Ayr United 3 Dunfermline 3
Friday, 3rd May 2024cinch Championship: Five changes as Breen, O’Halloran, Chalmers, Welch-Haynes and Holmes start. Mark McKenzie (21) 1-0: Chris Kane (35) 1-1: Chris Kane (42) 1-2: Josh Edwards (45) 1-3: Lucas McRoberts 68) 2-3: Anton Dowds (73) 3-3:
It was the final match of the cinch Championship and for both teams there was the chance to finish fifth or just seventh. Fifth placed Morton were away to relegation play-offs threatened Inverness Caledonian Thistle and should the Highlanders win then the team collecting three points from this game would go fifth.
James McPake made five changes, resting players who have been called upon extensively following come back from injury. On to the bench went Chris Hamilton, Matty Todd and Kane Ritchie-Hosler. Kyle Benedictus and Malachi Fagan-Walcott were omitted so returning to the starting eleven were Miles Welch-Hayes, Rhys Breen, Michael O’Halloran, Joe Chalmers and for just his second start, the on-loan Seasider, Brad Holmes. All that meant a vastly stronger bench than the last time Dunfermline were in Ayr.
Ayr United made one change bringing in Anton Dowds for Francis Amartey. The biggest change at Somerset Park on this occasion was the impressive new stand on the north side of the ground. It gives the ground a more modern look and the facility looks geared to bring in revenue from hospitality.
The home side kicked off attacking the goal in front of their own fans and after all the early possession, Jamie Murphy got in the first attempt of the game but this third minute shot went wide right. The Pars first threat came two minutes later when Josh Edwards cross from the left corner flag was just too high for Holmes in front of goal.
Willie Collum drew applause from the crowd in awarding Ayr United a 15th minute free kick after there was no advantage after Edwards had impeded Logan Chalmers. Deniz Mehmet punched away Murphy’s lofted ball in towards him and Moffat quickly switched play to the other end sending Chalmers up the right to put Holmes in for a shot but that did not trouble the keeper.
Edwards put in a good tackle on the edge of his own box to deny Dowds but on 21 minutes Ayr were rewarded for their pressure. Mark McKENZIE took advantage of the Pars defence nipping between Sam Fisher and his keeper who had come speeding out to the left edge of his penalty box. The Honest Men’s number 22 made no mistake in finding the unguarded net. 1-0
Edwards created a wonderful chance for the Fifers five minutes later. He won the ball off George Stanger in front of the away dugout and advanced on goal, cut inside and then got the ball back on to his favoured left foot to send the ball to the far post. Holmes slid in to finish only for the Assistant Referee to raise his flag for offside.
Mehmet pulled off a fine save in 31 minutes to deny Dowds after a near pass from Murphy set him up. Before the corner could be taken Kane Ritchie-Hosler replaced Michael O’Halloran who was forced to come off with a back injury. Dunfermline were then gifted a 35th minute equaliser as the Ayr defence allowed Chris KANE to gain possession and drill the ball low into the far left of the home net. 1-1
A Ritchie-Hosler shot was sent wide left but in 42 minutes a superb cross by Moffatbin from the left was glanced home by KANE. 1-2
In 45th minute a Rhys Breen shot from 30 yards out won the Pars their first corner of the match. Paul Allan sent the ball in from the left and the Ayr defence challenged two red shirts at the far post and when the ball broke to EDWARDS on the right he crashed the ball home to give the visitors a two goal lead at the break. Three goals in the last ten minutes of the first half but Dunfermline had already been two up at Somerset Park earlier this season and not left victorious so there would be work to be done in the second 45.
Half Time: Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 3
Ayr made a substitution at half time bringing on Scott Tomlinson in place of their captain, Sean McGinty. That meant a change in formation with them playing four at the back but with Musonda and the sub pushing up the flanks when possible. Mehmet held the first shot of the second period in 51 minutes from Murphy.
There was quite a let off five minutes later when Logan Chalmers released a rocket of a shot from 25 yards out that beat the keeper but rattled down off the crossbar and back out.
Ritchie-Hosler fired the ball into the Ayr net in 62 minutes but was adjudged to be offside. A Moffat cross was held by Josh Clarke before both sides made substitutions in 65th minute. Paul Allan, Owen Moffat and Brad Holmes went off, Chris Hamilton, Alex Jakubiak and Taylor Sutherland came on. Ayr replaced Jamie Murphy and Mark McKenzie with Francis Amartey and Lucas McRoberts. The latter made his mark with a goal within three minutes.
Assisted by Mehmet slipping as he made his move towards him McROBERTS slotted the ball into the Pars net. 2-3. Five minutes later in 73 minutes Ayr were back on level terms when the defence could not cut out a cross in from the left and DOWDS pounced on the opportunity to fire the ball into the Fifers net. 3-3
Then in 78 minutes Clarke held a drive from Chalmers 25 yards out after Jakubiak and Sutyerland had combined to set the captain up. Chris Kane went down with cramp in 79 minutes and was immediately was substituted by Craig Wighton.
Ritchie-Hosler powered a shot over the bar and Sutherland was taken down by Tomlinson as he raced into the Ayr box but Willie Collum saw no infringement. Deniz Mehmet went down six minutes from the end and after treatment attempted the byekick. The ball went straight into touch and Deniz fell to the ground again. There was a lot of concern as the medical staff and paramedics went to his aid. After a seven minute stoppage poor Deniz was stretchered off with concerns over delayed concussion.
Max Little took over between the sticks and his first touch was to come for a tricky cross from the right. It was 90+7 when Fisher gathered a Chalmers cross from the left but his on-target shot was beaten away by Clarke.
It ended a draw that saw Dunfermline finish their first season back in the Championship in sixth place. The players and staff applauded the 431 fans who had travelled down to Ayr.
SUBS NOT USED: Charlie Albinson (GK)
SCORERS: McKenzie (21), McRoberts (68), Dowds (73)
YELLOW CARD: Sanders (70)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet (Max Little 90+2), Miles Welch-Hayes, Sam Fisher, Rhys Breen, Michael O’Halloran (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 32), Paul Allan (Alex Jakubiak 65), Joe Chalmers (c), Owen Moffat (Chris Hamilton 65), Josh Edwards, Chris Kane (Craig Wighton 79), Brad Holmes (Taylor Sutherland 65)
SUBS NOT USED: Matty Todd, Lewis McCann, Andrew Tod
SCORERS: Kane (35, 42), Edwards (45)
REFEREE: Willie Collum
WEATHER: Wet 16°C
ATTENDANCE 2746
NEXT MATCH: Pre-season friendly TBC
Views : 2,275
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Match Photos To Follow.
