Dunfermline 2 Arbroath 3

First home league game of the season: Milne (7) 0-1; Morris (27) 1-1; Byrne (41) 2-1; Cook (43 pen) 2-2; Cook (45) 2-3; Kane red card (52)

Listen to Graham Bayne`s Pre Match Interview

MATCH PICTURES
The first home league match of the 2013-14 season was against Arbroath, the first league game against the Angus club since 1986.  Paul Sheerin`s side came in search of their first win of the season after two cup defeats and a home defeat the previous week at the hands of Ayr United. Ex Par Alex Keddie was in their starting eleven but former Pars favourite Graham Bayne sustained an injury in training on Wednesday night and was not to feature. In addition Jonathan Lindsay, Lari Yao and Ross Chisholm all dropped out of the side that faced Ayr.

Jim Jefferies was without the suspended Stephen Husband but Josh Falkingham was back to lead the Pars out against the club he left to become a Par. Ryan Ferguson dropped to the bench where Ryan Goodfellow took the place of keeper Michal Hrivnak who sustained a toe injury in training.

Dunfermline kicked off in bright sunshine attacking the goal at the Cowdenbeath end and within three minutes Falkingham slid a ball through for Thomson to meet at the top of the box but keeper Scott Morrison was out to meet him and the chance was gone. Then just four minutes later a slip up in the Pars defence by Callum Morris gifted Steven MILNE a chance and he did not need to think twice to stab the ball home from inside the six yard box. 0-1

The Pars responded winning a corner but Ross Millen`s first delivery of the afternoon was too strong. Byrne however did really well to cut inside on 14 minutes and belt a left footed shot on target but Morrison pulled off an equally impressive save.  The keeper did not do so well with an Alex Whittle cross a minute later. He let the ball slide through his hands and was fortunate that Colin Hamilton was behind him to sweep up the chance.

A 21st minute Millen free kick from deep out on the right dropped at Thomson`s feet on the edge of the box but he was taken by surprise and lost possession. Then Falkingham set up Wallace for a shot from 25 yards but he was off target to the left.

There was more promise for the home support when Andy Geggan raced down the left and his cross in towards Thomson was turned behind for a corner. When Millen sent that over MORRIS rose to head home at the far post. 1-1

The Fifers should have gone ahead just five minutes later when Byrne missed an absolute sitter in front of goal after Wallace had crossed a great pass in from the right.  There were strong appeals for hand ball against Morris at the other end but the assistant referee who had the best view signalled a throw in.

Falkingham jinked in on the right side of the Arbroath box but Hamilton did well to thwart his progress and then in 38 minutes Thomson powered a shot from 25 yards but Morrison turned it around his right hand post.  At the other end Falkingham was back in left back position to put in a timely tackle on Christopher Scott.  Shaun BYRNE then secured his first goal in senior football diverting a good pass from Wallace beyond Morrison who might have done better. 2-1

Chris Kane was yellow carded as Dunfermline conceded a 43rd minute penalty and Alan COOK stuck the spot kick away to put the Red Lichties back on level terms. That would have been certain to have had Jim Jefferies raging for his half time team talk but that he was to be further heated when COOK grabbed his second of the game right on the stroke of half time. The goalscorer cropped up on the left to beat off the challenge of his marker and net off the far post.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 Arbroath 3

In the third minute of the second half David Banjo took down Alex Whittle in the box but Stephen Finnie who was well up with the play took a lingering look before awarding a goal kick. At the other end Millen put in a good tackle to rob Milne of a chance but then a Cook free kick was driven straight at Scully.

Wallace broke on the counter and sent a fine ball diagonally through the box tantalisingly too far in front of the inrushing Falkingham. The Fifers task grew even greater in 52nd minute when Chris Kane collected his second yellow card and the recovery was now dependent on ten men.

Arbroath got an immediate lift and both Milne and Linn had efforts at goal and from a Linn corner Smith tried a back heeler flick that found the sidenetting. Wallace drove disappointingly wide left as Dunfermline continued to press and then Thomson was caught offside as he raced into the visitors` box. 

Former Pars youth Lee Sibanda came on as a 58th minute sub but again it was Dunfermline who looked more positive.  Whittle was unlucky with a shot that Morrison failed to hold. Wallace couldn`t convert when Millen`s corner from the left was not particularly well defended.

Arbroath continued to pose a threat and Sibanda put in a powerful shot that Scully saved and Milne amazingly failed to net the follow up.  There was another let off when Sheerin`s shot from 12 yards was somewhat unorthidoxally saved by Scully.

Arbroath continued to attack and were desperately unlucky on 83 minutes when Chisholm beat Scully but Morris cleared off the line. As the time ran away from the Pars the home support urged them forward.  Sub Jordan Moore and Whittle tried hard to battle through the left side of the visitors` box but there was nothing they could do to prevent Arbroath`s first win at East End Park since December 1984.