Dunfermline 1 Airdrieonians 1
Saturday, 27th Aug 2022cinch League One: Kyle Macdonald, Chris Mochrie and Nikolay Todorov start. Calum Fordyce og (67) 1-0: Adam Frizzell (78) 1-1:
It was Airdrieonians first visit to play Dunfermline since January 2016 and they arrived as League One leaders level on points with the Pars but with a superior goal difference.
James McPake brought in Kyle Macdonald, Chris Mochrie and Nikolay Todorov to take the places of Joe Chalmers, Craig Wighton and Lewis McCann in the Dunfermline team.
Airdrieonians manager Rhys McCabe named an unchanged starting eleven including himself for the ninth time this season and his side included former Pars players Callum Fordyce, Callum Smith and Gabby McGill. The visitors kicked off in bright sunshine attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand.
The first chance of the afternoon came Dunfermline’s way as Todorov headed the ball into the path of Kevin O’Hara but his sixth minute left footed effort was held by keeper Murray Johnston dropping to his right.
Three more Pars chances came in the next three minutes. O’Hara provided for Macdonald but his left footed shot was wide right. Mochrie set up the next but MacDonald’s drive was deflected wide by Todorov. Then in ninth minute Macdonald tried to find Todorov in front of goal but Murray Johnson got in first to hold.
The lively start was not just at the away end since Airdrieonians forced a tenth minute corner and when Justin Devenny delivered from the right Fordyce met it and directed his header goalwards only to be cleared by Macdonald. Next Adam Frizzell pinged a shot narrowly wide right and at the other end Johnston held a 16th minute Mochrie effort from the edge of the penalty box.
It was the open game that had been expected and opportunities kept coming. Mochrie made a surging run playing off O’Hara to glide into the Airdrie box but when the chance fell to Todorov the keeper again came out on top. Then in 27 minutes Johnson was tested by Mochrie with a well connected shot that he struck from the edge of the box.
The Fifers goal came under somewhat of a siege from a 33rd minute corner. There was head tennis before McCabe drilled a shot on target from the right and then a follow up earned another corner. The away support roared their approval but the second corner was easier defended.
Another Pars opportunity came from Macdonald’s 37th minute pass to Matty Todd that was swept in the direction of Todorov but again the keeper snapped up the ball before there was a chance to convert.
Referee Grant Irvine won no friends on the black and white side when he awarded Airdrieonians a disputed free kick 30 yards out but fortunately McCabe ballooned his 40th minute attempt into the McCathie Stand.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Airdrieonians 0
Play had stopped in time added on at the end of the first half for treatment to Kevin O’Hara after coming off second best in a challenge with Craig Watson and the Pars striker lasted only three minutes of the second period before going down. Lewis McCann came on as the 50th minute substitute.
It was the Diamonds who had a glorious chance seven minutes later. It was set up by McGill and Frizzell but sub Calum Gallagher pulled his shot well wide left. Then on the hour Edwards launched a long throw in from in front of the North West. Todorov, Breen and McCann looked likely targets but it was Chris Hamilton who drifted in to connect but unluckily his effort went wide right. That was Chris’ last involvement as was then subbed for Joe Chalmers to come on.
Dunfermline took the lead midway through the second half when Edwards launched another throw in from the right. Todorov rose for it with FORDYCE at the near post and the goal came off the Airdrieonians centre back. Ironically Dycey first goal for Dunfermline, 1-0.
The noise level increased significantly as East End Park celebrated and just four minutes later it came close for them to celebrate two but Todd smashed the ball narrowly wide left. Fordyce then almost made amends with a shot that went over off the crossbar.
It was Airdrieonians who scored next with FRIZZELL taking advantage of an unfortunate attempt to clear and whacking a low shot into the bottom right of the Pars goal. The 78th minute goal was the first to be scored against the Pars in League One. 1-1
Reacting Dunfermline piled on the pressure with Todorov just not high enough to head in a cross and Edwards being denied at the near post. An 89th minute free kick was won deep down the left by McCann and when Mochrie crossed Todorov was unlucky with a shot that went wide.
In 90th minute another long throw from Edwards reached Todorov but Johnson tipped the header over the bar. Benedictus was up for an added time free kick and when he threaded the ball to his right for a shot Todorov was denied by Johnson.
The last chance seemed to be going to come from a Chalmers corner but after that was blocked another long throw in from the right saw the ball was driven home by Breen only for the referee to chalk it off. The decision was hotly disputed, Benedictus was shown yellow and video replays would later confirm little if any contact on keeper Johnson and the decision to be extremely harsh. Despite all the pressing a winner was not to happen and with the 1-1 draw Airdrieonians returned to North Lanarkshire top of the league on goal difference.
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Fordyce o.g.(67)
YELLOW CARD: Edwards (51)
AIRDRIEONIANS: Murray Johnson: Cammy Ballantyne, Rhys McCabe, Euan Deveney (Ben Wylie 73), Callum Fordyce, Adam Frizzell, Callum Smith, Lewis Jamieson (Calum Gallagher 43), Craig Watson, Justin Devenny, Gabby McGill (Salim Kouider-Aïssa 85).
SUBS NOT USED: Cole Gibson, Trialist, Dean McMaster, Alex Henderson.
SCORERS: Frizzell (78)
YELLOW CARD: Johnson (90+1)
REFEREE: Grant Irvine
WEATHER: Sunny 18°C
ATTENDANCE 4399
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (away) v Queen of the South, Saturday 3rd September 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Palmerston Park
Winning 50/50 draw ticket number number 13761 won the prize fund of £825
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Airdrieonians
Saturday, 27th Aug 2022cinch League One (home) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 23rd August 2022, 3.00pm at the KDM Group East End Park
There is a big match looming this Saturday as the only two undefeated teams in League One meet. It will be Airdrieonians first time at the KDM Group East End Park since January 2016 and matches between the two sides are always hotly contested.
Milestones v Airdrieonians at home
Last Victory | 23/08/14 | 3-0 | League One
Last Defeat | 29/01/16 | 0-1 | League One
Best Victory | 11/11/61 | 6-2 | Division One (old)
Worst Defeats |
14/09/46 | 0-5 | Division Two (old)
02/09/78 | 0-5 | League Cup
Last Goalless Draw | 23/08/08 | Division One
First Meeting | 27/11/26 | 0-2 | Division Two
There have been 113 league games with Airdrie in all their guises with the Lanarkshire club having 41 wins and the Fifers 40.
Pars v Airdrie: The Full League Record
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
|
At
East End |
58 |
24 |
19 |
15 |
95 |
87 |
|
At
Airdrie |
57 |
16 |
13 |
27 |
85 |
118 |
|
League
One |
12 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
17 |
|
Division
One (up to 1975) |
42 |
19 |
6 |
17 |
83 |
90 |
|
Division
Two (up to 1975) |
12 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
24 |
42 |
|
Premier
League (since 1975) |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
|
First
Division (since 1975) |
43 |
16 |
20 |
7 |
53 |
48 |
|
TOTALS |
113 |
40 |
32 |
41 |
180 |
205 |
Last twelve meetings
The most recent meeting was in the last match of the 2015-2016 season. Airdrieonians have won six, Dunfermline four and two have been drawn.
2015/2016
First Division Airdrieonians 3-0 Dunfermline 23/04/16
First Division Dunfermline 0-1 Airdrieonians 29/01/16
First Division Airdrieonians 0-2 Dunfermline 14/11/15
First Division Dunfermline 1-1 Airdrieonians 26/09/15
2014/2015
First Division Airdrieonians 3-2 Dunfermline 02/05/15
First Division Dunfermline 2-2 Airdrieonians 17/01/15
First Division Airdrieonians 3-1 Dunfermline 13/12/14
First Division Dunfermline 3-0 Airdrieonians 23/08/14
2013/2014
First Division Airdrie United 2-0 Dunfermline 05/04/14
First Division Dunfermline 0-1 Airdrie United 18/01/14
First Division Airdrie United 0-3 Dunfermline 16/11/13
First Division Dunfermline 2-1 Airdrie United 21/09/13
Last time at East End Park
Friday 26th January 2016, League One
Dunfermline 0 Airdrieonians 1
Current Airdrieonians manager Rhys McCabe (pictured above) played for Dunfermline in this game.
The match was held on a Friday night for live broadcast on BBC Alba. Dunfermline had gone 15 league matches without defeat and were keen to keep that going as well as getting back to winning ways after draws against Ross County and Peterhead and a cup exit at Dingwall.
What turned out to be the match winning goal was scored on the half hour and it was totally against the run of play. A simple ball from the left side of the box was perfect for BAIN to turn past Murdoch from five yards out. 0-1
The home side pressed for a goal with intensity increasing towards the end but the Lanarkshire club left with their fourth win in eight visits.
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch; Shaun Rooney (Rhys McCabe 81), Brad McKay, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot; Michael Paton, Andy Geggan (c), Josh Falkingham (Shaun Byrne 75), David Hopkirk (Ryan Wallace 70); Michael Moffat, Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: John Potter, Paul Joseph Crossan, Evan Horne, David Hutton (GK)
AIRDRIEONIANS: Neil Parry; David Ferguson, Sean Crighton, Alan Lithgow, Kieran MacDonald; Jamie Bain, Marc Fitzpatrick (c), Hugo Faria (Scott Stewart 94), Liam Watt, Jim Lister (Dylan Mackin 77), David Cox
SUBS NOT USED: Chris O`Neill, Adam Brown, Bryan Prunty, Nicky Cadden, Rohan Ferguson (GK).
Recent Form
Dunfermline are unbeaten in this league season and have won three of their last six matches. They have not conceded a goal in any of their first four league matches.
Airdrieonians have lost just one of their eight matches this season. That was away to Arbroath in the Premier Sports Cup but in that competition they registered a 2-0 win over Premierleague St Mirren. The Diamonds have an impressive record this calendar year losing only three of their 31 matches in 2022.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Kelty Hearts (A) D 0-0
Montrose (H) W 1-0
FC Edinburgh (A) W 3-0
Alloa Athletic (H) W 1-0
Alloa Athletic (H) D 1-1
Ross County (A) L 0-1
AIRDRIEONIANS
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-0
Queen of the South (A) D 1-1
Falkirk (H) W 4-0
Peterhead (A) W 2-0
Arbroath (A) L 3-0
St Mirren (H) W 2-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 10
Goal Difference: +5
League Record: P4 W3 D1 L0 GF5 GA0
Last Six Match Form: LDWWWD
AIRDRIEONIANS
League position 1st
League points 10
Goal Difference +8
League Record: P4 W3 D1 L0 GF9 GA1
Last Six Match Form: WLWWDW
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Kelty Hearts): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton: Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Chris Mochrie 50): Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 50), Craig Wighton (Kyle Macdonald 50)
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK)
AIRDRIEONIANS v Alloa Athletic): Murray Johnson, Cammy Ballantyne, Rhys McCabe, Callum Fordyce, Adam Frizzell, Callum Smith, Lewis Jamieson (Salim Kouider-Aïssa 86), Craig Watson, Justin Devenny (Ben Wylie 55), Euan Deveney, Gabby McGill (Calum Gallagher 45).
SUBS NOT USED: Cole Gibson, Trialist, David Hutton (GK).
Other League One fixtures
Alloa Athletic v Peterhead
FC Edinburgh v Clyde
Falkirk v Queen of the South
Montrose v Kelty Hearts
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