Hamilton Academical 1 Dunfermline 0
Saturday, 4th Dec 2021cinch Championship: Kai Kennedy starts in place of Dom Thomas. Dorrans red card (60): David Moyo (61 pen.)
A decision by Referee David Munro to award Hamilton a penalty on the hour mark and reduce Dunfermline to ten men by sending off captain Graham Dorrans for a hugely doubtful hand-ball changed this important meeting between the teams.
Dunfermline travelled to the Fountain of Youth Stadium for the first away league match against Hamilton Academical since February 2013. It was eighth v sixth but both sides started level on 13 points.
John Hughes was without Dom Thomas, out with a knee problem, but Kai Kennedy came into the starting eleven for his seventh Pars start and his first under the new manager.
Hamilton made six changes from the side knocked out of the Scottish Cup the previous Saturday at Beechwood Park by Auchinleck Talbot. The rain had relented, the home tannoy blasted out the Christmas music and then “Things can only get better” as the teams warmed up. We had to hope that it was the Fifers who were going to change the tune. The ball boys unofficial penalty kick competition added to the pre-match ‘entertainment’ and you had to hope that there would be plenty of goalmouth action to follow!
Matty Todd got the match underway with the Pars defending the goal in front of their travelling support. Graham Dorrans was the first to attempt to score, his fifth minute shot from 30 yards out going wide left of target. Then two minutes later Lewis McCann’s break set up Kennedy but his shot was deflected wide for a corner on the right. Dorrans delivered and when defended out, Todd struck a shot from 25 yards over the top.
A skied clearance handed Accies an 11th minute corner that Owain Fôn Williams fisted clear. A quarter of an hour past before on the break Marley Redfern gave the Pars keeper an easy take. Then in 28 minutes a Lewis Smith cross was deflected for a corner on the right and again Fôn Williams punched a clearance away.
McCann forced the visitors second corner in 37 minutes but Dorrans delivery from the left was defended back out to him via Kennedy but the captain’s effort went wide right. Next time however the 34 year old’s effort would be kept out by the crossbar. Dorrans latched on to a blocked Macdonald attempt and connected well from 20 yards out. As the ball rebounded out Aaron Comrie tried to convert with a header but the ball went out on the left side.
Just before the break the home side had a good opportunity to take the lead. Firstly Lewis Smith flashed the ball through the six yard box and Josh Edwards headed behind. The corner from the right was met by McCann but his header sent the ball skyward and there was a stramash as players fought to get on the ball on the edge of the six yard box. Fortunately the ball was hooked out by a Dunfermline player.
Seven shots apiece in the first half but not much to cheer either fans.
Half time: Hamilton Academical 0 Dunfermline 0
The Pars keeper was the first called into second half action holding a 51st minute cross after a swift exchange through Reegan Mimnaugh and Lewis Smith for Josh Mullin to cross from the right.
A Todd move five minutes later almost brought joy for the visitors. The 20 year old won the ball by chesting it down for Kennedy who then sent Toddy steaming down the left. His low cross caused difficulties for the defence and Kennedy was unlucky not to be able to use the loose ball.
The match changed as a result of a red card shown to Dorrans for a clearance off the line at the second of two corners taken one after the other. Mihai Popescu rose to head the setpiece on target but Dorrans cleared off the line. Then from the second corner the on loan Hearts got his head on the cross again, the ball came back off the right goalpost and then follow up was deemed to be stopped illegally and Dorrans was sent off for hand ball on the line. A decision that video replays would suggest harsh.
David MOYO stepped up and his right foot did the business to shoot the Accies ahead from the penalty spot. 61 minutes on the clock and 1-0.
Kevin O’Hara replaced Kai Kennedy but it was Accies who threatened with Scott Martin’s low shot held by Fon Williams. Dan Pybus was introduced for Kyle Macdonald and the home side brought on Miko Virtanen for Jamie Hamilton. The home side were finding space but fortunately the defence was doing its job.
Nikolay Todorov was the final Pars substitute for Matty Todd with 12 minutes remaining. Dunfermline were up against it with just ten men but McCann forced an 82nd minute corner and Mark Connolly was raging as his marker was not penalised for what he deemed to be hand ball.
An 84th minute setpiece afforded the visitors another opportunity and Edwards delivery picked out Vytas Gašpuitis and again another penalty claim went by. Popescu and McCann were yellow carded as the Pars pushed for an equaliser and Hamilton did begin to get anxious but they saw out the 90 and three added minutes to take the three points.
The relief of the home fans and their team was evident and Slade had been thawed out to play the happy folk out.
The defeat means that Dunfermline drop to ninth level with Queen of the South on points at the foot of the table but ahead virtue of having scored more goals. Next up a home match against Queen of the South!
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Winter, Andy Ryan, Jamie Smith GK).
SCORERS: Moyo (61 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Martin (75), Popescu (88)
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Kyle Macdonald (Dan Pybus 72), Matthew Todd (Nikolay Todorov 78), Graham Dorrans (c), Kai Kennedy (Kevin O’Hara 68): Ryan Dow, Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Craig Wighton, Paul Allan, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARD: O’Hara (72), Connolly (86), McCann (88)
RED CARD: Dorrans (60)
REFEREE: David Munro
WEATHER: Heavy cloud 4°C
ATTENDANCE 1175
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Queen of the South, Saturday 11th December 2021, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Hamilton Academical
Saturday, 4th Dec 2021cinch Championship (away) v Hamilton Academical, Saturday 4th December 2021 kick off 3.00pm at New Douglas Park
Following Hamilton Academical’s relegation from the Premiership this Saturday’s match will be the first league match for the Fifers at New Douglas Park since February 2013. Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last three visits but the two wins in season 2012-2013 were their first away to Hamilton since 1995.
The first meeting this season at East End Park in October ended in a 0-0 draw.
Milestones Hamilton Academicals (Away)
Last Victory | 09/02/13 | 2-1 | First Division
Last Defeat | 09/02/08 | 0-3 | First Division
Best Victory | 13/11/65 | 6-2 | Division 1*
Worst Defeat | 18/10/52 | 1-7 | Division 2*
First Meeting | 12/03/27 | 2-2 | Division 1*
*Pre league reconstruction
Over the past twelve matches between Dunfermline and Hamilton, the Pars have won only two, lost five with five games ending all square.
Last Twelve Matches v Hamilton
25/09/21 | H | D | 0-0 | Championship
14/02/17 | A | D | 1-1 | Scottish Cup
11/02/17 | H | D | 1-1 | Scottish Cup
06/04/13 | H | L | 2-3 | First Division
09/02/13 | A | W | 2-1 | First Division
02/02/13 | H | L | 0-2 | Scottish Cup
15/12/12 | H | D | 1-1 | First Division
29/09/12 | A | W | 3-0 | First Division
11/03/08 | H | D | 1-1 | First Division
09/02/08 | A | L | 0-3 | First Division
20/10/07 | H | L | 0-5 | First Division
04/08/07 | A | L | 1-2 | First Division
Last time at New Douglas Park
Scottish Cup Fifth Round Replay
Tuesday 14th February 2017
Just three days after the sides fought out a 1-1 draw at East End Park the replay was played on Valentines Night. For a long period in the match it looked like the lower league club would cause a cup upset but a late equaliser followed by stalemate in extra time led to penalties which were to be the Pars downfall. Hamilton Accies secured a Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Rangers as Dunfermline Athletic failed to net any penalties.
The Fifers looked the more likely to find the opener and it duly came from a 25th minute corner forced by McMullan on the left. Hamilton lost out to their poor defending, Lee Ashcroft had two attempts before MORRIS poked the ball home. 0-1
With just three minutes of the tie remaining Morris took down McMann and there was no doubt about the penalty decision. BINGHAM stepped up and crashed in the equaliser. 1-1
Hamilton won the penalty shoot out 3-0 after efforts from McCabe, Paton and Reilly were all saved.
HAMILTON ACCIES: Remi Matthews: Danny Seaborne (Massimo Donati 29), Michael Devlin (c), Grant Gillespie (Ioannis Skondras 68), Gramoz Kurtaj (Eamonn Brophy 54): Dougie Imrie, Darian MacKinnon, Craig Watson, Scott McMann, Daniel Redmond, Rakish Bingham (Ross Cunningham 115)
SUBS NOT USED: Blair Adams, Ronan Hughes, Gary Woods (GK)
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Lewis Martin, Callum Morris, Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Paul McMullan (Michael Paton 96), John Herron, Nat Wedderburn, Kallum Higginbotham (Joe Cardle 96): Nicky Clark (Gavin Reilly 69), Michael Moffat (Rhys McCabe 83)
SUBS NOT USED: David Hopkirk, Stuart Morrison, David Hutton (GK)
Recent Form
Hamilton have won only one of their last nine games and lost their last four. Their fortunes looked to have changed when an 86th minute penalty from former Pars striker Andy Ryan made it 2-1 against Kilmarnock in Tuesday night’s SPFLTrust Trophy match only for Tommy Wright’s side to hit two late goals to inflict the knock out on Accies.
Hamilton have lost the most goals of any Championship side and have conceded 16 times in their 8 home league games this season.
Dunfermline have won their last two league games but suffered a setback with defeat to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup last Friday night.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (H) W 3-0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) W 2-1
Morton (H) L 1-3
Arbroath (A) L 2-4
Raith Rovers (H) D 1-1
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
Kilmarnock (H) L 2-3
Auchinleck Talbot (A) L 0-1
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1
Raith Rovers (H) L 0-3
Arbroath (H) D 1-1
Morton (A) D 1-1
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 6th
League Points: 13
Goal Difference: -9
League Record: P15 W2 D7 L6 GF15 GA24
Last Six Match Form: DLLWWL
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
League Position: 8th
League Points: 13
Goal Difference: -16
League Record: P15 W3 D4 L8 GF13 GA29
Last Six Match Form: DDLLLL
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Partick Thistle): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Kyle Macdonald, Matthew Todd (Nikolay Todorov 68), Graham Dorrans (c), Dom Thomas (Kevin O’Hara 83): Ryan Dow, Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Craig Wighton, Ian Wilson, Dan Pybus, Paul Allan, Reece Cole, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SPFL Trophy on Tuesday:
HAMILTON (v Kilmarnock)Joe Hilton: Shaun Want (Ben Stirling 22 (Luke Matheson 45),Jamie Hamilton (Matthew Shields 73), Brian Easton, Kieran Macdonald, Regan Mimnaugh, Andy Ryan, Josh Mullin, Miko Virtanen (Scott Martin 54), Lewis Smith, David Moyo
SUBS NOT USED: Ronan Hughes, Andy Winter, Kyle Munro, Cammy May,
Scottish Cup on Saturday:
HAMILTON (v Auchinleck Talbot): Ryan Fulton: Luke Matheson, Shaun Want (Brian Easton 77), Mihai Popescu, Kieran MacDonald: Regan Mimnaugh: Lewis Smith (Adam McGowan 73), Lewis Spence (Miko Virtanen 27), Josh Mullin, Marley Redfern: Andy Ryan (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Munro, George Stanger, Ronan Hughes, Joe Hilton (GK).
Other Championship Fixtures
Inverness Caley Thistle v Kilmarnock (Friday)
Arbroath v Raith Rovers
Morton v Ayr United
Queen of the South v Partick Thistle
14/02/17: Hamilton Academical 1 Dunfermline 1
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