Dunfermline 2 Peterhead 2
Saturday, 1st Oct 2022cinch League One: same again starting eleven. Rhys Breen (67) 1-0: Nikolay Todorov (84) 2-0: Jason Brown (87) 2-1: Michael Hewitt (90+4) 2-2:
Having scored second half goals to lead 2-0 with three minutes remaining Dunfermline failed to see the game out and the 2-2 draw felt like a defeat in the circumstances.
For the visit of Jim McInally’s Peterhead, Dunfermline named the same starting eleven. The only difference to their squad was the two on loan signings from the previous day meaning there was a full house of nine potential substitutes as Rangers Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Motherwell’s Robbie Mahon came right into the squad.
The Blue Toon were without the suspended Chris Kisuka and they made five changes Tom Ritchie, Robbie Scullion, Michael Hewitt, Ramez Hefzalla and former Pars man Ryan Dow taking the places of Sandy Wood, David Wilson, Jack Wilkie, Prince Asare and the injured Conor O’Keefe.
Despite the torrential lunchtime rain the KDM Group East End Park looked in immaculate condition as the teams warmed up in bright sunshine but that had disappeared by the time the visitors kicked off attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand.
Dunfermline forced the first corner of the afternoon in fifth minute but Rhys Breen just couldn’t get on the end of Joe Chalmers cross. Next minute there were appeals as Lewis McCann was floored as he tried to get past Jason Brown 15 yards out. Referee Barry Cook saw nothing untoward. He had the same opinion when Josh Edwards clashed with Hefzalla in the Pars box on ten minutes.
Peterhead’s first threat came from a 16th minute free kick on the right after Breen had clipped Hefzalla but the big Pars no.12 rose to head away Paul Dixon’s delivery. McCann ran on to a neat through ball but the away team scrambled the ball behind for a corner on the left. Chris Mochrie’s corner was cleared but in 23 minutes the Dundee United loanee fed Edwards the chance to drive forward and when he picked out Nikolay Todorov his shot went wide left.
A McCann effort from 30 yards out was then held by keeper Tom Ritchie. Next Jack Brown created a good chance for Hewitt but Breen was well in to block the fierce shot from just inside the box.
Back at the other end Peterhead had to defend two more Mochrie corners and Breen headed over the opposition crossbar from a finely placed Kyle Macdonald ball in from the right.
Dunfermline were well on top at this stage but had not really tested Ritchie, on loan from Aberdeen, in the Peterhead goal. Chalmers was shown a yellow card six minutes from the break after former Partick Thistle midfielder Scullion crunched into him. The crowd showed they did not share the same opinion as the referee.
Macdonald was able to deliver another dangerous cross from a quickly taken Comrie throw in but Todorov just couldn`t get in position to finish. A Chalmers corner landed in the six yard box but Peterhead were first to contact.
Dunfermline had more than 60% possession in the first half, they had six shots but only one on target.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Peterhead 0
Before the second half started Craig Wighton replaced Kyle Macdonald and within the first five minutes Mochrie and then McCann had fired shots over the bar. Mochrie sent another wide left after a surging run from Chalmers before the Blue Toon had an opportunity from a free kick 30 yards out. Dow hit the crossbar with his 61st minute effort.
Chalmers followed that with two shots that were both narrowly off target. Ryan Strachan was shown yellow in 66 minutes after cynically blocking a speedy Mochrie break. The ball from the free kick was cleared out to the left where Edwards was able to swing the ball over to the far post. BREEN challenged and was able to squeeze the opener in between Paul Dixon and Andrew Macdonald. 1-0
Joe Chalmers was subbed by Chris Hamilton before play resumed and when it continued it was all towards the Peterhead end. Robbie Mahon replaced Lewis McCann with twelve minutes remaining.
A cushion would be very nice and that second Dunfermline goal came from another Edwards cross that TODOROV met at the far post in 84 minutes. 2-0
The importance of that cushion became apparent when Jason BROWN bundled the ball over the Pars goalline in 87th minute. The goal came from a throw in that Kyle Benedictus tried to clear, the ball broke off sub Jordan Brown on to Breen and across the goal where the Peterhead player had a tap on to make it 2-1.
The men from the north then put up a spirited attempt to take away a point and they succeeded in the fourth minute of time added on when Macdonald swept over a free kick from the right that Mikey HEWITT lobbed into the net with a looping header. The 21 year old on-loan Ayr United player’s first senior goal, 2-2.
Peterhead assistant manager Davie Nicholls would proclaim his side’s performance of the best of the season but Dunfermline threw away a victory, only one point but still unbeaten in this league campaign did not feel like any consolation.
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Joe Chalmers (Chris Hamilton 68): Kyle Macdonald (Craig Wighton HT), Matthew Todd (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 87), Chris Mochrie: Lewis McCann (Robbie Mahon 78), Nikolay Todorov
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Breen (67), Todorov (84)
YELLOW CARD: Edwards (26), Chalmers (39), Mehmet (87)
PETERHEAD: Tom Ritchie: Max Gillies, Jason Brown, Andrew McDonald, Paul Dixon (Cody McLeod 81): Ryan Strachan, Michael Hewitt, Robbie Scullion (Jordon Brown 73), Ryan Dow, Jack Brown, Ramez Hefzalla (Danny Strachan 50).
SUBS NOT USED: Prince Asare, Sandy Wood (GK).
SCORERS: Jason Brown (87), Hewitt (90+4)
YELLOW CARD: Jason Brown (37), Scullion (44), Dixon (61), R Strachan (66)
REFEREE: Barry Cook
WEATHER: Changeable 12°C
ATTENDANCE 3644
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (away) v Alloa Athletic, Saturday 8th October 2022, kick off 3.00pm at the Indodrill Stadium
50/50 Winning ticket number – 16623 Prize Amount - £640
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Peterhead
Saturday, 1st Oct 2022cinch League One: Saturday 1st October 2022, kick of 3.00pm at the KDM Group East End Park
With six SPFL League One fixtures in October, it is going to be an important month for the Pars and they play the first of these six on Saturday. It’s top v bottom with Peterhead the opposition as Dunfermline resume their League One campaign. The Blue Toon have visited the KDM Group East End Park only six times and the Pars have won four and drawn two.
Milestones Peterhead (Home)
Last Victory | 17/07/18 | 3-0 | League Cup
Last Defeat | none
Best Victory | 22/08/17 | 5-1 | League Cup
Worst Defeat | none
First Meeting | 27/09/14 | 3-0 | League One
Last Goalless Draw | 07/11/15 | League One
Record against Peterhead
Played eleven, won five, lost one and drawn five.
17/07/2018 | H | W | Dunfermline 3 Peterhead 0 | League Cup
22/07/2017 | H | W | Dunfermline 5 Peterhead 1 | League Cup
30/04/2016 | H | W | Dunfermline 1 Peterhead 0 | League One
23/01/2016 | A | D | Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 0 | League One
07/11/2015 | H | D | Dunfermline 0 Peterhead 0 | League One
22/08/2015 | A | L | Peterhead 2 Dunfermline 1 | League One
04/04/2015 | A | D | Peterhead 1 Dunfermline 1 | League One
03/01/2015 | A | D | Dunfermline 1 Peterhead 1 | League One
08/11/2014 | A | D | Peterhead 1 Dunfermline 1 | League One
27/09/2014 | H | W | Dunfermline 3 Peterhead 0 | League One
05/08/2008 | A | W | Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2 | League Cup
Last time at East End Park
Saturday 17th July 2018, League Cup
Dunfermline 3 Peterhead 0
The opening goal came in 41 minutes and it was a goal scoring debut for HIPPOLYTE heading home at the far post after great play from Williamson taking the ball to the byeline before producing the perfect cross. 1-0
After several late Pars corners that kept the crowd from leaving, there was to be an 88th minute penalty. Connolly was taken down as he tried to round his man on the left side of the box. HIGGINBOTHAM stepped up to dispatch the ball into the right side of the goal for 2-0.
Andy RYAN came on and Myles Hippolyte went off to a standing ovation before the game restarted. In the third minute of time added on, the sub carved himself a goal, bursting through into the left side of the Peterhead box before crashing his shot into the top right.
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Lee Ashcroft (c) (Aidan Connolly 72), Mark Durnan, Danny Devine: Ryan Williamson, Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Thomson (Lewis McCann 72), James Craigen, Jackson Longridge: Louis Longridge, Myles Hippolyte (Andy Ryan 90).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Stuart Morrison, Callum Smith, Cammy Gill (GK)
PETERHEAD: Greg Fleming: Cameron Eadie, Simon Ferry (Liam McDonald 85), Jason Brown, Jamie Stevenson: Russell MacLean (Aaron Norris 69), Scott Brown, Willie Gibson, Callum Home (Ross Kavanagh 69), Jack Leitch: Rory McAllister (c),
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Buxton, David McCracken.
Recent Form
Dunfermline are the only side in Scotland who are unbeaten in the league this season. They have won three and drawn three of their last six matches and the Pars will hopefully be refreshed from their free weekend.
Peterhead got a lift from win over Kelty Hearts but they have won just one and lost five of their last six matches. They finished last season with six games unbeaten but this season they have lost ten of their first twelve fixtures. They will be out to avenge for their heavy SPFL Trust Trophy tie 4-0 defeat to Elgin City, a result that their manager Jim McInally termed unacceptable.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Falkirk (H) D 1-1
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
Airdrieonians (H) D 1-1
Kelty Hearts (A) D 0-0
Montrose (H) W 1-0
FC Edinburgh (A) W 3-0
PETERHEAD
Elgin City (H) L 0-4
Kelty Hearts (H) W 2-1
Montrose (H) L 0-2
Alloa Athletic (A) L 0-5
Queen of the South (H) L 1-4
Falkirk (A) L 1-3
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 15
Goal Difference: +7
Home League Record: P4 W2 D2 L0 GF4 GA2
Last Six Match Form: WWWDDW
PETERHEAD
League Position: 10th
League Points: 4
Goal Difference: -13
Away League Record: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF3 GA10
Last Six Match Form: LLLLWL
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Falkirk): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen (Sam Fisher 90+3), Josh Edwards: Joe Chalmers: Kyle Macdonald (Craig Wighton 86), Matthew Todd, Chris Mochrie: Lewis McCann, Nikolay Todorov
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Hamilton, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
PETERHEAD (v Elgin City): Sandy Wood: David Wilson, Jason Brown, Andrew McDonald (Robbie Scullion 63), Jack Wilkie (Cody McLeod 72): Max Gillies (Danny Strachan 71), Ryan Strachan, Prince Asare (Chris Kisuka 45), Paul Dixon (Jordan Brown HT), Jack Brown, Conor O’Keefe
SUBS all used
Other League One fixtures
Falkirk v Clyde
Kelty Hearts v Airdrieonians
Montrose v FC Edinburgh
Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic
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