Dunfermline 2 Falkirk 0
Tuesday, 7th Mar 2023cinch League One: Kyle Macdonald and Josh Edwards in for Aaron Comrie and Ewan Otoo. Rhys Breen (67) 1-0: Matty Todd (75) 2-0:
It was maybe just three points but a really big result in front of the biggest crowd for a home match since December 2013.
It was first v second when Dunfermline faced Falkirk in this fixture which was originally schedule for 2nd January but frozen off by a cold blast that day. The cold weather returned for this fixture but the undersoil heating was the first winner of the evening.
James McPake made two changes in his line up. Josh Edwards had recovered from a knock, started Kyle Macdonald, Ewan Otoo was on the bench and injury kept out Aaron Comrie. The 20 year old Ukrainian Maksym Kucheriavyi for Liam Henderson was the only change in John McGlynn’s Falkirk starting eleven.
With the match being a sell out the stadium filled up from early on creating a great atmosphere ahead of kick off. The teams can out to a huge welcome from their fans before Craig Wighton kicked off with his side attacking the goal in front of the travelling support.
A second minute foul on Gary Oliver handed Falkirk the first free kick of the evening and from 35 yards out Kai Kennedy launched the ball into the Pars box but it was smartly headed away. Deniz Mehmet was the first keeper to have to save an on-target effort when Oliver headed a cross into his arms.
Falkirk had the first corner of the match in nine minutes but Kucheriavyi‘s low delivery was easily defended. The match was being played at pace and neither team were being allowed anytime on the ball. Dunfermline pushed forward on the quarter hour when Kane Ritchie-Hosler beat two men on the half way line and made a great break to find Wighton on the edge of the box. He was closed down and it was Macdonald who got in the shot that was blocked and then Chris Hamilton’s return was headed away.
Mehmet was quick to react to a weak pass back from Rhys Breen and the keeper held a 23rd minute corner conceded after Kennedy had burst into left side of the box and slid the ball through the six yard box. Kucheriavyi’s inswinger was dangerous but Mehmet came out on top.
Leon McCann cut down Hamilton 40 yards out on the right and the Pars vice captain required the physios attentions. The Joe Chalmers free kick was not lobbed into the opposition box as anticipated but the target was Ritchie-Hosler. His attempt to find a team mate in the box was thwarted by two red shirts. Better news was Hamilton’s return to restore the Pars to eleven men.
In 34 minutes a Calumn Morrison cross from the right evaded players on both sides before it looked like reaching McCann on the left but Ritchie-Hosler put paid to that with a very timely and important interception in front of goal.
Five minutes from the interval Kyle Benedictus was forced into conceding a corner on the right. Kucheriavyi’s delivery was threatening but the home defence cleared. Next Kennedy made a run infield that saw off Macdonald and then Hamilton but his shot from the edge of the box was fired wide.
In the first minute of time added on, a fine move from Mochrie playing a one two off Todd set up the on-loan Dundee United youngster for a crack at goal from 25 yards out but unluckily the left goalpost kept him out.
It felt like Falkirk had more than the 42% first half possession the stats showed, and only two shots each of which only one, from the opposition, was on target.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Falkirk 0
No half time changes as both sides recommenced battle attacking goals immediately in front of their own fans. Very quickly Chalmers swung the ball over from the left touchline and from the resultant corner Macdonald got the knock down but he blasted over the Falkirk bar from close in.
Then in 49 minutes the home fans were up on their feet as Ritchie-Hosler set up Todd but his well struck right footed shot was equally well saved by Brian Kinnear. Kevin O’Hara was the first substitute to be used when he replaced Chris Mochrie just eight minutes into the second half.
Todd then won the ball to tee up Hamilton and his shot was deflected for a 58th minute corner on the right. Chalmers again with the setplay, the attackers failed to connect but the defended ball broke to Todd who fired a low shot on target that Birrell took at his second attempt. A double substitution followed for the Bairns - Stephen McGinn and Gary Oliver making way for Liam Henderson and Rumarn Burrell.
Play became a bit more open with Falkirk temporarily forcing Dunfermline back but Todd made a great run up the left after controlling the ball on his chest and evading challenges to get into a position to send the ball low on target but again Birrell pulled off a fine save and turned the ball around his post for a corner on the right.
Chalmers delivery from the right was right on top of the keeper but BREEN was able to rise and powerfully head the ball over the line. 1-0
The celebration in front of the North West that was as exuberant as you’d expect, heralded a further onslaught on the Falkirk goal. Todd made the chance for Wighton just four minutes later but the no.9’s shot skiffed wide left off the left upright. Reward for TODD was just four more minutes away. Harassed by Macdonald, Morrison put his keeper under pressure with a pass back that he tried to clear. Wighton charged down the keeper’s kick and Ritchie-Hosler headed on for his teammate to stick low inside the right post. Matty’s tenth goal of the season made it 2-0.
Mehmet still had a role to play coming out to save at the feet of sub Rumarn Burrell 16 yards out. The Fifers continued to press and the visitors had their work cut out containing their opponents who sucked along with their happily enthusiastic fans, were on fire.
Falkirk had a short late flurry but that was dampened down with more Pars attacks and a Paul McGowan corner. Lewis McCann had an opportunity and Chalmers two bites, the first blocked and the next narrowly wide.
There are still nine league matches to play but by the scenes at the end you’d have believed it was all over. Certainly by the chants from the North West, they believe it is. There was a distinct contrast in the East Stand which emptied long before the end of the five added minutes. Dunfermline’s sparkling second half performance earned them the result, opening up an eight point advantage over Falkirk.
SUBS NOT USED: Nikolay Todorov, Ewan Otoo, Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK).
SCORERS: Breen (67), Todd (75)
YELLOW CARD: Edwards (51), Hamilton (67)
FALKIRK: Brian Kinnear: Blaine Rowe, Sean Mackie, Coll Donaldson, Leon McCann: Stephen McGinn (Liam Henderson 59), Maksym Kucheriavyi (Matthew Wright 72), Kai Kennedy (Craig McGuffie 72) Aidan Nesbitt: Calumn Morrison, Gary Oliver (Rumarn Burrell 59)
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Allan, Ryan Williamson, Finn Yeats, Brad McKay, PJ Morrison (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Mackie (83)
REFEREE: Euan Anderson
WEATHER: Fine 0°C
ATTENDANCE 9530
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (away) v Peterhead, Saturday 11th March 2023, kick off 3.00pm kick off at Balmoor Stadium
50/50 Half Time draw: Winning ticket number – 67882 Prize fund - £1,000
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Falkirk
Tuesday, 7th Mar 2023cinch League One (home) v Falkirk, Tuesday 7th March 2023, 7.45pm kick off at The KDM Group East End Park - Home tickets sold out
This is the long awaited and greatly anticipated derby match against Falkirk. Originally frozen off on 2nd January when Dunfermline led third placed Bairns by seven points, the gap is now five points and it is first v second.
Matches between the two sides are always keenly contested and it is unlikely that the predicted cold spell will do anything to cool the rivalry. A bumper crowd is predicted.
Milestones Falkirk (Home)
Last Victory | 09/10/20 | 2-0 | League Cup
Last Defeat | 10/11/18 | 0-1 | Championship
Best Victory | 13/04/66 | 6-1 | Division 1
Worst Defeat | 02/01/52 | 0-6 | Division 2
First Meeting | 04/09/26 | 0-1 | Scottish First Division
Last Goalless Draw | 17/11/87 | Scottish Premier League
Dunfermline v Falkirk: The Full League Record
TOTALS | P104 | W36 | D23 | L45 | F125 | A140
Last Meeting at East End Park
Saturday 17th September 2022, League One
Dunfermline 1-1 Falkirk
Sat, 17th Sep 2022
A Kyle Benedictus penalty countered Calumn Morrison’s first half opener and the sides had to settle for a point apiece in this strongly contested derby.
From a 30th minute Dunfermline corner Hogarth’s throw sent the impressively quick Burrell racing away down the right. He evaded the challenge of Comrie and then Macdonald to set up Nesbitt who switched the ball for Calumn MORRISON who could hardly miss at the far post. 0-1
There was almost an immediate reply but the crossbar kept out Nikolay Todorov’s header and then his follow up cleared the horizontal.
Ten minutes into the second half a sweeping pass from Todd sent Todorov down the right and on reaching the byeline he squared for McCann who failed to meet the strong cross but the referee awarded a spot kick for a Liam Henderson foul on Todorov. Captain BENEDICTUS stepped up and smashed the ball past Hogarth for his first Dunfermline goal, 1-1.
Despite there being 35 minutes remaining there would be no further scoring and it was the first draw between the sides in eight meetings.
DUNFERMLINE: 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)
FALKIRK: Nicky Hogarth: Leon McCann, Coll Donaldson, Liam Henderson, Aidan Nesbitt, Stephen McGinn (c), Finn Yeats, Calumn Morrison, Rumarn Burrell (Kai Kennedy 88), Gary Oliver (Steven Hetherington 82), Craig McGuffie (Lawal Oluwasegan 82)
SUBS NOT USED: Seb Ross, Brad McKay, Sean Mackie, Finlay Malcolm, Pearse Carroll, Paddy Martin (GK).
Last 12 Matches v Falkirk
Dunfermline have won seven of the last twelve meetings, Falkirk three and two have been drawn including the most recent at East End Park in September.
05/11/22 | (A) | 1-0 | W | League One
17/09/22 | (H) | 1-1 | D | League One
09/10/00 | (H) | 2-0 | W | League Cup
13/04/19 | (H) | 0-1 | L | Championship
29/12/18 | (A) | 4-2 | W | Championship
10/11/18 | (H) | 0-1 | L | Championship
06/10/18 | (A) | 2-0 | W | Championship
07/04/18 | (A) | 2-1 | W | Championship
02/01/18 | (H) | 2-0 | W | Championship
04/11/17 | (A) | 1-1 | D | Championship
05/10/17 | (A) | 0-2 | L | Irn Bru Cup
19/08/17 | (H) | 3-1 | W | Championship
Recent Form
Falkirk are undefeated in the twelve league games since they lost to the Pars on 5th November. The Bairns have won ten of their last eleven matches and they haven’t lost away from home since the beginning of September.
Dunfermline have now gone fourteen games without defeat and haven’t lost at home this season.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-0
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
Airdrieonians (H) D 1-1
Airdrieonians (A) W 4-3
Montrose (H) W 2-0
Clyde (A) D 1-1
FALKIRK
Peterhead (H) W 5-0
Airdrieonians (A) W 3-1
Alloa Athletic (H) W 1-0
Darvel (A) W 5-1
Alloa Athletic (A) D 1-1
Kelty Hearts (A) W 2-1
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 59
Goal Difference: +28
Home League Record: P13 W7 D6 L0 GF21 GA9
Last Six Match Form: DWWDWW
FALKIRK
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 54
Goal Difference: +29
Away League Record: P8 W6 D4 L2 GF23 GA126
Last Six Match Form: WDWWWW
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE v Alloa Athletic:Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie (Kyle Macdonald 20), Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers, Matthew Todd (Kevin O ‘Hara 61), Chris Mochrie (Paul McGowan 74): Craig Wighton (Lewis McCann 61).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK).
FALKIRK (v Peterhead): Brian Kinnear: Blaine Rowe, Sean Mackie, Coll Donaldson, Leon McCann: Liam Henderson, (Maksym Kucheriavyi), Calumn Morrison (Rumarn Burrell 84), Stephen McGinn (Craig McGuffie 76), Kai Kennedy (Matthew Wright 76): Aidan Nesbitt: Gary Oliver (Jordan Allan 61).
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson, Finn Yeats, Brad McKay, PJ Morrison (GK).
Referee will be Euan Anderson, the majority of his matches this season have be in the Premiership. This is just his second match in League One this season.
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