Dunfermline 2 Peterhead 2

cinch League One: same again starting eleven. Rhys Breen (67) 1-0: Nikolay Todorov (84) 2-0: Jason Brown (87) 2-1: Michael Hewitt (90+4) 2-2:

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.

For the visit of Jim McInally’s Peterhead, Dunfermline named the same starting eleven. The only difference to their squad was the two on loan signings from the previous day meaning there was a full house of nine potential substitutes as Rangers Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Motherwell’s Robbie Mahon came right into the squad.

The Blue Toon were without the suspended Chris Kisuka and they made five changes Tom Ritchie, Robbie Scullion, Michael Hewitt, Ramez Hefzalla and former Pars man Ryan Dow taking the places of Sandy Wood, David Wilson, Jack Wilkie, Prince Asare and the injured Conor O’Keefe.

Despite the torrential lunchtime rain the KDM Group East End Park looked in immaculate condition as the teams warmed up in bright sunshine but that had disappeared by the time the visitors kicked off attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand.

Dunfermline forced the first corner of the afternoon in fifth minute but Rhys Breen just couldn’t get on the end of Joe Chalmers cross. Next minute there were appeals as Lewis McCann was floored as he tried to get past Jason Brown 15 yards out. Referee Barry Cook saw nothing untoward. He had the same opinion when Josh Edwards clashed with Hefzalla in the Pars box on ten minutes.

Peterhead’s first threat came from a 16th minute free kick on the right after Breen had clipped Hefzalla but the big Pars no.12 rose to head away Paul Dixon’s delivery. McCann ran on to a neat through ball but the away team scrambled the ball behind for a corner on the left. Chris Mochrie’s corner was cleared but in 23 minutes the Dundee United loanee fed Edwards the chance to drive forward and when he picked out Nikolay Todorov his shot went wide left.

A McCann effort from 30 yards out was then held by keeper Tom Ritchie. Next Jack Brown created a good chance for Hewitt but Breen was well in to block the fierce shot from just inside the box.

Back at the other end Peterhead had to defend two more Mochrie corners and Breen headed over the opposition crossbar from a finely placed Kyle Macdonald ball in from the right.

Dunfermline were well on top at this stage but had not really tested Ritchie, on loan from Aberdeen, in the Peterhead goal. Chalmers was shown a yellow card six minutes from the break after former Partick Thistle midfielder Scullion crunched into him. The crowd showed they did not share the same opinion as the referee.

Macdonald was able to deliver another dangerous cross from a quickly taken Comrie throw in but Todorov just couldn`t get in position to finish. A Chalmers corner landed in the six yard box but Peterhead were first to contact.

Dunfermline had more than 60% possession in the first half, they had six shots but only one on target.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Peterhead 0

Before the second half started Craig Wighton replaced Kyle Macdonald and within the first five minutes Mochrie and then McCann had fired shots over the bar. Mochrie sent another wide left after a surging run from Chalmers before the Blue Toon had an opportunity from a free kick 30 yards out. Dow hit the crossbar with his 61st minute effort.

Chalmers followed that with two shots that were both narrowly off target. Ryan Strachan was shown yellow in 66 minutes after cynically blocking a speedy Mochrie break. The ball from the free kick was cleared out to the left where 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

Joe Chalmers was subbed by Chris Hamilton before play resumed and when it continued it was all towards the Peterhead end. Robbie Mahon replaced Lewis McCann with twelve minutes remaining.

A cushion would be very nice and that second Dunfermline goal came from another Edwards cross that TODOROV met at the far post in 84 minutes. 2-0

The importance of that cushion became apparent when Jason BROWN bundled the ball over the Pars goalline in 87th minute. The goal came from a throw in that Kyle Benedictus tried to clear, the ball broke off sub Jordan Brown on to Breen and across the goal where the Peterhead player had a tap on to make it 2-1.

The men from the north then put up a spirited attempt to take away a point and they succeeded in the fourth minute of time added on when Macdonald swept over a free kick from the right that Mikey HEWITT lobbed into the net with a looping header. The 21 year old on-loan Ayr United player’s first senior goal, 2-2.

Peterhead assistant manager Davie Nicholls would proclaim his side’s performance of the best of the season but Dunfermline threw away a victory, only one point but still unbeaten in this league campaign did not feel like any consolation.

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