Dunfermline 1 Forfar Athletic 1

Saturday, 7th Dec 2013

It`s another late late show as Pars grab a point: Dods (19) 0-1; Moore (94) 1-1.

MATCH PICTURES
Following the Cup replay win midweek against Ayr United, Jim Jefferies made just one change to his Dunfermline starting line-up.  Ryan Williamson, fresh from the announcement of his inclusion in the Scotland Under 18 squad, wore the number 2 jersey replacing Ross Millen who moved to the bench.  Faissal El Bakhtaoui was back among the subs, replacing Ryan Ferguson.

Dick Campbell made a number of changes to the Forfar side beaten 6-1 at Ibrox in midweek.  Rab Douglas took over in goal from Darren Hill, and Marvyn Andrews and Dale Hilson made way for Gary Fusco and James Dale, while Neil McCabe and Favin Malin won places on the bench.

After one minute`s applause in appreciation of former South African President and world statesman Nelson Mandela, Dunfermline kicked off towards the East Stand.

Within the first minute Geggan brought Whittle in wide left and his cross had Rab Douglas scrambling after the veteran keeper dropped the ball at the first attempt.In fifth minute Wallace`s low cross from the right found Thomson in the centre of the box but Ryan decided to have a shot himself when the better ball might have been to Geggan free on his left.

The game was failing to produce much of note but while Dunfermline had most of the ball Forfar showed that they would be competing.Then in 19 minutes, Forfar opened the scoring after Swankie won a free kick after a foul by Falkingham 35 yards out.  Chris Templeman took up position on the right edge of the Pars penalty box, and his header across was teed up and fired into the left side of the net from 12 yards by Darren DODS.

Four minutes later and it looked like Dunfermline might get back on level terms.Williamson played a ball from the right which flew across to reach the unmarked Whittle on the other side, 20 yards out.  Whittle`s controlled shot was on target but parried left by Douglas but only to Wallace.  His attempted shot reached Smith but Allan`s quickfire shot was only just wide.In 24 minutes the Pars came close again when Wallace hit a lovely curling low cross towards the back post which Andy Geggan only just failed to get a boot to.Dunfermline kept the pressure up but efforts by Wallace and Williamson were both blocked.

Then in 36 minutes Dunfermline had a lucky escape.  A long clearance from the Forfar half had Callum Morris backtracking but he failed to control the ball.Swankie got in ahead of him and lobbed the onrushing Scully only to find his attempt come off the goalkeeper`s left side post and cleared.Smith and Williamson won corners but both were cleared and as half-time approached Dunfermline`s frustrations became more visible.

Geggan was booked for complaining too much and Smith was clattered by Dods but the resulting free kick was easily defended to bring the action, such as it was, to an end.  There hadn`t been too much flowing football, and as a foretaste of what was to follow, Forfar had shown that they could play well on the break.

Half-Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Forfar Athletic 1

Dunfermline were out for the second half a good two minutes before their opponents but very nearly went behind in 48 minutes.  A long ball was misjudged by Morris and Swankie ran in behind and on goal, only for his well-struck shot to be saved by Scully.  But just one minute later Ryan Thomson won a free kick in a dangerous position right.  When the ball came across to the back post Kerr Young managed a good header under pressure but it went just over Douglas` bar.

Jim Jefferies made an early change bringing on Jordan Moore in 53 minutes to replace Allan Smith. Dunfermline started to apply pressure and a series of runs from Ryan Williamson down the right channel looked sure to produce something but Forfar defended valiantly and sometimes frantically but the Pars could find no way through.  Referee Mat Northcroft eventually got fed up with a succession of fouls from Forfar and Craig Storie became the first light-blue shirted player to be booked.

It was all Dunfermline but another Swankie break looked dangerous till it was snuffed out by Whittle.  Mark Baxter was booked in 64 minutes when he halted Geggan`s run down the left, and Fotheringham came on to replace Kader. Then remarkably from another long ball Swankie got in behind the defence and into the box only for Scully to deny him again. The Pars were throwing almost all caution to the wind, but it was in danger of backfiring.

It was almost all Dunfermline now but four more corners in eight minutes gave Dunfermline fans no more joy than the previous ones. Neil McCabe replaced Iain Campbell for Forfar then Jim Jefferies tried a double substitution in 81 minutes with Dargo and Husband replacing Ryan Thomson and Byrne. The ploy almost worked immediately when Dargo`s clever low ball from the right byeline reached Whittle and Wallace at the far post, but in their rush to get on the end of it, Wallace inadvertently blocked Whittle`s netbound shot.

In 84 minutes Paul McManus replaced the hard-working Swankie, then two minutes later Young was booked after a tussle on the right edge of the box with McManus. The dangerous free kick was cleared for a corner and Dunfermline survived. Husband became the next player in the book and the game appeared to be fizzling out with the Pars unable it seemed to penetrate Forfar`s defences.  However, after two minutes of stoppage time a foul by Storie won Dunfermline a free kick thirty yards out but straight in front of goal. Stephen Husband took the kick and miscued but the ball fell to Jordan MOORE just inside the box and his right foot shot flew past Douglas for the equaliser.

After the final whistle, Martyn Fotheringham was booked by the referee, a sign perhaps of the frustration in the away camp after looking like they would be taking all three points.

Once again it was the late, late show for Dunfermline and at least it kept their recent unbeaten run intact.  But this performance lacked the flowing passing game that we have come to enjoy.  Ryan Williamson, for the second time in his two starts, was probably Man of the Match again with his tremendous running down the right flank the highlight of what was at times a disjointed affair.  The other candidate was goalkeeper Ryan Scully who pulled off three excellent saves as Forfar tried and almost succeeded in winning by playing on the break.

MATCH PICTURES
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully; Ryan Williamson, Alex Whittle, Kerr Young, Callum Morris, Andy Geggan, Shaun Byrne (Stephen Husband, 82), Allan Smith (Jordan Moore 53), Ryan Wallace, Josh Falkingham, Ryan Thomson (Craig Dargo 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Ross Millen, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).
SCORERS: Moore (94)
YELLOW CARD: Geggan (42), Young (86), Husband (89).

FORFAR: Rab Douglas; Mark Baxter, Odmar Faero, Darren Dods, Craig Storie, Iain Campbell (Neil McCabe 80); Gary Fusco, Omar Kader (Martyn Fotheringham 64), James Dale, Chris Templeman, Gavin Swankie (Paul McManus 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Gavin Malin, Ross Campbell, Marvin Andrews, Darren Hill (GK)
SCORERS: Dods (19)
YELLOW CARD: Storie (61), Baxter (64), Fotheringham (95).

REFEREE: Mat Northcroft
WEATHER: Cold, damp 4°C
ATTENDANCE 2469

NEXT MATCH: SPFL League One (away) v Ayr United
Saturday 14th December 2013, kick off 3.00pm.

50/50 HALF TIME DRAW: winning ticket 74114 won £572.


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Preview Forfar Athletic

Thursday, 5th Dec 2013

Dunfermline Athletic welcome Forfar Athletic to East End Park on Saturday

After two games back to back against Ayr United there is a brief respite before a return to Somerset Park on 14th December as Dunfermline Athletic welcome Forfar Athletic to East End Park on Saturday.  This is the Loons first time back since the dramatic 6-1 win after extra time in the First Division Play offs last season.

Dunfermline`s record at Station Park is none too good with their last win there being in September 1995 in the Challenge Cup but at East End Park, Forfar have won only three times; in seasons 1922-23, 1950-51 and 1983-84 - all in the Scottish Second Division.

Milestones Forfar Athletic (home)
Last Victory	11/05/13	6-1	First Div Play Off
Last Defeat	28/09/83	1-2	Second Division
Best Victory	08/09/51	7-2	Div Two*
Worst Defeat	10/03/51	2-4	Div Two*
*Pre league reconstruction

There have been 60 previous league fixtures between the clubs.  In total Dunfermline have won 37 league encounters to Forfar`s 16 and seven matches have been drawn.

Dunfermline	Forfar Athletic
Current League Position
2	6
League Form last six home / away results
WWWLWW	LWLWDL
League Points
28	17
Goal Difference
+8	-2
Home / Away League Record
P7, W5, D0, L2	P8, W2, D1, L4

This match yet again pitches former Pars manager Dick Campbell in against his old club and he has former Pars players there in Iain Campbell (28) and Chris Templeman (33).

League Form

League Form this season: Home/Away
Dunfermline				Forfar Athletic
Brechin City	W	2-1		Rangers	L	1-6
Stenhousemuir	W	3-2		Stenhousemuir	D	1-1
East Fife	L	1-2		Airdrieonians	W	2-0
Ayr United	W	5-1		Arbroath	L	0-3
Airdrieonians	W	2-1		East Fife	W	3-1
Stranraer	W	3-1		Brechin City	L	1-2

Before their fixture against Rangers on Tuesday, Forfar Athletic were unbeaten in their previous six matches. With the exception of their visit to Ibrox, Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last seven games.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Ayr United): Ryan Scully, Ross Millen, Kerr Young, Callum Morris, Alex Whittle; Shaun Byrne, Andy Geggan, Josh Falkingham (c), Allan Smith (Craig Dargo 74), Ryan Thomson, Ryan Wallace (Stephen Husband 93).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Ryan Ferguson, Jordan Moore, Ryan Williamson, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).

FORFAR ATHLETIC: (v Rangers): Darren Hill; Mark Baxter, Darren Dods, Marvin Andrews (James Dale 46), Craig Storie, Iain Campbell; Dale Hilson (Paul McManus 22), Odmar Faero, Chris Templeman (Gary Fusco 45), Ross Campbell, Gavin Swankie
SUBS NOT USED: Gavin Malin, Mark Fotheringham, Omar Kader, Rab Douglas (GK)

Referee will be Matt Northcroft

Come on ye Pars!

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