute Paton furious at a Geggan challenge. Yellow was shown to Ayr man, Paton with blood streaming from his eyebrow was treated by physio. Another head band but the final whistle came soon after the resumption and it was to be a well deserved first Pars league win of the season at home.
Three vital points on a day when none of the morning’s top four were to win. Up to seventh and on to tackle Dundee United at Tannadice next.
SUBS NOT USED: Gabby McGill, Danny Devine, Stuart Morrison, Ryan Scully (GK)
SCORERS: Kiltie (29), Ashcroft (63), Ryan (84)
YELLOW CARD: Turner (78)
AYR UNITED: Ross Doohan: Andy Geggan, Aaron Muirhead, Sam Roscoe, Daniel Harvie: Ross Docherty (c), Mark Kerr (Jordan Houston HT), Stephen Kelly, Luke McCowan (Kris Doolan 82), Michael Moffat, Alan Forrest.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Moore, Craig McGuffie, Finn Ecrepont, Mark McKenzie, Ellis Hare-Reid (GK)
SCORERS: Ashcroft (o.g. 43), Forrest (57)
YELLOW CARD: Muirhead (9), McCowan (68), Docherty (77), Geggan (90+3)
REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Overcast 11C
ATTENDANCE 3905
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Dundee United Saturday 26th October 2019, 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice
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Preview Ayr United
Saturday, 19th Oct 2019Ladbrokes Championship: (home) Saturday 19th October 2019, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park.
Dunfermline’s next match will be at home against Ayr United. Both sides had already exited the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup so they had a free weekend over the international break.
Milestones v Ayr United (home)
Last League Victory | 13/02/16 | 3-2 | League One
Last League Defeat | 29/03/19 | 0-1 | Championship
Best League Victory | 10/12/94 | 6-0 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 13/10/73 | 0-4 | Div One (old)
Last Goalless League match | 22/12/18 | Championship
First League meeting | 30/11/1912 | Div Two (old)
Last time at East End Park
Championship, Friday 29th March 2019
Dunfermline 0 Ayr United 1
One first half goal from Declan McDaid that secured the points for Ayr United drove a serious dent in the Pars hopes of making the play offs.
It was fifth v fourth for this televised Friday night fixture. Dunfermline were looking for a victory that would take them level on points with their Ayrshire visitors.
In 31 minutes Declan McDAID found the far side of the net when his cross cum shot from out left sneaked in with Ryan Scully possibly expecting the inrunning Lawrence Shankland to take the finish. 0-1 but hardly against the run of play.
Nine minutes later were dealt a more long term blow. With no one beside him Joe Thomson in possession crumbled with a problem. There was a seven minute delay while the staff attended to him but he needed a stretcher to leave the field. It was later to be diagnosed as season ending tear in his anterior cruciate ligament.
As for the remainder of the game both sides created chances but Ian McCall’s clung on to secure the three points.
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling, James Vincent (Matthew Todd 74): Joe Thomson (James Craigen 45+2), Louis Longridge, Kallum Higginbotham (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 61): Bruce Anderson.
SUBS NOT USED: Mark Durnan, Ryan Blair, Lewis McCann, Cammy Gill (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Devine (69), El Bakhtaoui (FT)
AYR UNITED: Ross Doohan: Liam Smith, Michael Rose, Steven Bell (c), Daniel Harvie: Robbie Crawford, Andy Murdoch, Mark Kerr, Declan McDaid: Michael Moffat, Lawrence Shankland (Liam Miller 74).
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Muirhead, Andy Geggan, Nicky Cadden, Ross Docherty, Alan Forest, Ellis Hare-Reid (GK)
Of the last twelve league meetings against Ayr United, Dunfermline have won five, lost four and drawn three. Ayr have left East End Park with a clean sheet on each of their last three visits.
Last Twelve League Meetings v Ayr United
Date | H/A | F-A | W D L | League
28/03/19 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship
23/02/19 | A | 1-0 | W | Championship
22/12/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
25/08/18 | A | 1-4 | L | Championship
18/03/17 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship
07/01/17 | A | 2-0 | W | Championship
03/12/16 | H | 1-1 | D | Championship
01/10/16 | A | 0-0 | D | Championship
12/03/16 | A | 2-0 | W | League One
13/02/16 | H | 3-2 | W | League One
12/12/15 | A | 2-1 | W | League One
12/09/15 | H | 0-2 | L | League One
Form Last Six Matches
Dunfermline have only won on one of the last six occasions when Ayr United have been their guests. They have also only won one of their last six matches.
DUNFERMLINE
Morton (A) D 1-1
Alloa Athletic (H) D 1-1
Partick Thistle (A) W 3-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-1
Alloa Athletic (H) L 1-2
Arbroath (A) L 0-1
AYR UNITED
Inverness Caley Th (H) L 0-2
Arbroath (A) L 0-2
Alloa Athletic (A) W 4-1
Dundee United (H) W 2-0
Wrexham (A) D 1-1
Partick Thistle (A) W 3-2
Recent Form
Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last three league matches but they are still in search of their first home league game.
Ayr United have impressed having won six of their eight league games. Their two defeats came at Dundee and at home to Inverness Caley Thistle last time out. The effect of the departure of Ian McCall to Partick Thistle may have rocked their boat.
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 9th
League Points: 7
Goal Difference: -1
League Record: P8 W1 D4 L3 GF8 GA9
Last Six League Match Form: LLLWDD
AYR UNITED
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 18
Goal Difference: +9
League Record: P8 W6 D0 L2 GF17 GA8
Last Six League Match Form: WDWWWL
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Cammy Gill: Aaron Comrie, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Tom Beadling, Harry Cochrane (Stuart Morrison 86), Kyle Turner: Greg Kiltie (Andy Ryan 66), Kevin Nisbet.
SUBS NOT USED: Danny Devine, Matty Bowman, Josh Coley, Cammy Graham, Ryan Scully (GK)
AYR UNITED (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Ross Doohan: Jordan Houston, Aaron Muirhead, Sam Roscoe, Daniel Harvie: Andy Geggan (Kris Doolan 76), Ross Docherty, Sean Kelly, Luke McCowan, Michael Moffat, Alan Forrest
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Moore, Craig McGuffie, Ellis Hare-Reid, Finn Ecrepont, Mark McKenzie
Other Championship Fixtures
Arbroath v Morton
Dundee v Partick Thistle
Inverness Caley Thistle v Alloa Athletic
Queen of the South v Dundee United
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