Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 1
Saturday, 20th Feb 2021Scottish Championship: Wighton started for his debut, Banks in for McInroy. Craig Wighton (14) 1-0: Kevin Cawley (44) 1-1: Craig Wighton (59) 2-1
The Dunfermline Athletic side saw two changes from the one that started at Arbroath two weeks ago. Scott Banks was preferred to Kerr McInroy and new signing from Hearts, Craig Wighton went straight into the team meaning Kevin O’Hara was back on the bench against the club he left in the summer.
Alloa Athletic made one enforced change with former Pars youth Stefan Scougall coming in for Ray Grant who was red carded the previous Saturday against Arbroath. Two former Pars strikers were on the Wasps bench - Robert Thomson and Liam Buchanan.
The visitors emerged from the concourse under the east stand into a sparsely populated stadium and the Skids ‘Into the Valley’ greeted the Pars in the only normality to the occasion.
The bottom of the table opponents kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. With 100 seconds on the clock Scott Banks tried the first shot of the afternoon but it was well off the mark. His next effort came closer, a left footed shot after Paul Watson had picked out Fraser Murray and he had made ground along the edge of the penalty box to find the on loan Crystal Palace player. This fourth minute shot edged just outside the left goalpost.
Alloa Athletic’s first opportunity came from a ninth minute free kick awarded when Lewis Mayo took down Scott Taggart 30 yards out. Steven Hetherington hit the setpiece into a crowded Pars box but the ball travelled all the way through to Owain Fôn Williams’ safe hands.
A snapshot from Mayo 25 yards out went wide right before Craig Wighton got off the mark in 14 minutes. F Murray cut in from the left and drilled a shot at goal that WIGHTON flicked past Neil Parry for 1-0.
Play halted in 21 minutes as Aaron Comrie pulled up with what looked a hamstring problem. Three minutes later Kyle Macdonald was the substitute to takeover the right back role, making it the second Dunfermline debut of the day.
Banks’ pace down the right was causing Alloa problems and when he earned a 31st minute corner he sent it from the right to the far post and although Euan Murray was close, Parry ended up with the ball in his grasp.
Three minutes later Declan McManus’ tackle on Liam Dick handed Alloa a free kick 30 yards out on the left side but Kevin Cawley’s delivery only created a goal kick. A good ball from McManus sent Macdonald deep down the right and his cross met F Murray’s head but Parry held the attempt.
Three minutes from the break Macdonald crashed a fierce shot from 28 yards out just wide right. Then at the other end after Taggart had managed to get on and cross from the right edge of the Pars box, Paul Watson got a foot in to divert the ball out but Hetherington returned for Lucas Williamson to launch a shot that Fon Williams beat out but CAWLEY, 15 yards out, was able to get on the loose ball and fire it through two of his own men in front of him. With the help of a deflection the ball ended up in the net. 1-1
Alloa were then denied the lead when Fôn Williams dived to his left to save Scott Taggart’s well connected from 30 yards out. The half time stats revealed 64% first half home possession but Alloa had seven shots to Dunfermline’s six.
Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1
Hetherington created the first danger on the second half from his 49th minute free kick but McManus headed clear. Macdonald was forced into conceding a 54th minute corner but taken short, it created no danger.
Five minutes later Dunfermline regained the lead. A Fraser Murray corner was defended out and Josh Edwards went in bravely to get a pass back out to Murray on the left. This time his cross was met by WIGHTON at the near post to glance his second past Parry. 2-1
Despite the setback Alloa continued to take the game to Dunfermline and Innes Cameron had the ball in the net only to be penalised for pushing his way to the ball. Steven Whittaker replaced Scott Banks as the management team adjusted the team’s shape midway through the second half.
In 72 minutes Andy Graham’s cross to the far post was turned behind by Macdonald and Cawley would take three corners from the left before the pressure was lifted.
From a 76th minute free kick Dick picked out Cameron and his header fell for Alan Trouten to get in a shot from the left side of the Pars box that Fôn Williams was at full stretch to save.
Wighton made Parry save after Macdonald and Mayo had combined to create a cross that the striker headed on target from eight yards out. Kevin O’Hara replaced Declan McManus just after he had collected a yellow card but still Alloa pushed for an equaliser.
Fôn Williams held a Cameron header from another Cawley corner. Taggart sent over an 87th minute free kick but Dunfermline countered with Wighton bringing a save out of Parry. In the third minute of time added on Cameron went down in the box with wild appeals for a penalty which were not successful.
It was a match that Stevie Crawford would describe as "won ugly" but the first home win over Alloa since May 2013. The win took Dunfermline to 27 points, three clear of third placed Raith Rovers who lost at Arbroath. Queen of the South’s win at Dundee means that the next match in Dumfries will be against the fourth placed Doonhamers.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis McCann, Dom Thomas, Kerr McInroy, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Wighton (14, 59)
YELLOW CARD: McManus (81)
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Neil Parry: Jon Robertson (Robert Thomson 90+1), Scott Taggart, Andy Graham (c), Liam Dick: Kevin Cawley, Steven Hetherington, Stefan Scougall, Lucas Williamson (Adam Brown 90+1), Alan Trouten, Innes Cameron.
SUBS NOT USED: Innes Murray, Liam Buchanan, Lee Connelly, Nicky Jamieson, Jordan Wright (GK).
SCORERS: Cawley (44)
YELLOW CARD: Peter Grant (69)
REFEREE: Steven Reid
WEATHER: Damp 12°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: Scottish Championship (away) v Queen of the South, Saturday 27th February 2021, kick off 3.00pm at Palmerston Park behind closed doors
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Preview Alloa Athletic
Saturday, 20th Feb 2021Scottish Championship: Saturday 20th February 2021, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park, behind closed doors
After last Saturday’s home league match against Dundee was frozen off, Dunfermline get the chance to pick up where they left off at East End Park following their 4-1 win over Raith Rovers in their last home game.
Both sides played Arbroath in their most recent matches with Alloa scoring a late equaliser to prevent Dick Campbell’s side registering back to back wins. The Pars will be keen to atone for their defeat at Gayfield two Saturday’s ago and now have on loan Jambo, Craig Wighton on board to hopefully help in the goalscoring department.
Milestones v Alloa Athletic (home)
Last home win | 19/05/13 | 1-0 | First Division Play off
Last home defeat | 28/12/19 | 1-3 | Championship
Best home win: | 30/01/58 | 8-1 | Second Division
Worst home defeat: | 11/09/1886 | 4-8 | Scottish Cup
Last home goalless draw | 15/09/18 | 0-0 | Championship
First home league meeting: | 10/09/21 | 0-1 | Division Two
Last time at East End Park
Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 3
Ladbrokes Championship, 28 December 2019
This was the third visit to East End Park this season for Peter Grant’s Alloa Athletic. It was a simple move that provided the 20th minute opener. Aaron Comrie sent a long pass up the right, Ryan Dow crossed and Kevin NISBET headed home from inside the six yard box. 1-0
The lead was to last only 90 seconds. The Wasps went up the park, Kevin O’Hara forced a corner off Lewis Martin on the right. Hetherington swung the ball in and although Scully made a save, Martin tried to head clear but that the ball broke for Liam Dick whose attempt was blocked by Scully but Adam BROWN was able to drill home the loose ball. 1-1.
Alloa were then to take the lead just four more minutes later. Scott Taggart pumped a ball towards the Pars box where Edwards gathered but had his clearance charged down by Buchanan and latching on to the break Kevin O’HARA fired a low shot from the edge of the box that found the net just inside Scully’s left hand post. 1-2
Midway through the second half with the Pars chasing an equaliser Nisbet’s outstretched leg took down Jon Robertson on the right edge of his own penalty box and referee Reid pointed you the spot. FLANNIGAN stepped up, Scully went the right way but the Alloa skipper converted the setpiece in the bottom left. 1-3.
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards (Lewis McCann 76): Paul Paton (c), Kyle Turner (Matt Todd 87), Joe Thomson (Anthony McDonald 65): Ryan Dow, Kevin Nisbet, Greg Kiltie.
SUBS NOT USED: Gabby McGill, Tom Lang, Harry Cochrane, Cammy Gill (GK)
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Jamie MacDonald: Jon Robertson, Scott Taggart, Robbie Deas, Liam Dick: Kevin Cawley, Steven Hetherington, Iain Flannigan, Adam Brown, Liam Buchanan (Robert Thomson 73), Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Blair Malcolm, Cammy O`Donnell, Paul Gillespie, Chris Henry (GK)
Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic
Three Alloa wins, five Dunfermline wins with four drawn in the last twelve meetings. The Pars have won only two of the last seven and have not beaten Alloa at East End Park since May 2013.
24/10/20 | Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline 4 | Championship
28/12/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 3 | Championship
09/11/19 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
28/09/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1 | Championship
07/09/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 2 | Tunnock’s CW Cup
09/03/19 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
05/01/19 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Championship
03/11/18 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
13/10/18 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Irn Bru Cup
15/09/18 | Dunfermline 0 Alloa Athletic 0 | Championship
21/01/17 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 3 | Scottish Cup
19/05/13 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | Div One Play off
Recent Form
Dunfermline have drawn three of their last six matches, lost two and won one. At home the Pars have only lost one match this season and as the third placed Fifers taken on their foot of the table Alloa, the bookmakers have a home win at the short odds of 4-9.
So far this season Alloa have played nine of their fifteen league matches at home. They have won only one of their last eight matches. The Wasps have scored only three goals in their six away league matches and their only away win in the league this season was at Arbroath in December.
DUNFERMLINE
Arbroath (A) L 0-2
Raith Rovers (H) W 4-1
Hearts (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (H) D 0-0
Morton (A) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 1-1
ALLOA ATHLETIC
Arbroath (H) D 1-1
Queen of the South (H) W 2-1
Ayr United (A) L 1-4
Hearts (H) L 1-3
Cove Rangers (H) L 2-3
Morton (H) D 1-1
Current League Stats
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 24
Goal Difference: +7
League Record: P15 W6 D6 L3 GF24 GA17
Last Six Match Form: DDDLWL
ALLOA ATHLETIC
League Position: 10th
League Points: 12
Goal Difference: -18
League Record: P15 W3 D3 L9 GF16 GA34
Last Six Match Form: DLLLWD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie (Scott Banks 77), Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Kerr McInroy, Lewis Mayo (Lewis McCann 68), Iain Wilson (Matthew Todd 84), Fraser Murray: Kevin O’Hara, Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kyle Turner, Paul Allan, Cammy Gill (GK)
ALLOA (v Arbroath): Neil Parry: Jon Robertson (Robert Thomson 87), Scott Taggart, Andy Graham, Liam Dick: Kevin Cawley, Steven Hetherington, Ray Grant, Lucas Williamson (Stefan Scougall 67), Alan Trouten, Innes Cameron.
SUBS NOT USED: Innes Murray, Liam Buchanan, Lee Connelly Nicky Jamieson, Jordan Wright (GK).
Referee will be Steven Reid (pictured below) who was in charge for the last meeting between these teams at East End Park in December 2019.
Other Championship Fixtures
Arbroath v Raith Rovers
Ayr United v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Dundee v Queen of the South
Hearts v Morton
Highlights 28/12/19: Dunfermline 1 Alloa 3
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