Dunfermline Athletic

Dunfermline 4 Forfar Athletic 0

Saturday, 26th Nov 2022

Scottish Cup Third Round: starting debut for Kane Ritchie-Hosler. Craig Wighton (27) 1-0: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (33) 2-0: Josh Edwards (42) 3-0: Craig Wighton (71) 4-0:

This was a good all round performance against a team that has been struggling in their league. Four excellently taken goals ensured no slip up in the kind of cup tie that proved tricky elsewhere.

League Two club Forfar Athletic were the opposition for Dunfermline’s first Scottish Cup tie at home since January 2018. The Loons under the managerialship of Ray McKinnon arrived at East End Park as underdogs but nothing whatsoever to lose.

James McPake made one change from the side that won at Peterhead the previous weekend. Rangers loanee Kane Ritchie-Hosler made his starting debut with Nikolay Todorov taking his place on the bench. Meanwhile Forfar’s starting eleven showed two changes from that which drew 2-2 away to League Two leaders Dumbarton, with Mark Docherty and Nathan Flanagan making way for Darren Whyte and Josh Jack.

The visitors kicked off attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand and Dunfermline shaping up 3-4-3 with Ritchie-Hosker and Chris Mochrie either side of Craig Wighton. Within three minutes Dunfermline had two attempts from Matty Todd and then Ritchie-Hosler, both from the edge of the Forfar box and both blocked.

It was the twelfth minute before Forfar Athletic keeper Marc McCallum was called into serious action. Joe Chalmers was picked out overlapping on the left wing by Mochrie and his cross was met by Ritchie-Hosler but the keeper clutched the on target header.

Nine minutes later after Ritchie-Hosler was pulled down, McCallum was at full stretch to palm a Rhys Breen free kick from 28 yards out around his left hand post. Next a Josh Edwards long throw went wide right after hitting Breen’s back.

The home side would go ahead in 27th minute after Ritchie-Hosler found Aaron Comrie on the right side of the Forfar box and assisted by Tomas Brindley slipping, the Pars defender was able to pick out WIGHTON who was perfectly placed to direct the ball low into the bottom left of the Loons’ net. 1-0

Very soon after going ahead Dunfermline had another attempt with Todd heading a Chalmers cross over the crossbar. Goal number two came in 33 minutes from another long throw in from Edwards on the left. Sam Fisher and Breen got touches before the ball sat up for RITCHIE-HOSLER to smash the ball home. His first goal in senior football made it 2-0.

The two goal lead became three after a driving run from Ritchie-Hosler provided a great chance for EDWARDS arriving into the left side of the opposition half. McCallum could only half stop the shot and with three minutes to the break it was 3-0.

Half time: Dunfermline 3 Forfar Athletic 0

First serious threat on the scoreline came six minutes into the second half when another surging run by Ritchie-Hosler set up Wighton for a shot that McCallum blocked. Unfortunately that would the last of Ritchie-Hosler for this game as he had to be subbed by Nikolay Todorov two minutes later.

Todorov laid the ball back for Chalmers to try a 57th minute shot but that was blocked. There was a double substitution for Dunfermline midway through the half with Kyle Macdonald and Chris Hamilton replacing Matty Todd and Aaron Comrie.

It was sub Todorov who threatened next but when his 71st minute effort was blocked by the keeper and defender, WIGHTON was left with a delightful chip in to make it four. 4-0

Sitting on a potential hattrick Wighton broke through five minutes later but with the keeper out to narrow the target his shot went wide left. The keeper next beat away a rocket of a shot from Mochrie before the Dundee United man made way for sixteen year old Taylor Sutherland with eight minutes remaining.

Chalmers 84th minute corner from the left reached Breen but Munro booted the ball clear. It would ended 4-0 with Ray McKinnon accepting that Forfar were second best. Dunfermline Athletic’s first Scottish Cup victory at East End Park since December 2013 secured their place in the Fourth Round draw.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Aaron Comrie (Kyle Macdonald 66), Joe Chalmers, Matthew Todd (Chris Hamilton 66), Josh Edwards: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Nikolay Todorov 53), Craig Wighton, Chris Mochrie (Taylor Sutherland 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Liam Hoggan, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Wighton (27, 71), Ritchie-Hosler (33), Edwards (42)
YELLOW CARD: Edwards (29)

FORFAR ATHLETIC: Marc McCallum: Bobby Dailly, Darren Whyte (Yusuf Hussain 68), Andy Munro, Tomas Brindley (Nathan Flanagan 40): Roberto Nditi, Kyle Hutton, Craig Slater (c) (Mark Docherty 68), Stefan McClusky: Joshua Jack (Ben Armour HT), Matthew Aitken (Jaden Ferguson 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Thomson, Kevin Hanratty, Tarek Abed, Iain Ross
YELLOW CARD: Jack (6), Munro (44), Flanagan (77)

REFEREE: Iain Snedden
WEATHER: Fine 11°C
ATTENDANCE 1880

NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (home) v Queen of the South, Saturday 3rd December 2022, 3.00pm kick off at The KDM Group East End Park

50/50 Half Time Draw: Prize amount - £640, Ticket number - 23794


Views : 5,004

Related Stories


Archived website
This website served as the official Dunfermline Athletic website from season 2006-2007 until season 2022-2023.

Stories, match reports and interviews for these seasons can still be accessed here.

The current DAFC website with up to date information is on this link https://DAFC.co.uk
DAFC Archives
Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust. Information on past players, fixtures, league tables and archives can be found at www.daht.org.uk
ParsTV
For Season 2023/2024 SPFL regulations mean that on a Saturday afternoon we have to offer a Subscription service for overseas viewers. This will either be a monthly or a yearly subscription (on a Saturday it is FOR OVERSEAS viewers only - some dates are exempt.) https://ParsTV.co.uk
Recent Stories
    Hot Stories
      • files/Newsletter_advert_9112.jpg
      • /files/KiltCompany_280_2285.jpg
      • files/PF_logo_8205.jpg
      • /files/business_clubadvert_3633.jpg
      Archives
      2024
      2023
      2022
      2021
      2020
      2019
      2018
      2017
      2016
      2015
      2014
      2013
      2012
      2011
      2010
      2009
      2008
      2007
      2006
      2005
      2004
      2003
      2002
      2001
      2000
      1999
      1998
      1997
      1996
      1995
      1991
      1986
      1979
      1968
      1965
      1962
      1961
      1960
      1957
      1949

      To top