Montrose 2 Dunfermline 0
Saturday, 22nd Oct 2022cinch League One: Chris Hamilton starts in place of Nikolay Todorov. Matthew Wright (63) 1-0: Matthew Wright (87) 2-0:
It was over 35 years since Dunfermline Athletic last played a league match at Links Park so James McPake was the first Pars manager since Jim Leishman to take a Dunfermline side there. He made one change from the side that defeated Clyde on Tuesday evening - Chris Hamilton being preferred to Nikolay Todorov.
Montrose manager Stewart Petrie made four changes from the side that drew against Falkirk the previous week, Rory McAllister was out injured and Matty Allan, Mark Whatley, and Matthew Wright were all on the bench making room for Paul Watson, Blair Lyons, Liam Callaghan and Craig Johnston.
There was interest in that Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross was the stand side linesman for this match and he gave the Dunfermline Athletic fans behind him the opportunity to come up with topical wise crack political comments. Everyone would hope that he would come up with footballing decisions that were politically correct!
The weather brightened up ahead of kick off and the travelling support were accommodated in the links side of the Main Stand and the open terracing. It was Gardyne who got the match up and running attacking the goal at the links end. The Mighty Mo had a chance after just 85 seconds but Liam Callaghan hit his effort well wide left.
The visitors were kept under pressure with Deniz Mehmet drawn well out of his goal for an unconvincing clearance that allowed a Watson shot from distance that Rhys Breen headed off the line.
A neat pass from Chris Mochrie to Craig Wighton threatened the home goal in seven minutes but in the end it was just a corner that was won and the defence dealt easily with that. Mochrie made a soaring run down the right channel but his cutback for Wighton was cut out.
On the quarter hour, Matty Todd received a yellow card in conceding a free kick 30 yards out but fortunately the Pars wall did its job in blocking Watson’s drive. Back in front of the Montrose goal Edwards tried to beat two men but had to lay the ball back to Mochrie who did get a shot in that slipped wide left. Minutes later in 20th Mochrie had another opportunity from 20 yards out on the right side but the ball went the same way as his previous one.
Aaron Comrie was up to challenge an Edwards cross from the left byeline but the defender crashed into Andrew Steeves and play was halted for treatment to the Montrose captain.
In 29 minutes Todd drove forward and with a delft touch from Wighton found Mochrie on the left and his week struck shot was kept out by keeper Ross Sinclair’s outstretched left hand and Steeves mopped up the loose baMo to feed Johnston on the left side of the Pars box and the keeper held the shot. Just two minutes from the break an Edwards throw in on the left picked out Joe Chalmers on the edge of the Montrose box but his left footed shot failed to hit the target.
It had been a half of equal possession, the home side had looked dangerous and Mochrie had been the Fifers greatest threat. In the first minute of time added on the on loan Dundee United player received the ball on the left from Todd. He waltzed through the home defence and cracked a good shot on target only for Sinclair to pull off a great save with his feet.
Half time: Montrose 0 Dunfermline 0
The second half was just 14 seconds old when Mochrie caused Sinclair to make another good save with his feet. Wighton then nearly created the opening for a Pars goal but his chip from beyond the left post was cleared by the defence as Comrie approached.
In 52 minutes Montrose almost got caught on the break. Mochrie made the run and teed up Todd to his left for a shot but that was blocked and only a corner was earned. Three minutes later a Comrie cross from the right found Edwards just beyond the far post but his effort went over the crossbar.
Nikolay Todorov came on for Chris Hamilton in 61 minutes but it was the Montrose sub introduced at the same time who made the immediate impact. Matthew WRIGHT replaced Blair Lyons and two minutes later with virtually his first involvement hit the ball into the bottom right of the Pars goal for 1-0.
Wright was presented with a great chance to increase the lead eight minutes later after MacKinnon released Johnston down the left and his ball found the sub in the middle of the Pars box but this time Mehmet pulled off a wonderful save to maintain the deficit at just one.
Robbie Mahon replaced Sam Fisher for the final 18 minutes and it was his tenacity in midfield fighting to get the ball to Mochrie that set up an 84th minute chance for Edwards but he struggled to keep the ball down and the ball went over the bar.
With Dunfermline pushing for the equaliser the opposition cashed in on lack of numbers at the back and WRIGHT notched a second in 87 minutes after getting the better of Comrie. 2-0
Chalmers had a late effort turned away for a corner on the right and when he delivered Edwards header went over the bar. The Fifers proud unbeaten record of 12 matches came to an end but they remain top of League One, now just one point ahead of FC Edinburgh and four in front of Montrose and Falkirk.
MONTROSE: Ross Sinclair: Andrew Steeves (c), Kerr Waddell, Sean Dillon: Blair Lyons (Matthew Wright 61), Cammy F Ballantyne, Paul Watson (Mark Whatley 61), Michael Gardyne (Graham Webster 84), , Liam Callaghan (Aidan Quinn 84): Adam McKinnon, Craig Johnston (Matty Allan 79).SUBS NOT USED: Craig Brown, Martin Rennie, Aaron Lennox (GK).
SCORERS: Matthew Wight (63, 87)
YELLOW CARD: Gardyne (59)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher (Robbie Mahon 77), Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Aaron Comrie, Chris Hamilton (Nikolay Todorov 61), Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Hamilton (3), Todd (15)
REFEREE: Iain Sneddon
WEATHER: Dry 13°C
ATTENDANCE 1260
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (home) v Kelty Hearts, Saturday 29th October 2022, kick off 3.00pm at The KDM Group East End Park
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Montrose
Saturday, 22nd Oct 2022cinch League One (away) v Montrose, Saturday 22nd October 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Links Park
Dunfermline head to Montrose on Saturday for their first league match at Links Park since May 1987. The opposition manager is Stewart Petrie but we can be certain that the Pars favourite will be out to make sure the three points stay in Angus.
James McPake will be hoping that his side can extend their current three match winning run and their impressive away form.
Milestones v Montrose (away)
Last victory | 12/08/92 | 6-0 | League Cup
Last defeat | 09/05/87 | 0-1 | First Division
Best victory | 12/08/92 | 6-0 | League Cup
Worst defeat | 06/09/30 | 0-3 | Division Two (old)
Dunfermline have won 24 of the 38 games between the clubs, all four of Montrose’s wins have been at home.
Last time at Links Park
Saturday 8th January 2011, Scottish Cup
Montrose 2 Dunfermline 2
It was well against the run of play when the Third Division side took the lead after 27 minutes. Nicky Smith fed Paul TOSH the ball on the right, he then raced away from Keddie before despatching a shot that found the net off the left post. 1-0
It took Jim McIntyre’s team some time to get back on level terms. In 73 minutes latching on to a pass from Graham, substitute Pat CLARKE pulled out a shot from 25 yards that Wood in the home goal just couldn`t hold. The ball took a deflection off Steven Tweed and travelled off him into the net for a very welcome equaliser. 1-1
When Clarke was pulled down nine minutes from time, Willis fired in a free kick from the left that Clarke flicked on as the ball made its way on to the right post. McGregor failed to connect as the ball rebounded across goal but KIRK in front of the keeper, turned it in off his knee for the Pars second. 2-1 to the Fifers.
Montrose fought to the bitter end to deserve another crack at overcoming the Pars. A McNally throw in towards goal was cleared initially but pumped back in for Tweed to challenge on the six yard line along with McGregor and Keddie. The ball fell to TOSH on the right side and his left foot was too quick for the efforts of Clarke and Phinn to prevent his shot and the ball was sent crashing past Chris Smith.
The equaliser came in the first minute of added time so there was no time to respond and a replay that the Pars would win 5-3 was necessary ten days later.
MONTROSE: Sandy Wood; Stephen McNally,Alan Campbell, Steven Tweed, Gordon Pope; Ross McCord (Martin Boyle 80), Terry Masson (Connor Thomson, 86), Aaron Sinclair, Dougie Cameron; Nicky Smith (Hugh Davidson 60), Paul Tosh
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Crighton, Tim Capstick (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Neil McGregor, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Paul Willis, Nick Phinn, Gary Mason, David Graham; Andy Kirk, Steven McDougall (Pat Clarke 65)
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Burke, Ryan Thomson, Andy Dowie, Kyle Allison (GK)
Last Twelve Matches v Montrose
In the last twelve meetings, Dunfermline have won eight, Montrose one and three have been drawn.
13/08/22 | W | Dunfermline 1 Montrose 0 | League One
28/08/12 | W| Dunfermline 3 Montrose 0 | League Cup
18/01/11 | W | Dunfermline 5 Montrose 3 | Scottish Cup
08/01/11 | D | Montrose 2 Dunfermline 2 | Scottish Cup
12/08/92 | W | Montrose 0 Dunfermline 2 | League Cup
08/05/87 | L | Montrose 1 Dunfermline 0 | Division One
03/03/87 | W | Dunfermline 2 Montrose 0 | Division One
29/11/86 | W | Montrose 0 Dunfermline 2 | Division One
30/09/86 | W | Dunfermline 1 Montrose 0 | Division One
20/04/85 | D | Dunfermline 0 Montrose 0 | Division Two
22/12/84 | D | Dunfermline 1 Montrose 1 | Division Two
25/08/84 | W | Montrose 2 Dunfermline 4 | Division Two
Recent Form
Dunfermline, the only unbeaten team in the SPFL, EPL and EFL. Not only are they undefeated away from home they have not conceded an away goal this league season.
Going by their first against the Pars this season and their form since then, Montrose will provide stiff opposition. The Gable Endies have won two and drawn one of their last three league matches and have lost only once in the league this season.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Clyde (A) W 2-0
FC Edinburgh (H) W 1-0
Alloa Athletic (A) W 3-0
Peterhead (H) D 2-2
Falkirk (H) D 1-1
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
MONTROSE
Falkirk (H) D 1-1
Clyde (A) W 3-1
Airdrieonians (H) W 4-2
FC Edinburgh (H) L 1-2
Kilmarnock B (H) W 4-2
Alloa Athletic (A) L 1-2
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 25
Goal Difference: +13
Away League Record: P5 W4 D1 L0 GF10 GA0
Last Six Match Form: WDDWWW
MONTROSE
League position: 4th
League points 18
Goal Difference +7
Home League Record: P6 W3 D2 L1 GF11 GA6
Last Six Match Form: LWLWWD
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Clyde): Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton (Chris Hamilton 71), Nikolay Todorov (Lewis McCann 64 (Robbie Mahon 81)).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Michael Beagley, Max Little (GK)
MONTROSE (v Falkirk): Ross Sinclair: Matty Allan, Andrew Steeves (c), Sean Dillon, Kerr Waddell, Cammy Ballantyne, Mark Whatley (Craig Johnston HT), Adam McKinnon (Paul Watson 89), Rory McAllister (Blair Lyons 28), Matthew Wright (Craig Brown 72), Michael Gardyne
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Callaghan, Aidan Quinn, Martin Rennie, Aaron Lennox (GK).
Other cinch League One fixtures
Clyde v Queen of the South
FC Edinburgh v Airdrieonians
Falkirk v Kelty Hearts
Peterhead v Alloa Athletic
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