Dunfermline 0 Arbroath 3
Saturday, 28th Aug 2021cinch Championship: two changes as Kennedy and Watson come in for Jones and Graham. Michael McKenna (12) 0-1: David Gold (44) 0-2: Michael McKenna (67) 0-3
It was the first match in seventeen months with fans of both clubs inside East End Park and Peter Grant was keen to send the Pars supporters home happy on the back of what would be their first win of the season’s cinch Championship.
After hinting that he had players struggling after sustaining knocks in training it was Leon Jones and Ross Graham who were missing. That made way for the return Paul Watson and a starting debut for Kai Kennedy.
Dick Campbell stuck with the Arbroath side that started the previous Saturday to win 3-1 over Partick Thistle. There was also the welcome sight of a good number of very vocal travelling supporters housed in the South East Stand and the home fans populated the North West, McCathie and remainder of the Main SRJ Windows Stand.
The sun was out, the temperature was high and the pitch was looking perfect. The opposition still emerged from the covid safe concourse of the East Stand and Graham Dorrans led the Pars out from the tunnel at the McCathie Stand as the Skids “into the Valley” heralded their entrance. The Pars drum was on full pelt and the scene was set for what would hopefully be the first Dunfermline win of this cinch Championship season.
Arbroath made Dunfermline changed ends and Kevin O’Hara just the match underway attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. Within 30 seconds the home side created the first chance. Josh Edwards on the left fed Kennedy and when Dorrans received his pass he swept the ball into the visitors penalty box but just too far in front of Nikolay Todorov for the perfect start.
There were claims for a fourth minute penalty when Michael McKenna went down on the edge of the box and then two minutes later Joel Nouble got two bites at the cherry after chipping Watson and then hitting both his efforts at Vytas Gašpuitis inside the six yard box.
It was an extremely competitive start with Dunfermline replying with crosses from Kyle Macdonald and Dan Pybus. Then in 12 minutes the Red Lichties struck. Nicky Low was able to fire a shot from 25 yards out that Deniz Mehmet parried into the centre of his box and McKENNA was first to react and poked the ball home. 0-1
Todorov forced a 16th minute corner but when Edwards delivered an inswinger from the right, Derek Gaston was out to clutch. Dunfermline were needing an inspired touch and six minutes later they got that when Kennedy beat his man and fired a great effort from 15 yards out that rebounded off the left goalpost.
The away fans thought they had a second from Low’s 28th minute free kick from near the right corner flag but Thomas O’Brien’s diving header sent the ball narrowly wide left. His central defensive partner Ricky Little met a 34th minute corner but headed straight at Mehmet. In between Kennedy forced a Dunfermline corner but Arbroath defended Dorrans ball in from the left.
Then in 37 minutes O’Hara had the ball in the net after Dow had moved a Gašpuitis pass on to Kennedy but his low shot went in off his team mate in an offside position. No goal.
Five minutes later the ball was in the Lichties net again after Todorov headed home from a cross from the right but referee Mike Roncone blew it up for the challenge on keeper Gaston. On resumption play switched to the other end and Scott Stewart cut the ball back from the right byeline for David GOLD to direct into the left corner of the Pars net.
Despite 57% home possession in the first half it was Arbroath who had taken the chances and it would be an unhappy interval for the Dunfermline players and fans.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Arbroath 2
Dom Thomas replaced Dan Pybus for the second half and Arbroath introduced Dale Hilson for Liam Henderson before the game resumed. It was the Maroons sub who threatened first blasting a fierce shot off Watson.
At the other end an Edwards free kick found O’Hara at the far post and his effort was deflected behind for a 55th minute corner on the right. Thomas took that short to Kennedy and then struck a shot that was bound for the far left of the Arbroath net until Gaston tipped it away for another corner this time on the left. Despite pressure placed on them the away side defended Dorrans delivery.
Kennedy pulled up on the left touchline and required the physio in 61 minutes. He was able to continue but before play continued Craig Wighton came on for Ryan Dow. Mehmet has a relatively rudimentary save after Hilson had slipped through Nouble on the left side.
Back at the other end a Kennedy cross was met by Todorov in front of goal but his header hit Gaston and when play switched again Nouble got the better of Watson and McKENNA finished to make it 0-3.
There was still a quarter of the match remaining but it looked an impossible comeback for the Fifers. Newly introduced sub Luke Donnelly blasted a shot at Mehmet before he was joined by Bobby Linn who replaced Scott Stewart on 75th minute.
Six minutes from time it was Arbroath’s turn to have an offside decision go against them just when it looked like Donnelly had turned in a low Linn cross. Wighton had a header wide right of target before in 87 minutes and Macdonald turned a Linn cross behind to deny Hilson a finish.
It has been a horrible afternoon for the home side as they slumped to another heavy home defeat.
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Paul Allan, Matty Todd, Owain Fôn Williams (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Pybus (26)
ARBROATH: Derek Gaston: Scott Stewart (Bobby Linn 75), Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien (c), Colin Hamilton: David Gold, Liam Henderson (Dale Hilson HT), Nicky Low, Michael McKenna, James Craigen, Joel Nouble (Luke Donnelly 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Anton Dowds, Harrison Clark, Gavin Swankie, Calum Antell (GK).
SCORERS: McKenna (12, 67), Gold (44)
YELLOW CARD: Stewart (54)
REFEREE: Mike Roncone
WEATHER: Sunny 21°C
ATTENDANCE 2928
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Trust Trophy (away) v Elgin City, Saturday 4th September 2021, 3.00pm kick off at Borough Briggs
50/50 Draw - 100016332 Jackpot £104
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Preview Arbroath
Saturday, 28th Aug 2021cinch Championship: (home) Saturday 28th August 2021, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
The sides met four times last season, Dunfermline winning three and Arbroath one. These two clubs have met 101 times and the Fifers have the advantage with 49 wins to Arbroath’s 31 with 21 games drawn.
Milestones Arbroath (home)
Last Victory | 24/04/21 | 4-3 | Championship
Last Defeat | 17/08/13 | 2-3 | League One
Best Victory | 02/04/32 | 6-0 | Div Two*
Worst Defeat | 12/12/36 | 1-4 | Div One*
Last Goalless Draw | 22/03/86 | Div Two*
First Meeting | 17/04/22 | 5-1 | Div Two*
*Pre league reconstruction
The sides have met 78 times in the league, Dunfermline have won 35, Arbroath 25 and 18 matches have been drawn.
Dunfermline 4-3 Arbroath
Sat, 24th Apr 2021
Last League Meeting at East End Park
Dunfermline 4 Arbroath 3
Championship, Saturday 24th April 2021
Dunfermline earned their place in the Premiership play offs due to coming out on top in this seven goal thriller, the final home match of the season. After going into an early lead the Pars were severely tested by an Arbroath side that was relentless in their pursuit of at least a point.
Craig Wighton chased a Thomas pass all the way up the right to guard at the corner flag. He brilliantly turned Thomas O’Brien to make ground along the byeline but before he could release a pass he was tumbled and referee Steven McLean awarded a penalty. Declan McMANUS stepped up to convert in the eleventh minute and it was 1-0.
Only four minutes later Josh Edwards’ long ball from the edge of his own box set off Kevin O’HARA chasing it down the left side with Ricky Little tailing him. Catching it outside of the Arbroath box and he cut in finished executing a low shot between Little and O’Brien that gave Derek Gaston little chance 2-0.
Arbroath would claw back the deficit however to be level at half time. First O’Brien’s powerful header from a Low corner on the half hour was beaten away by Fôn Williams but on to Jack HAMILTON and the ball crossed the line for an Arbroath goal. 2-1
Arbroath were awarded a penalty after Henderson brought down Thomson on the right side of the penalty box. Nicky LOW stepped up and rattled the crossbar netting to make it 2-2 from the 35th minute spot kick.
The second half was in its 12th minute when Henderson played a neat ball through to Craig WIGHTON who had made a switch running left and in picking his spot nutmegged keeper Gaston to make it 3-2.
With quarter of an hour remaining Henderson got the break of the ball off Little on the left side and with a clip over O’Brien he teed up WIGHTON delightfully for a superb right footed volley into the top right. 4-2
The comfort of a two goal cushion was extinguished seven minutes later when Scott STEWART rose to head home a Thomson cross 4-3 but despite going all out for an equaliser the visitors were denied.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Vytas Gašpuitis (Paul Watson 65), Lewis Mayo, Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker (c): Dom Thomas, Declan McManus (Kerr McInroy 62), Ewan Henderson (Fraser Murray 79): Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis McCann, Paul Allan, Kyle Macdonald, Cammy Gill (GK)
ARBROATH: Derek Gaston: Jason Thomson, Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien (c), Colin Hamilton: David Gold ( Scott Stewart 63), Ben Williamson, Nicky Low, Dale Hilson (Luke Donnelly 71), Kris Doolan (Michael McKenna 65), Jack Hamilton.
SUBS NOT USED: James Craigen, Lewis Moore, Mark Whatley, Rab Douglas (GK)
Twelve Most Recent Meetings
The Fifers have won nine of the last twelve fixtures, Arbroath two including the last one at Arbroath and one game drawn. Dunfermline have won the last six meetings at East End Park.
24/04/21 | Dunfermline 4 Arbroath 3 | Championship
06/02/21 | Arbroath 2-0 Dunfermline | Championship
26/12/20 | Dunfermline 1-0 Arbroath | Championship
28/11/20 | Arbroath 1-3 Dunfermline | Betfred Cup
04/03/20 | Arbroath 0-0 Dunfermline | Championship
29/10/19 | Dunfermline 2-0 Arbroath | Championship
31/08/19 | Arbroath 1-0 Dunfermline | Championship
15/08/17 | Dunfermline 2-0 Arbroath | Challenge Cup
19/07/16 | Dunfermline 3-0 Arbroath | League Cup
25/07/15 | Arbroath 1-4 Dunfermline | Challenge Cup
26/04/14 | Arbroath 1-2 Dunfermline | League One
25/02/14 | Dunfermline 3-0 Arbroath | League One
Recent Form
After a decent League Cup campaign Dunfermline’s league season has seen a 2-2 draw at Morton and a 3-0 defeat at home to Partick Thistle. The team now needs to bounce back from the defeat to Rangers and the abandonment of the Fife derby.
Arbroath had an impressive home win over Partick Thistle last Saturday. The league match they lost was against Inverness Caley Thistle but they held Premiership St Johnstone to a 2-2 draw in the second round of the Premier Sports Cup.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Rangers (A) L 0-5
Partick Thistle (H) L 0-3
Morton (A) D 2-2
Stenhousemuir (H) W 4-1
Dumbarton (H) W 5-1
St Mirren (A) L 0-1
ARBROATH
Partick Thistle (H) W 3-1
St Johnstone (H) D 2-2
Ayr United (A) D 2-2
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-1
Kelty Hearts (H) W 3-2
Dundee United (A) L 0-1
Current League Stats
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 1
Goal Difference: -3
League Record: P2 W0 D1 L1 GF2 GA5
Last Six Match Form: LWWDLL
ARBROATH
League Position: 4th
League Points: 4
Goal Difference: +1
League Record: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF5 GA4
Last Six Match Form: LWLDDW
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Raith Rovers): Deniz Mehmet: Leon (Lok on) Jones, Vytas Gašpuitis, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald, Dan Pybus, Graham Dorrans (c), Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Nikolay Todorov, Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Kai Kennedy, Craig Wighton, Paul Allan, Dom Thomas, Reece Cole, Paul Watson, Owain Fôn Williams (GK).
ARBROATH (v Partick Thistle): Derek Gaston: Scott Stewart, Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien (c), Colin Hamilton: David Gold (Dylan Paterson 80), Liam Henderson (Bobby Linn 70), Nicky Low, Michael McKenna (Anton Dowds 80), James Craigen, Joel Nouble.
SUBS NOT USED: Dale Hilson, Luke Donnelly, Gavin Swankie, Calum Antell (GK).
Other Championship fixtures
Ayr United v Raith Rovers
Kilmarnock v Inverness Caley Thistle
Partick Thistle v Morton
Queen of the South v Hamilton Accies
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