Arbroath 4 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 30th Oct 2021cinch Championship: Breen and Todorov start in place of Connolly and Wighton. Kevin O’Hara (8) 0-1: Kevin O’Hara (12) 0-2: Thomas O’Brien (15) 1-2: Joel Nouble (37) 2-2: Bobby Linn (77) 3-2: Michael McKenna (85 pen) 4-2
Dunfermline travelled to Gayfield Park to play an Arbroath side sitting third in the league following their impressive win in Inverness in midweek. Predictably the home side were unchanged but Peter Grant made two changes, Craig Wighton was on the bench and Nikolay Todorov came in for him and Rhys Breen came in for the ill Mark Connolly. For 21 year old Rhys it was his first Dunfermline start.
The sun came out as the teams warmed up and there was a glint on the North Sea looking over towards the Kingdom. Notably the wind was a much reduced factor and the pitch looked in good condition. The scene was set for what would hopefully be the Fifers first league win of the season.
A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Walter Smith before the teams changed ends and Arbroath kicked off attacking the goal in front of their own fans at the Pleasureland end. First shot came in third minute, a speculative effort from Dom Thomas from distance that cleared Derek Gaston’s crossbar.
The Lichties first chance was created by Joel Nouble three minutes later but Vytas Gašpuitis made the block at the near post. Luke Donnolly drove an effort across goal from the left before play switched to the other end. Thomas fired a 25 yard free kick from the left into the opposition box, Gašpuitis attacked the ball but could not get a foot to it but Kevin O’HARA was on hand to crash the ball home from outside the right goalpost. 0-1
Just five minutes later a clearance up the park from Owain Fôn Williams was headed down by Thomas O’Brien, under challenge from Todorov, and O’HARA evaded the offside trap to lock on to it, making ground before smashing the ball past the advancing keeper for his seventh goal of the season. 0-2
Arbroath came at Dunfermline and were soon to get their reply. Fôn Williams made a good save in turning a powerfully struck Michael McKenna effort over his crossbar but from the resultant corner Arbroath scored. From the right McKenna sent the ball deep where skipper Thomas O’BRIEN was able to chest it down drilled the ball home through Fôn Williams from the far side of the box. 1-2
After all the events of the first quarter of an hour things calmed down a bit. O’Hara was given a couple of more through balls to chase to no avail and Arbroath wasted a 28th minute corner opportunity. Anton Dowds had an effort blocked before Josh Edwards turned on turbo to catch and cross from the left byeline. His efforts could only earn a throw in but from that he was the one who sent a good right footed cross in for Todorov but he could not get enough on it to convert.
Then in 33 minutes Todorov broke but failed to see O’Hara speeding over his right shoulder and the chance was gone. Two minutes later a long throw from Edwards picked out Todorov in the box and his chest down was perfect for Ryan Dow but Gaston stopped the shot at the near post.
Arbroath got right back into the game when McKenna’s 37th minute free kick from the left was headed home at the back post by Joel NOUBLE. 2-2
A 43rd minute corner appeared to have been wasted after Allan’s short one to Dan Pybus only ended up with the home side clearing. However Edwards gathered and in a surging run took the ball towards the right corner flag before cutting in and earning a corner. Unfortunately Gaston held Thomas’s delivery.
Four goals in the first half but disappointing that Arbroath were allowed to get back on level terms. The stats showed that the home side had vastly more possession but with goals that matter there was everything to go for in the second half.
Half time: Arbroath 2 Dunfermline 2
The sun still kissed the stadium and the standing home fans had relocated to the north east stand as Pybus forced a 47th minute corner but it turned into a chance for the Red Lichties. Thomas took a short one to Allan but Nouble robbed him of possession and sent Scott Stewart away down the right channel. Aaron Comrie had to put in a sprint to deflect the Arbroath player’s shot away for a corner. It turned into two corners but the second was sent directly behind.
O’Brien’s 51st minute free kick was blocked and next Colin Hamilton headed over the top from an Arbroath corner from the right. Iain Wilson became the first substitute used when he replaced Dan Pybus in 66 minutes. The home side followed suit with Bobby Linn and Dale Hilson coming on for Luke Donnelly and Anton Dowds.
Arbroath were guilty of over hitting balls and sending them either out for a bye kick or to Fôn Williams. Dunfermline were finding it hard to find any way through the home defence and Chris Hamilton stopped a rapid Edwards run down the left. Thomas managed a shot from the edge of the box with fifteen minutes remaining but then Bobby LINN scored a typical Linn goal. From the edge of the centre circle O’Brien launched the ball from his own half deep down the left wing. Nouble attempted to control it but the ball travelled to the 36 year old Arbroath favourite who with a sweeping a shot from 25 yards out curled it in at the far post, 3-2.
Last throw of the dice was sending on Lewis McCann and taking off Paul Allan but in 85 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty of the soft sort. Linn ran into Dow on the edge of the box and referee Peter Stuart pointed to the spot. Michael McKENNA converted in off the left upright. 4-2.
O’Hara and then McCann had attempts that were blocked. Linn had Fon Williams make a good save to deny him from a free kick taken from 30 yards out.
No way back for the Pars, they leave Gayfield with no points and holding up the league table. The victory came from a cracking Linn goal and a debatable penalty.
Ninth placed Morton picked up a point thanks to a Gozie Ugwu equalising goal in the seventh minute of time added on in their match against Hamilton Academical. The Greenock side visit East End Park in the next fixture.
SUBS NOT USED: David Gold, Gavin Swankie, Liam Henderson, Calum Antell (GK)
SCORERS: O’Brien (15), Nouble (37), Linn (77), McKenna (85 pen)
YELLOW CARD: McKenna (51), Hilson (78)
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Rhys Breen, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus (Iain Wilson 66), Paul Allan (Lewis McCann 83), Ryan Dow: Kevin O’Hara, Nikolay Todorov
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kai Kennedy, Craig Wighton, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: O’Hara (7, 12)
YELLOW CARD: Todorov (77)
REFEREE: Peter Stuart
WEATHER: Cloudy 10°C
ATTENDANCE 1359
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Morton, Saturday 6th November 2021, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
Views : 6,777
Related Stories
- Managers Post Arbroath
- Preview Arbroath
- Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 1
- Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 0
-
Arbroath 4-2 Dunfermline
Sat, 30th Oct 2021
-
Kevin O`Hara post Arbroath
Sat, 30th Oct 2021
Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.
Preview Arbroath
Saturday, 30th Oct 2021cinch Championship (away) v Arbroath, Saturday 30th October 2021, 3.00pm kick off at Gayfield
The next opportunity for the Pars to claim three points comes on Saturday in the away fixture against third placed Arbroath. Dick Campbell’s side face the Fifers on the back of a great result at Inverness. Michael McKenna, the league’s top goalscorer netted the winner from a wind assisted free kick. They will be full of confidence especially on their own Gayfield surface with the potential backing of the seemingly ever present gusty wind.
The Angus side have the upper hand in their home games, 22 wins to the Pars 15 with 11 drawn. They have also won two of their last three matches against Dunfermline and go into this match with the confidence that they sit seven places above the Pars in the Championship table.
Milestones Arbroath (away)
Last Victory | 28/11/20 | 3-1 | Betfred Cup
Last Defeat | 06/02/21 | 2-0 | Championship
Best Victory | 14/09/57 | 5-0 | Division Two
Best Victory | 09/08/52 | 5-0 | League Cup
Worst Defeat | 03/10/25 | 0-5 | Division Two
Worst Defeat | 23/01/54 | 0-5 | Division B
Last Goalless Draw | 04/03/20 | 0-0 | Championship
First Meeting | 04/02/22 | 0-0| Division Two
Last Meeting at Gayfield
Championship Saturday 6th February 2021
Arbroath 2-0 Dunfermline
Sat, 6th Feb 2021
Thirteen points separated these sides as second placed Dunfermline travelled to face second bottom Arbroath at a wet and very windy Gayfield Park.
Dunfermline were not as much beaten by a football side but by the stormy February weather. In conditions that Stevie Crawford described as farcical, Arbroath took the experience of home advantage to record the win.
Playing with the wind on their backs the Red Lichties knew just how to deal with the notorious Gayfield conditions. With 27 minutes on the clock Arbroath captain Thomas O’BRIEN launched a long range effort, possibly 30 yards out, that took a wicked deflection in sailing into the net. 1-0
The second goal came from a break up the left that set up Linn for a shot from way out. The ball came back off the right upright and HILSON stepped in to net the rebound. 36 minutes gone and it was 2-0.
Even with the wind advantage in the second half Dunfermline could not adapt to make use of the conditions and succumbed to just their second defeat in Arbroath since 1984.
ARBROATH: Derek Gaston: Scott Stewart, Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien (c), Jason Thomson: Dale Hilson (Mark Whatley 79), James Craigen, Michael McKenna, Ben Williamson, Bobby Linn (David Gold HT): Jack Hamilton (Luke Donnelly 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Kris Doolan, Lewis Moore, Scott Gallacher (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: 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)
Twelve Most Recent Meetings
The Fifers have won eight of the last twelve fixtures, Arbroath three including the last one at Arbroath and the first match this season at East End Park. One game has been drawn.
28/08/21 | Dunfermline 0 Arbroath 3 | Championship
24/04/21 | Dunfermline 4 Arbroath 3 | Championship
06/02/21 | Arbroath 2 Dunfermline 0 | Championship
26/12/20 | Dunfermline 1 Arbroath 0 | Championship
28/11/20 | Arbroath 1 Dunfermline 3 | 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
Recent Form
Dunfermline have now drawn six of their last seven matches. They are still chasing their first league win of the season having netted only five times in their eleven Championship matches.
Arbroath have lost only once in their last twelve matches, that was a narrow 2-1 reversal at Raith Rovers. Their win on Tuesday night was their first in five but they are unbeaten in the league at home since the 1-0 loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the opening day of the league season.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Raith Rovers (H) D 1-1
Partick Thistle (A) D 0-0
Kilmarnock (H) D 2-2
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Raith Rovers (A) D 1-1
Hamilton Accies (H) D 0-0
ARBROATH
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) W 1-0
Ayr United (H) D 1-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 1-2
Morton (A) D 2-2
Kilmarnock (H) D 0-0
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 7
Goal Difference: -9
League Record: P11 W0 D7 L4 GF6 GA15
Last Six Match Form: DDLDDD
ARBROATH
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 19
Goal Difference: +10
League Record: P11 W5 D4 L2 GF19 GA9
Last Six Match Form: WDDLDW
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Raith Rovers): Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus (Iain Wilson 59), Paul Allan, Ryan Dow: Kevin O’Hara (Kai Kennedy 79), Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 79)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Rhys Breen, Lewis McCann, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
ARBROATH (v Inverness Caledonian Thistle): Derek Gaston: Colin Hamilton, Ricki Little, Thomas O’Brien, Michael McKenna, Scott Stewart (David Gold 82), Luke Donnelly (James Craigen 71), Harrison Clark, Jon Nouble, Chris Hamilton, Anton Dowds (Dale Hilson 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Gavin Swankie, Bobby Linn, Liam Henderson, Calum Antell (GK)
The referee will be Peter Stuart.
Other Championship Fixtures
Kilmarnock v Queen of the South
Morton v Hamilton Academical
Partick Thistle v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Raith Rovers v Ayr United
Views : 7,346
Related Stories
- Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 1
- Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 0
- Dunfermline 2 Kilmarnock 2
- 28/08/21 Dunfermline 0 Arbroath 3
