DAFC Ladies draw with East Fife to win the League

Match report from Sunday's Pars Ladies match with East Fife, and reaction after being crown league champions

Dunfermline Athletic Ladies Football Club took on East Fife on Sunday in their final league game of the season and Scottish Women's 2nd Division East title decider. Dunfermline went into the game sitting top of the league by 3 points with the only team denying them being East Fife. Dunfermline have been on fantastic form this season proving themselves against first division opposition Kilwinning in the Scottish Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup.

After 24 hours of heavy rain the pitch conditions at Dunfermline Academy of Sport in Pitreavie were not great, but the staff did everything to ensure this game went ahead and was one of the only games in Fife that did over the weekend. If you asked any of the hundred or so spectators on the day they would all agree that they were glad it did as the match proved to be the exciting tie it was hyped up to be. Spectators included Dunfermline Athletic Football Club goalkeeper Paul Gallacher and midfielder Josh Falkingham showing true team solidarity.

East Fife started the livelier of the two sides pinning Dunfermline into their own half - this was not helped by the slight incline which the Pars had opted to play up in the first half after captain Rhianna Tweedie won the toss. Both sides looked nervous and Dunfermline were nowhere near showing their full potential.

After half an hour of East Fife pressure it was inevitable that they would take the lead and they did so in the 29th minute with a cross soaring into the box above the head of pars keeper Angela Comrie and fired home by their striker. If this score stayed like this East Fife would be champions.

Dunfermline had a chance to equalise just before half time with striker Nicole Pullar clean through on goal, but was denied by a fine save from the East Fife keeper. Moments earlier Pullar was off the pitch due to an ongoing knee injury, but it was not stopping her from carrying on.

The second half heated up as did the challenges and shots on goal and both sides enjoyed their share of possession. Dunfermline winger Leigh Aitken claimed a penalty for her side not long into the first half as she was pulled down just inside the box by an East Fife defender after displaying some fantastic individual skill. Pitreavie was silent as Rachael McQuade stepped up to take, however her shot went high and wide and it was relief for the away side.

It did not look like it was going to get any better for the team in black and white as fullback Leanne Forker received a straight red card for directing abuse towards the referee after he failed to spot an offside, however what we were about to see was a outstanding comeback and some true desire. With 80 minutes played Dunfermline equalised through Kerry Finlay, a looping cross found her at the back post and she tapped home. 1-1 and it was looking good for Dunfermline.

They held possession forcing some sloppy and reckless challenges by the visitors, the referee reluctant to get his card out again. After a few minutes Dunfermline earned a free kick at the edge of the penalty box and Nicole Pullar stepped up to take. She hit the shot low and the ball took a massive deflection to find the net and the home side took the lead.

Now all Dunfermline had to do was hold on and that's what they did. East Fife were not for giving up easily and piled the pressure on only to grab a late equaliser. Celebrations for the visitors were cut short as the final whistle followed and the whole Dunfermline squad invaded the park.

Asked after the game about her penalty miss, McQuade replied, "I felt confident about taking it and I was aiming for the bottom right corner, I just happened to blast it over the bar. Maybe if I did score, the result would have been different and we maybe we wouldn't have been champions right now."

Head coach Chris Laird was delighted by his teams efforts and never die attitude, "We have a great bunch of girls here at Dunfermline and every player has played a crucial role this year. Yet again they have battled to the end and made all my work here worthwhile." His coaching partner Jen Moxey travelled down by train from Aviemore, where she was enjoying a family holiday, to be at the match.

The Pars will now face play-off opposition on Sunday 28th October to go for promotion into the First Division.