Dunfermline 1 Hamilton Academical 0
Saturday, 15th Jan 2022cinch Championship: Mark Connolly starts in place of Lewis Martin. Ryan Dow (31) 1-0:
Tenth played sixth in this Championship fixture as Hamilton Academical are the visitors. The Lanarkshire side were nine points clear of the Pars and the Fifers badly needed a third league win of the season to ease the pressure on them at the foot of the table.
Following the hefty defeat away to Morton the previous Saturday John Hughes made just one change bringing back Mark Connolly with Lewis Martin dropped to the bench. The bench was missing Kevin O’Hara and Craig Wighton who was loaned out to Arbroath but Graham Dorrans returned on the subs bench.
Hamilton Academical manager Stuart Taylor left out captain Brian Easton and there was no Marley Redfern. Into their side came Ronan Hughes and Regan Mimnaugh with the captain’s armband going to former Pars striker Andy Ryan. Another former Par, Lewis Spence was on the bench along with Kai Kennedy who found himself at his fourth Championship club in two seasons.
With Scottish Government restrictions setting a maximum of 500 fans at this match it was just the McCathie Stand that housed supporters. Hamilton emerged from the concourse of the East Stand as the Pars came out at the other end. The teams changed ends before the home side kicked off through Dan Pybus, attacking the McCathie Stand end.
Hamilton had the first chance from a second minute corner. Connolly headed behind a Mimnaugh free kick and from his corner from the right Mihai Popescu got in a shot that Owain Fôn Williams held. The visitors forced another corner two minutes later that again ended up in the Pars keeper’s hands.
Steven Lawless fired an inviting cross through the Hamilton box in what was the closest Dunfermline came in the opening eight minutes. Then another Hamilton corner on the right was taken short to Ryan but Fon Williams fisted away the danger and held the rather tame follow up.
Perseverance by Lewis McCann as Dan O’Reilly’s miskicked clearance put the Accies defence under pressure and a cross set up Matthew Todd on the edge of the box but Joe Hilton stopped the 11th minute shot as it almost squirmed under him. Next Lawless slipped a pass to Comrie for another good cross through the opposition box that failed to be met by anyone.
Paul Allan skipped away with the ball after winning the challenge with Miko Virtanen and sent Dow away up the left. The Pars no.11 tried a shot from the edge of the box that was heading for the top right before Hilton caught on to it.
A 21st minute corner was defended by Hamilton and the threat ended when Lawless sent the ball wide. The recent signing next delivered another good cross from deep down the right but McCann’s header fell straight into the keeper’s arms.
A soaring run from Edwards demonstrated the Fifers desire to get forward and they were making much more headway than they had done in the previous match. Reward duly came with a headed goal from Ryan DOW in 31 minutes. The ball had been crossed from the left and McCann was first to connect, his header was saved then the ball came back of the crossbar to be finished from six yards out. 1-0
Andy Ryan dispatched an effort from 30 yards well over Fôn Williams` bar but the ball was soon up at the other end thanks to a Dow run, Allan crossed but Todd’s shot was blocked. The home fans rallied as Josh Edwards was denied his first senior goal with a good block and the visitors duly survived the resulting corner from the left.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Hamilton Academical 0
The Pars had a really good opportunity to double their lead just five minutes into the second half. A really good move from Dow on the left to Lawless just inside him was fired right for Comrie to then send Pybus into the right side of the Accies box. His cut back was good for Dow but his attempt was stopped on the line.
Hamilton looked certain to score in 55 minutes but brave defending at the right goalpost by Comrie kept out the attempts by both Ryan and Shiels. The Hamilton left back was unable to continue and in 58 minutes was replaced by Kieran Macdonald. Kai Kennedy followed replacing Andy Winter as the visitors were beginning to enjoy territorial advantage.
McCann’s 68th minute shot could have relieved the pressure but his effort went wide right. At the other end Ryan skied the ball over the bar and again the visitors had a spell of possession that made it hard for the Pars to do much but defend.
Fon Williams plucked another Ryan effort out of the air in 76 minutes. Connolly was then called upon to head behind as Ryan tried to get on the end of an awkward cross. The corner was ineffective and as the ball went out Lewis Martin replaced Paul Allan for the final eleven minutes. Kyle Macdonald was next to be introduced three minutes later as Ryan Dow went off.
Dunfermline finished stronger with Lawless being able to drive in from the left but McCann could not keep his shot on target. Hamilton keeper Joe Hilton was up for a corner deep inside time added on but the Fifers defended well and Connolly making a painful block with his head to claim their first win since 20th November. The win ended a Hamilton run of eight visits without defeat and the three points were very welcome. Results elsewhere with Morton winning at Ayr and Queen of the South drawing at Inverness meant Dunfermline remain tenth.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Coll Donaldson, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus, Paul Allan (Lewis Martin 79), Matthew Todd, Ryan Dow (Kyle Macdonald 82): Steven Lawless, Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Nikolay Todorov, Graham Dorrans, Reece Cole, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Dow (31)
YELLOW CARD: Allan (59), Todd (90+2)
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL: Joe Hilton: Jamie Hamilton, Mihai Popescu, Dan O’Reilly, Matthew Shiels (Kieran Macdonald 58): Lewis Smith (Kyle Munro 81), Miko Virtanen, Regan Mimnaugh, Andy Winter (Kai Kennedy 65): Ronan Hughes, Andy Ryan (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Brian Easton, Lewis Spence, Ellis Brown, Ryan Fulton GK).
YELLOW CARD: Mimnaugh (75)
REFEREE: Bobby Madden
WEATHER: Dry 5°C
ATTENDANCE 556
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Saturday 22nd January 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
50/50 Winning ticket number - 530681 Prize fund - £150
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Hamilton Academical
Saturday, 15th Jan 2022cinch Championship (home) Saturday 15th January 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
Dunfermline left Cappielow on a Saturday having just been dumped on the foot of the Championship table and now have sixteen matches remaining in which to rectify their serious position.
Hamilton are undefeated in their last eight matches at East End Park but Dunfermline had won all seven before that. In total the Pars have won 33, lost 17 and drawn 7 of the previous 57 home league matches. In total the teams have met 85 times with the honours even 35 wins to 35 defeats and 15 drawn.
Milestones Hamilton Academical (Home)
Last Victory | 03-12-95 | 4-0 | Division 1
Last Defeat | 06-04-13 | 2-3 | Division 1
Best Victory | 11-11-72 | 7-2 | Division 2*
Worst Defeat | 20-10-07 | 0-5 | Division 1
Last Goalless Draw | 25-09-21 | Championship
First ever home meeting | 21-08-26 | 0-1 | Division 1*
*Pre league reconstruction
Last Meeting at East End Park
Dunfermline 0-0 Hamilton
Sat, 25th Sep 2021
Following the 0-0 draw at home to Inverness Caley Thistle, Manager Peter Grant was delighted to achieve another clean sheet, and pleased that the individual errors that had cost the team in previous games appeared to have been eliminated.
There was disappointment that opportunities should have been taken especially in the first half. Owain Fôn Williams made a couple of important saves in the second half and Dunfermline ended the match hanging on, having to defend several corners late in the game.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Dan Pybus, Graham Dorrans (c), Kai Kennedy (Dom Thomas 72): Nikolay Todorov (Reece Cole 63), Craig Wighton (Kevin O’Hara 61)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Allan, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL: 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).
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
04/12/21 | A | L | 0-1 | Championship
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
Recent Form
Hamilton Academical’s win over Dunfermline on 4th December ended a six match run without a win and since then they have won two, drawn two and lost one of the next five.
Dunfermline have lost four and drawn two of their last six matches. Their only home league win was over Ayr United on 20th November.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Morton (A) L 0-5
Raith Rovers (A) D 0-0
Arbroath (H) L 0-3
Queen of the South (H) D 3-3
Hamilton Academical (A) L 0-1
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1
HAMILTON
Partick Thistle (H) D 2-2
Queen of the South (A) L 0-3
Kilmarnock (H) L 2-3
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) L 1-2
Ayr United (A) D 1-1
Dunfermline (H) W 1-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 15
Goal Difference: -18
League Record: P20 W2 D9 L9 GF18 GA36
Last Six Match Form: LLDLDL
HAMILTON
League Position: 6th
League Points: 24
Goal Difference: -12
League Record: P21 W6 D6 L9 GF24 GA36
Last Six Match Form: WDWLWD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Coll Donaldson, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus, Paul Allan, Ryan Dow, Matthew Todd (Nikolay Todorov 51): Steven Lawless, Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton, Reece Cole, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL (v Partick Thistle): Joe Hilton: Jamie Hamilton, Mihai Popescu, Brian Easton, Matthew Shiels: Marley Redfern (Regan Mimnaugh 52), Miko Virtanen, Dan O’Reilly, Lewis Smith, Andy Winter, Andy Ryan.
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Stirling, Chris McGinn, Ellis Brown, Kyle Munro, Jamie Smith GK).
Referee will be Bobby Madden making his second visit to East End Park this season.
Other Championship Fixtures
Partick Thistle v Kilmarnock (Friday)
Ayr United v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Queen of the South
Raith Rovers v Arbroath
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