Dunfermline 0 Kelty Hearts 0

Saturday, 1st Apr 2023

cinch League One: same again Pars but stalemate at The KDM

Unfortunately this was a goalless draw that gives 0-0 games a bad reputation. Kelty managed just one shot in 90 minutes and did a sterling job in frustrating their neighbours.

Dunfermline welcomed back to The KDM Group East End Park, John Potter and his Kelty Hearts team sitting on enough points to secure their League One status for another season.

James McPake went with the same starting eleven that won 3-1 at Montrose the previous Saturday. For Kelty Hearts John Potter brought in Darren Lyon for the absent Tam O`Ware. The teams changed ends before Craig Wighton got the match underway with Kelty defending the goal in front of the McCathie Stand.

It was Dunfermline who created the first good chance of the afternoon in eighth minute. Lewis McCann struck the ball with pace out to Kane Ritchie-Hosler on the right and after he made ground up the right flank the on loan Ranger delivered a cross that Wighton met at the far post and caused Darren Jamieson to turn the ball round his right hand post. Kelty defended the corner and then earned one of their own but that was over hit.

A Ritchie-Hosler shot at an angle from 15 yards out was then parried away for a 12th minute corner on the right but that failed to test the defence. Five minutes on and an Edwards pass played McCann away up the left. His cross along the six yard line was turned behind by centre back Jack Milne but again Joe Chalmers cross was defended. Kelty were pegged back and another corner transpired on 20 minutes. More Kelty defending was called for but the home side had a real grip of this Fife Derby.

Chalmers popped up on the right to send the ball across goal to Robbie Mahon but his attempt to pick out McCann in front of goal was intercepted. As the half hour mark approached Kelty managed to take play away from their final third and for a short spell Dunfermline found it hard to keep possession as the blue shirts flooded the midfield.

Michael Tidser flashed the ball across the Dunfermline goalmouth from a 33rd minute corner with no takers while at the other end McCann got in a shot that was blocked.

Finlay Shearer was the first substitute to be called upon after Nathan Austin hobbled off in 35 minutes. Chalmers put over another two dangerous balls from the left, the first from a corner but the defence held strong.

Jamieson held a Ritchie-Hosler cross after a neat interchange on the right with Comrie in 41 minutes Wighton met another good cross from Ritchie-Hosler that from close in he directed wide left. It had been a powerful first half from the Pars and the wonder at the break was how long would Kelty be able to hold out.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Kelty Hearts 0

An 18 yard box scramble in 52 minutes had Kelty doing some last ditch blocking before McCann smashed an effort that was also blocked out. An Edwards cross was sliced into his keeper’s hands by Jason Thomson and with no success ongoing James McPake changed things just 14 minutes into the second half. Nikolay Todorov, Chris Mochrie and Paul McGowan replaced Lewis McCann, Craig Wighton and Robbie Mahon.

McGowan had a shot over the bar and then in 65 minutes met a Ritchie-Hosler cross to glance the ball narrowly outside the left upright. Kanayo Megwa collected a 69th minute yellow card for cynically ending Mochrie run up the left before a Barjonas ended when Benedictus blocked him. The free kick allowed Kelty to push up and they silenced the home support for a period as the match entered its final quarter.

Kevin O’Hara replaced Joe Chalmers and Kelty brought on Arron Darge for Michael Tidser but the stalemate prevailed. A Ritchie-Hosler run, with a flick on by Mochrie almost got the ball to Todorov in front of goal but Dunfermline were not producing anything to test the visiting keeper.

With six minutes remaining the East End crowd encouraged their side up the park but from a long Edwards throw in at the right corner flag the ball fell to Hamilton on the far side of the box and all he got for push on the back was a booking for simulation. The Pars attacked but with their supporters crying out for a shot the keeper still wasn’t involved.

When McGowan got an opportunity in 90th minute his 25 yard effort cleared the bar. Jamieson held a throw in launched at him by Edwards and the match would end all square.

Closest rivals Falkirk were also held to a 0-0 draw so the gap at the top remains 11 points with six games remaining. On the positive side Deniz Mehmet has overtaken Ian Westwater`s 1984-85 record for the number of shut outs in a season, well done to the Dunfermline keeper.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers (Kevin O’Hara 73): Robbie Mahon (Paul McGowan 59), Craig Wighton (Chris Mochrie 59), Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Hamilton (87)

KELTY HEARTS: Darren Jamieson: Kanayo Megwa, Jason Thomson, Jack Milne, Lewis Martin: Alfredo Agyeman, Darren Lyon, Michael Tidser (Arron Darge 78), Joe Cardle (Robbie Leitch 66), Jamie Barjonas: Nathan Austin (Finlay Shearer 35)
SUBS NOT USED: Reis Peggie, Ross Philp, Kyle McCulloch, Liam Campbell (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Cardle (23), Tidser (67), Megwa (59), Shearer (76), Jamieson (90)

REFEREE: Calum Scott
WEATHER: Cool 7°C
ATTENDANCE 4702

NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (away) v Falkirk, Saturday 8th April 2023, kick off 3.00pm at The Falkirk Stadium

50/50 Draw: Winning ticket – 40824 Prize Amount - £1,000


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Match Photos To Follow.

Preview Kelty Hearts

Saturday, 1st Apr 2023

cinch League One (home) Saturday 1st April 1923, 3.00pm at The KDM Group East End Park

Having just equalled the record for 17 league matches undefeated Dunfermline welcome their closest neighbours back to The KDM Group East End Park. The league leaders hope to continue picking up points to maintain their eleven point advantage at the top of League One.

Kelty Hearts have now secured their League One status for next season, a play off place is probably beyond them but a local derby will no doubt give them the edge they need.

Matches against Kelty Hearts

20/08/22 | A | D | Kelty Hearts 0-0 Dunfermline
29/10/22 | H | W | Dunfermline 2-1 Kelty Hearts
24/12/22 | A | W | Kelty Hearts 1-2 Dunfermline

Last time against Kelty Hearts

Dunfermline 2-1 Kelty Hearts
Sat, 29th Oct 2022

A long ball from Breen deceived Cammy Logan allowing Craig Wighton to cut back from the left byeline, the perfect assist for TODOROV. The striker crashed home from eight yards out through both central defenders and keeper Darren Jamieson. 1-0

An equaliser came on the half hour. Higginbotham hung on to possession on the right side of the penalty box until he was able to off load a chance for a shot. The first was blocked but when Darren LYON latched on to the next chance his left footed curling shot from 25 yards out on the right flew into the far side of the Dunfermline net. 1-1

Ten minutes into the second half Todd, Edwards and Mochrie exchanged passes wide left before the Dundee United loanee made an impressive run inside. He slid a defence splitting pass through to the inrunning Comrie on the right side of the Kelty box and his return was netted by WIGHTON. A great move that turned out to win the match.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen (Chris Hamilton HT): Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton, Nikolay Todorov (Kyle Macdonald 70).
SUBS NOT USED: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK)

KELTY HEARTS: Darren Jamieson: Cammy Logan (Jason Thomson 76), Thomas O`Ware, Jordan Forster, Reis Peggie (Lewis Martin 76): Darren Lyon, Michael Tidser (c) (Scott McGill 84): Alfredo Agyeman, Nicky Low (Joe Cardle 71): Jamie Barjonas: Kallum Higginbotham
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Doherty, Robbie McNab, Miguel Kamgna Junior, Scott Cameron, Liam Campbell (GK)

Recent Form



Kelty have won just one of their last ten games and they have taken ten points from the last ten league games. Dunfermline have won six of their last ten matches and taken 27 points from their last ten league games.

Last six matches



DUNFERMLINE

Montrose (A) W 3-1

FC Edinburgh (H) D 0-0

Falkirk (H) W 2-0

Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-0

Queen of the South (A) W 2-0

Airdrieonians (H) D 1-1


KELTY HEARTS

Falkirk (A) D 0-0

Montrose (H) L 1-2
Airdrieonians (A) L 1-6

FC Edinburgh (H) L 1-2
Peterhead (A) D 1-1
Queen of the South (H) W 3-0



League Record



DUNFERMLINE

League Position: 1st

League Points: 66

Goal Difference: +32

Home League Record: P15 W8 D7 L0 GF23 GA9

Last Six Match Form: DWWWDW



KELTY HEARTS

League Position: 8th

League Points: 34

Goal Difference: -12

Away League Record: P15 W3 D4 L8 GF15 GA30

Last Six Match Form: WDLLLD

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Montrose): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers: Robbie Mahon (Paul McGowan 64), Craig Wighton (Kevin O’Hara 69): Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Chris Mochrie, Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Max Little (GK).

KELTY HEARTS (v Falkirk):Darren Jamieson: Kanayo Megwa, Jason Thomson, Tam O`Ware, Lewis Martin, Jack Milne, Michael Tidser, Jamie Barjonas, Joe Cardle (Robbie Leitch 80), Nathan Austin (Finlay Shearer 84), Alfredo Agyeman
SUBS NOT USED: Arron Darge, Ross Philp, Dougie Hill, Kyle McCulloch, Liam Campbell (GK).

The referee will be Calum Scott who was also the referee for the first meeting between the clubs at The KDM Group East End Park earlier this season.

Other League One Fixtures

Alloa Athletic v Airdrieonians
Clyde v Falkirk
FC Edinburgh v Montrose
Queen of the South v Peterhead

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