Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1
Saturday, 23rd Jul 2022Group C Premier Sports Cup: same again starting eleven. Chris Hamilton (20) 1-0: Conor Sammon (59) 1-1: Alloa won 5-4 on penalties
After being held to a draw in the final group match, Dunfermline lost out on penalties and as a result went out of this season’s League Cup.
The final match in the group stages of the Premier Sports Cup arrived with Dunfermline seeking a win to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knock stages of this competition. Alloa Athletic provided the opposition as the clubs met in the League Cup for the first time since season 2008-2009.
Given the good performance at the Global Energy Stadium the previous Saturday, James McPake named the same starting eleven and the only change was new signing goalkeeper Max Little on the subs bench.
Alloa Athletic manager Brian Rice made two changes from the side that lost to Ross County in midweek, Adam King and Paul McLaren dropped to the bench making way for Kevin Cawley and former Pars youth Stefan Scougall.
Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand and immediately pressed with Josh Edwards and Craig Wighton combining well down the left. It was Edwards who supplied Matty Todd with a fine pass that played him on the left side of the Alloa box in fourth minute but he was blocked before he could release a shot.
Two minutes later a great cross from the right by Kevin O’Hara was headed back across goal to tee up Lewis McCann but from close range keeper Jay Hogarth managed to beat away the danger.
The home side looked in control but it took until 20th minutes before they got the breakthrough. Edwards was on the right and his cross picked out Chris HAMILTON 12 yards out for a header that looped in at the right goalpost. Chris’ first goal for the club, 1-0.
Deniz Mehmet made his first save in 26 minutes when Ross MacIver drilled the ball at him from 20 yards out. Back at the other end Hamilton was fouled 22 yards out. The 30th minute free kick was quickly taken but Hogarth held McCann’s shot.
Ten minutes from the interval Alloa skipper Andy Graham looked like he had held on to possession after robbing McCann but perseverance from Wighton saw him break away with the ball up Hogarth came out to deny him the goal.
Cawley gave the visitors some hope firstly with a ball through the box that was deflected wide for a corner on the left and then with a low 39th minute shot that Mehmet had to hold.
In 42nd minute McCann created an opportunity but his low shot from an angle on the left was tipped around his left hand post by Hogarth. Edwards corner failed to find anyone but on returning to the left Edwards next put in the perfect cross for McCann in front of goal but he directed his header over the crossbar.
Despite almost twice as much first half possession the Fifers had only the one goal advantage at the break.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0
Alloa introduced Jon Robertson in place of Bradley Rodden for the second half but it was the Pars who tested the Wasps defences first. From an Edwards cross in quick succession there were attempts by O’Hara, Breen, McCann and Hamilton and each time the ball was blocked. Again within three minutes of the restart O’Hara thrashed a shot on target but Hogarth held.
With just the one goal lead Dunfermline were vulnerable and in 59 minutes Alloa would make them pay for all the missed chances. Cawley’s crossfield pass was swung into the Pars box by Daniel Church and from the corner on the right, George Stanger returned the ball into the six yard box for Conor SAMMON who duly punished Dunfermline 1-1.
Nikolay Todorov replaced Craig Wighton before the game resumed. Then later Joe Chalmers for Chris Hamilton. Edwards won a 74th minute corner on the left, it turned out to be two and from the second Alloa cleared the ball off the goal line.
Time was beginning to run away with the game and it was Mehmet who had to pull off a good save on 80 minutes after Chalmers pass had been intercepted by Robertson to allow a crack at goal from 25 yards out.
The Pars pushed with O’Hara forcing an 86th minute corner on the left but when that was defended and an Edwards long throw it was eventually an Edwards cross that let Breen attack the ball in the six yard box but his 87th minute header cleared the crossbar.
All the missed chances cost Dunfermline the game and ultimately their exit from the Premier Sports Cup.
Full time: Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1
Penalties would decide who took the extra point. Given results elsewhere Dunfermline needed to win this shoot out to have any hope of qualifying as the third best runner up in the group stages.
Penalty shoot out, taken at the away end:-
1. Lewis McCann smashes ball home high left 1-0
2. Scott Taggart scores right footed to right of goal 1-1
3. Kevin O’Hara no mistake 2-1
4. Stefan Scougall scores bottom right 2-2
5. Nikolay Todorov nets after keeper almost stops the shot 3-2
6. Conor Sammon right footed to the left 3-3
7. Joe Chalmers whacks the crossbar 3-3
8. Adam King nets to keepers right 3-4
9. Paul Allan nets to keepers right 4-4
10. Ross MacIver right footed finish to the right 4-5
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Miller Fenton, Jake Rennie, Michael Beagley, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK).
SCORERS: Hamilton (20)
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Jay Hogarth: Scott Taggart, George Stanger, Andy Graham, Daniel Church, Murray Miller (Adam King 68) Stefan Scougall, Ross MacIver, Kevin Cawley (Paul McLaren 76), Bradley Rodden (Jon Robertson HT), Conor Sammon.
SUBS NOT USED: Seff Khyyam, Steven Buchanan, Keir Burt, Majid Suleyman. .
SCORERS: Sammon (59)
REFEREE: Scott Lambie
WEATHER: Overcast 18°C
ATTENDANCE 1723
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One, (home) v Alloa Athletic, Saturday 30th July 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
Winner of the 50/50 Half Time draw was ticket number 06425, winning jackpot of £250.
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Preview Alloa Athletic
Saturday, 23rd Jul 2022Premier Sports Cup (home) Saturday 23rd July 2022, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park
Saturday’s home match is against Alloa Athletic in the final round of matches in Group C of the Premier Sports Cup. If Dunfermline are to reach the second round of this competition for the sixth season in a row they really need to win this match. Now trailing the group leaders Ross County with six points to County’s eight a win looks necessary if there can be any hope of qualifying as one of the three best runners up.
In the League Cup Dunfermline and Alloa Athletic have met 15 times, the Pars have won nine, three were drawn and three lost.
Milestones v Alloa Athletic (home)
Last home win | 20/02/21 | 2-1 | Championship
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
Saturday 20th February 2021, Championship
Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 1
Kyle Macdonald post Alloa Athletic
Sat, 20th Feb 2021
Craig Wighton making his Dunfermline Athletic debut scored both goals in the narrow win. He got off the mark in 14 minutes when Fraser Murray cut in from the left and drilled a shot at goal that WIGHTON flicked past Neil Parry for 1-0.
One minute before half time Williamson launched 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
Fourteen minutes into the second half Dunfermline regained the lead. A 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
It was a match that Stevie Crawford would describe as "won ugly" but the first home win over Alloa since May 2013.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie (Kyle Macdonald 24), Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Scott Banks (Steven Whittaker 66), Lewis Mayo, Iain Wilson, Fraser Murray: Craig Wighton, Declan McManus (Kevin O’Hara 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis McCann, Dom Thomas, Kerr McInroy, Cammy Gill (GK)
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).
Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic
Four Alloa wins, four Dunfermline wins with four drawn in the last twelve meetings.
30/04/21 | Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline 0 | Championship
20/02/21 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 1 | Championship
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
Last Six Matches
DUNFERMLINE
Ross County (A) L 0-1
Buckie Thistle (H) W 5-0
East Fife (A) W 2-0
Kilmarnock (H) L 0-1
Stenhousemuir (A) W 2-0
Forfar Athletic (A) W 6-0
ALLOA ATHLETIC
Ross County (H) L 0-2
Buckie Thistle (A) W 4-1
East Fife (H) D 1-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 0-4
Queen’s Park H) D 0-0
Forfar Athletic (H) W 2-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
Championship League Position: 9th
Championship League Points: 35
Goal Difference: -17
Home League Record: P18 W5 D8 L5 GF22 GA24
Last Six Match Form: DLWWWL
ALLOA ATHLETIC
League One Position: 5th
League One Points: 45
Goal Difference: -8
Away League Record: P18 W6 D5 L7 GF23 GA27
Last Six Match Form: WDLDWL
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Ross County): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), (Kyle Macdonald 86), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton (Joe Chalmers 78): Matthew Todd, Paul Allan, Kevin O’Hara (Nikolay Todorov 66), Lewis McCann, Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Jake Rennie, Michael Beagley, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Callum Archibald (GK).
ALLOA ATHLETIC (v Ross County): Jay Hogarth: Scott Taggart, George Stanger, Andy Graham, Daniel Church, Murray Miller, Adam King, Paul McLaren (Kevin Cawley 51), Ross MacIver (Cameron O`Donnell 76), Bradley Rodden (Seff Khyyam 76), Conor Sammon (Stefan Scougall 64)
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Buchanan, Keir Burt, Jamie Comrie.
Other Group C match
Ross County v East Fife
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