Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2

cinch League One: Nikolay Todorov and Rhys Breen start. Matty Todd (10) 0-1: Chris Mochrie (19) 0-2:

A professional performance saw the Pars master the conditions and their opponents to take the three points back down the A90.

For the away day in the cold and windy North East, James McPake made two changes from the team that drew the previous league match at home to Clyde. Rhys Breen and Nikolay Todorov started and Kyle Macdonald and Robbie Mahon were on the bench.

Former Pars player Davie Nicholl, in temporary charge of the opposition named the same starting eleven as drew at Airdrie the previous week. After the deluge that had drooked the east of Scotland the previous day the Balmoor Stadium pitch looked in good condition, overhead it was dry but a strong wind swept the ground from south to north.

Dunfermline warmed up to Nazareth tracks as the home announcer paid tribute to band’s lead singer Dan McCafferty who passed away ten days ago. Having changed ends it was the home side that kicked off with the wind on their backs.

First incident of note was a yellow card within two minutes shown to Sam Fisher for a tackle on Jack Wilkie deep down the right side. Three minutes later Peterhead forced the first corner of the afternoon off Breen and when Julien Carre crossed from the right Wlkie headed wide left.

The Fifers went ahead in tenth minute when Matthew TODD found himself in a good position to shoot from 30 yards out. With the away crowd shouting ‘shoot’ he responded with a shot that would take a deflection en route to the Blue Toon net. 0-1.

On eleven minutes the Peterhead fans took the opportunity to mark with applause former manager Jim McInally’s eleven years in charge at Balmoor. It was the travelling support who would be applauding more as a second Pars goal came on 19 minutes. Fisher won possession in his own half to break up the right and picked out MOCHRIE with a good low cross field pass. The on loan Dundee United midfielder finished in style from just inside the Peterhead box. 0-2

Deniz Mehmet pulled off a great save five minutes on when Ryan Dow from 25 yards out directed a shot that was destined for the top left corner of his net. Edwards forced a 27th minute corner that Mochrie took short to Chalmers before delivering a cross that Fisher blasted over the bar.

Six minutes later a good interchange between Mochrie and Wighton set up the former for a shot from close in but in a let off for Peterhead, the ball went wide left. Next a Fisher ball to Wighton was flicked on for Comrie to take down the right and his cross was caught awkwardly in the wind but keeper Tom Ritchie held.

It was a first half in which the visitors had twice as much possession as the home side. They had played well into the wind with Mochrie and Chalmers seemingly deeply involved in everything.

Half time: Peterhead 0 Dunfermline 2

Early second half play saw a Wighton cut back for Mochrie intercepted and Fisher head away a dangerous Dow cross. In 53 minutes Ritchie tipped a fierce Todorov effort from the edge of the box but the subsequent corner sailed behind before it could cause any problems.

Ritchie clawed a tricky Chalmers shot out for a 72nd minute corner but taking corners with the wind were proving difficult and this one flew across field and out on the other side for a throw in. Kane Ritchie-Hosler replaced Craig Wighton for the final 13 minutes. Ritchie fisted away a Chalmers free kick from the right as the home side were put under relentless pressure.

That was eased when Peterhead won an 86th minute corner and after initially defended McCarthy’s cross allowed Jason Brown a header at target but Mehmet held with ease.

Chris Hamilton came on for Matty Todd before Todorov was taken down as he powered towards goal earning Jason Brown an added time yellow card and providing Benedictus with one final attempt from 22 yards out but that caught the wind and skied well over.

Dunfermline three points would give them a seven point lead at the top of League One after Falkirk drew at Clyde and Montrose lost at Queen of the South.

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