Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 3
Saturday, 8th Oct 2022cinch League One: Sam Fisher and Chris Hamilton start in place of Kyle Macdonald and Lewis McCann. Aaron Comrie (30) 0-1: Matty Todd (45+2) 0-2: Craig Wighton (79) 0-3
This was a good result against a team that often cause Dunfermline some difficulties - three good goals and three valuable away points.
Alloa Athletic welcomed their near neighbours to the Indodrill Stadium with an eye on a win that could lift then above the second placed Fifers. Dunfermline unbeaten in 8 league games were seeking a win to keep them on the tails of league leaders, FC Edinburgh.
James McPake was without Lewis McCann and Kyle Macdonald dropped to the bench meaning a first start for Sam Fisher and the return of Chris Hamilton. Alloa manager Brian Rice also made two changes with Kevin Cawley and Kieran Offord making way for Bradley Rodden and the 39 year old skipper Andy Graham.
The heavy lunchtime rain had cleared before the teams warmed in in dry weather. The sides changed ends before the hosts kicked off attacking the goal at the partially covered south end.
First chance came right on three minutes when Josh Edwards sent Matty Todd down the left and as he cut in along the byeline got the better of George Stanger but was blocked at the near post. Alloa responded two minutes later with a break that saw Conor Sammon give Deniz Mehmet his first save of the day.
Chris Mochrie then made a surging run and released a twelfth minute shot from the edge of the box that just cleared the Alloa crossbar. Six minutes passed before a Stefan Scougall cross was met by the head of Sammon but his attempt went wide right. Mehmet then made it look easy to hold a dangerous Scott Taggart cross from the right.
At the midpoint of the half a long throw from Edwards was defended and Joe Chalmers returned with a low drive that got blocked. Hamilton was next to fire an effort on goal from the right but Jay Hogarth held comfortably. Hamilton was next to fire on target after a lay off from Chalmers but a defender took the sting out of the shot and Hogarth collected.
Dunfermline continued to press and Chalmers powered a shot 30 yards out that was blocked. The goal had been threatened duly arrived on the half hour. Chalmers was the provider, receiving the ball from Edwards to deliver an inviting ball from deep down the left. Todorov rose for it but it cleared him but Aaron COMRIE was behind him at the back post to smash the ball home. 0-1
A goal up the Fifers were in total command and Alloa were pegged back in their own half. Todd forced a throw in for Edwards to launch the ball into the Alloa six yard box but the defence came out on top.
It has been a very good first half for the Pars with the greater possession and many more shots than their opponents. In the second minute of time added on it just got better. A Rhys Breen lob cleared Graham and TODD, who had been hugely impressive all game latched on to the ball and lobbed the advancing Hogarth from 20 yards out. 0-2
Half time: Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 2
Before the second half got going Alloa made two substations with Luke Donnelly and Kevin Cawley taking the places of Conor Sammon and Andy Graham. The desired effect nearly came off on 49 minutes when a Cameron O’Donnell cross sat up for Rodden 15 yards out but it was a let off for the visitors as the number ten failed to connect.
Four minutes later Mehmet made a good left handed stop to deny Cawley with a low shot from an angle on the left. Rodden got through the defence to aim a 58th minute shot on target but it was easily taken by the yellow kitted Pars keeper. A Cawley shot from 25 yards out caused Mehmet to touch the ball around his right hand post and there was a bit of head tennis from the corner terminated with a wayward shot.
Alloa had shown a different side in the second half and there was a 70th minute shot when Kieran Offord found Donnelly and his effort scraped narrowly outside the right upright. Dunfermline’s attempts had been limited and Edwards tried to convert a Todorov knock down but skied his shot.
Mehmet made a great double save in 76 minutes and from the subsequent O’Donnell corner before a McPake substitution had a dramatic effect. Craig Wighton replaced Nikolay Todorov and within a minute WIGHTON was on the scoresheet. Breen challenged for a typical Edwards long throw in and the break fell to the substitute to net the Fifers’ third just 30 seconds after coming on. 0-3
This week Dunfermline saw the match out handsomely to take the three points back to Fife but really the match was won on a very good first half performance.
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Jay Hogarth: George Stanger, Andy Graham (Kevin Cawley HT), David Devine: Scott Taggart, Jon Robertson, Stefan Scougall, Cameron O’Donnell: Ross McIver (Kieran Offord 63): Bradley Rodden (Murray Miller 63), Conor Sammon (Luke Donnelly HT)SUBS NOT USED: Adam King, Daniel Church, Craig Howie, Steven Buchanan, Willie Muir (HK)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Aaron Comrie, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd: Nikolay Todorov (Craig Wighton 79)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Comrie (30), Todd (45+2), Craig Wighton (79)
YELLOW CARD: Comrie (87), Wighton (88)
REFEREE: Alan Newlands
WEATHER: Changeable 13°C
ATTENDANCE 1653
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (home) v FC Edinburgh, Saturday 15th October 2022, kick off 3.00pm at the KDM Group East End Park
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Alloa Athletic
Saturday, 8th Oct 2022cinch League One: (away) v Alloa Athletic, Saturday 8th October 2022, kick off 3.0m at the Indodrill Stadium
The second round of League One fixtures commences with Dunfermline the visitors to Alloa. The Wasps always feel like a bit of a bogey team and they have struck a good run of form so as often said - no easy game in this league.
Milestones v Alloa Athletic (away)
Last Victory | 24/10/20 | 4-1 | Championship
Last Defeat | 30/04/21 | 1-2 | Championship
Best Victory | 11/02/48 | 6-0 | Division B (two)
Worst Defeat | 26/04/52 | 4-5 | Division B (two)
First League meeting | 18/02/22 | 0-2 | Division Two
This is the 70th league match between the clubs and Alloa with 25 wins marginally hold the advantage. 20 have been drawn and 24 won by Dunfermline.
The Pars have lost two of their last three league games at the Indodrill Stadium.
Last Time at Indrodrill Stadium
Friday 30th April 2021, Championship
Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline Athletic 0
Match day 27, the final match of the 2020-2021 Championship season saw Dunfermline travel to Alloa. The home side had already been relegated but this match along with results from Dundee’s match in Dumfries would determine whether Dunfermline finished third or fourth.
After a goalless first half what turned out to be the winning goal was to come after 48 minutes. Cameron had hit the Dunfermline upright with a stinging shot and the home side would earn their first corner of the match. When the cross came over from the left DICK connected at the near post to direct the ball home. 1-0
The Pars would enter the play offs on the back of a defeat. With Dundee registering a 2-0 win at Palmerston and Raith Rovers losing 4-0 at home to Hearts, it was the Dark Blues from Tayside who ended up in second place.
Third placed Raith Rovers would meet Dunfermline in the first Premiership play off on Tuesday night at East End Park.
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Andy Graham (c), Nicky Jamieson, Liam Dick: Ray Grant: Innes Murray (Lee Connelly 76), Stefan Scougall, Kevin Cawley, Lucas Williamson, Innes Cameron.
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Buchanan, Adam Brown, Robert Thomson, Edin Lynch, Cameron O’Donnell, Reece Willison (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c) (Lewis Mayo 62), Josh Edwards: Paul Allan: Kerr McInroy, Declan McManus (Craig Wighton 72), Ewan Henderson (Scott Banks 64): Lewis McCann, Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Vytas Gašpuitis, Matthew Todd, Owain Fôn Williams (GK)
Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic
Four Alloa wins, five Dunfermline wins with three drawn in the last twelve meetings.
30/07/22 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | League One
23/07/22 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1 | Premier Sports Cup
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
Recent Form
Dunfermline have won three and drawn three of their last six matches and sit two points behind league leaders FC Edinburgh, albeit the Meadowbank side have played one game more. After one win in their first four league matches, Alloa currently sit fifth as a result of being undefeated in their last four league matches. Alloa’s tally of 12 league goals scored at home serves as a warning that they could be formidable opponents.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Peterhead (H) D 2-2
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
ALLOA ATHLETIC
Queen of the South (A) D 1-1
Airdrieonians (H) W 1-0
Montrose (H) W 2-1
Clyde (A) W 4-2
Peterhead (H) W 5-0
Airdrieonians (A) L 0-2
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 16
Goal Difference: +7
Away League Record: P3 W2 D1 L0 GF5 GA0
Last Six Match Form: WWDDWD
ALLOA ATHLETIC
League Position: 6th
League Points: 13
Goal Difference: +5
Home League Record: P4 W3 D0 L1 GF12 GA6
Last Six Match Form: LWWWWD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Peterhead): 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)
ALLOA ATHLETIC (v Queen of the South): Jay Hogarth: Scott Taggart, George Stanger, David Devine: Kevin Cawley (Adam King 65), Jon Robertson, Stefan Scougall, Cameron O’Donnell (Daniel Church 61), Ross McIvor, Conor Sammon (Bradley Rodden 61), Kieran Offord (Luke Donnelly 61)
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Graham, Craig Howie, Murray Miller, Steven Buchanan, Willie Muir (HK)
Other League One Fixtures
Airdrieonians v Queen of the South
Clyde v Montrose
FC Edinburgh v Kelty Hearts
Peterhead v Falkirk
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