Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 19th Nov 2022cinch League One: Nikolay Todorov and Rhys Breen start. Matty Todd (10) 0-1: Chris Mochrie (19) 0-2:
A professional performance saw the Pars master the conditions and their opponents to take the three points back down the A90.
For the away day in the cold and windy North East, James McPake made two changes from the team that drew the previous league match at home to Clyde. Rhys Breen and Nikolay Todorov started and Kyle Macdonald and Robbie Mahon were on the bench.
Former Pars player Davie Nicholl, in temporary charge of the opposition named the same starting eleven as drew at Airdrie the previous week. After the deluge that had drooked the east of Scotland the previous day the Balmoor Stadium pitch looked in good condition, overhead it was dry but a strong wind swept the ground from south to north.
Dunfermline warmed up to Nazareth tracks as the home announcer paid tribute to band’s lead singer Dan McCafferty who passed away ten days ago. Having changed ends it was the home side that kicked off with the wind on their backs.
First incident of note was a yellow card within two minutes shown to Sam Fisher for a tackle on Jack Wilkie deep down the right side. Three minutes later Peterhead forced the first corner of the afternoon off Breen and when Julien Carre crossed from the right Wlkie headed wide left.
The Fifers went ahead in tenth minute when Matthew TODD found himself in a good position to shoot from 30 yards out. With the away crowd shouting ‘shoot’ he responded with a shot that would take a deflection en route to the Blue Toon net. 0-1.
On eleven minutes the Peterhead fans took the opportunity to mark with applause former manager Jim McInally’s eleven years in charge at Balmoor. It was the travelling support who would be applauding more as a second Pars goal came on 19 minutes. Fisher won possession in his own half to break up the right and picked out MOCHRIE with a good low cross field pass. The on loan Dundee United midfielder finished in style from just inside the Peterhead box. 0-2
Deniz Mehmet pulled off a great save five minutes on when Ryan Dow from 25 yards out directed a shot that was destined for the top left corner of his net. Edwards forced a 27th minute corner that Mochrie took short to Chalmers before delivering a cross that Fisher blasted over the bar.
Six minutes later a good interchange between Mochrie and Wighton set up the former for a shot from close in but in a let off for Peterhead, the ball went wide left. Next a Fisher ball to Wighton was flicked on for Comrie to take down the right and his cross was caught awkwardly in the wind but keeper Tom Ritchie held.
It was a first half in which the visitors had twice as much possession as the home side. They had played well into the wind with Mochrie and Chalmers seemingly deeply involved in everything.
Half time: Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2
Early second half play saw a Wighton cut back for Mochrie intercepted and Fisher head away a dangerous Dow cross. In 53 minutes Ritchie tipped a fierce Todorov effort from the edge of the box but the subsequent corner sailed behind before it could cause any problems.
Ritchie clawed a tricky Chalmers shot out for a 72nd minute corner but taking corners with the wind were proving difficult and this one flew across field and out on the other side for a throw in. Kane Ritchie-Hosler replaced Craig Wighton for the final 13 minutes. Ritchie fisted away a Chalmers free kick from the right as the home side were put under relentless pressure.
That was eased when Peterhead won an 86th minute corner and after initially defended McCarthy’s cross allowed Jason Brown a header at target but Mehmet held with ease.
Chris Hamilton came on for Matty Todd before Todorov was taken down as he powered towards goal earning Jason Brown an added time yellow card and providing Benedictus with one final attempt from 22 yards out but that caught the wind and skied well over.
Dunfermline three points would give them a seven point lead at the top of League One after Falkirk drew at Clyde and Montrose lost at Queen of the South.
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie McGale, Robbie Scullion, Euan Murray, Prince Asare, David Wilson, Sandy Wood (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Hewitt (57), McCarthy (79), Jordan Brown (89), Jason Brown (90+1)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers, Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd (Chris Hamilton 87), Josh Edwards: Craig Wighton (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 77), Niklolay Todorov.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Todd (10), Mochrie (19)
YELLOW CARD: Fisher (2), Wighton (44), Benedictus (57)
REFEREE: Stewart Luke
WEATHER: Blustery and cool 8°C
ATTENDANCE 793
NEXT MATCH: Scottish Cup (home) v Forfar Athletic, Saturday 26th November 2022, 3.00pm kick off at The KDM Group East End Park.
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Peterhead
Saturday, 19th Nov 2022cinch League One (away) Saturday 19th November 2022, kick off 3.00pm at the Balmoor Stadium
Dunfermline’s next league match is away to Peterhead, their first league match there since January 2016. They will face an opponent under the caretaker management of former Par Davie Nicholls following Jim McInally’s resignation after 11 years in the post.
Dunfermline and Peterhead have met twelve times, the Blue Toon have won once in 2015/16 season, the Pars have won five and six matches have been drawn including the first meeting this season at East End Park last month.
Record v Peterhead
2022/2023
League One Dunfermline 2-2 Peterhead 01/10/22
2018/2019
League Cup Dunfermline 3-0 Peterhead 17/07/18
2017/2018
League Cup Dunfermline 5-1 Peterhead 22/07/17
2015/2016
League One Dunfermline 1-0 Peterhead 30/04/16
League One Peterhead 0-0 Dunfermline 23/01/16
League One Dunfermline 0-0 Peterhead 07/11/15
League One Peterhead 2-1 Dunfermline 23/08/15
2014/2015
League One Peterhead 1-1 Dunfermline 04/04/15
League One Dunfermline 1-1 Peterhead 03/01/15
League One Peterhead 1-1 Dunfermline 24/02/15
League One Dunfermline 3-0 Peterhead 09/08/14
2008/2009
League Cup Peterhead 0-2 Dunfermline 05/08/08
Most recent meeting
League One, 1st October 2022
Dunfermline 2 Peterhead 2
Dunfermline 2-2 Peterhead
Sat, 1st Oct 2022
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.
Midway through the second half 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
A second Dunfermline goal in 84 minutes came from another Edwards cross that TODOROV met at the far post. 2-0
Many thought that was the points settled but Peterhead had other thoughts. Jason BROWN bundled the ball over the Pars goalline in 87th minute.
Then in the fourth minute of time added on Macdonald swept over a free kick from the right that Mikey HEWITT lobbed into the net with a looping header. 2-2.
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)
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).
Recent Form
Peterhead have played twenty matches this season and have won only once (2-1 against Kelty Hearts on September). However they have drawn two of their last three league games.
Dunfermline have won four of their last six league matches, lost one and drawn one. They have scored 11 goals and conceded only two in their 7 away matches.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Celtic B (H)
W 2-1
Clyde (H) D 2-2
Falkirk (A) W 1-0
Kelty Hearts (H) W 2-1
Montrose (A) L 0-2
Clyde (A) W 2-0
PETERHEAD
Airdrieonians (A) D 1-1
Montrose (A) L 0-3
FC Edinburgh (H) D 1-1
Alloa Athletic (H) L 0-2
Queen of the South (A) L 0-2
Falkirk (H ) L 0-4
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 32
Goal Difference: +13
Away League Record: P7 W5 D1 L1 GF11 GA2
Last Six Match Form: WLWWDW
PETERHEAD
League Position: 10th
League Points: 7
Goal Difference: -26
Home League Record: P7 W1 D1 L5 GF4 GA16
Last Six Match Form: LLLDLD
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Celtic B): Max Little: Sam Fisher, Sam Young, Rhys Breen: Chris Hamilton (c), Joe Chalmers: Kyle Macdonald, Andrew Tod (Josh Edwards 58), Matthew Todd: Taylor Sutherland, Nikolay Todorov (Craig Wighton 58).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Jake Rennie, Michael Beagley, Liam Hoggan, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
PETERHEAD (v Airdrieonians): Tom Ritchie: Ryan Strachan, Andrew McDonald, Danny Strachan, Jason Brown: McCarthy (Max Gillies 77), Michael Hewitt, Julien Carre, Jack Wilkie: Jack Brown (Robbie McGale 90+2), Ryan Dow (Conor O’Keefe 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Scullion, Jordon Brown, Euan Murray, Prince Asare, Sandy Wood (GK)
Other cinch League One fixtures
Airdrieonians v Kelty Hearts
Clyde v Falkirk
FC Edinburgh v Alloa Athletic
Queen of the South v Montrose
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