Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2
Saturday, 5th Jan 2019Ladbrokes Championship: same again Pars starting eleven. Aidan Keena (18) 1-0: Iain Flannigan og 28) 2-0: Alan Trouten (49) 2-1: Alan Trouten (90+3) 2-2.
Jim Goodwin’s Alloa Athletic were the first foots of 2019 at East End Park. It was the third trip east for the Clackmannanshire team, the previous two resulted in two draws but they travelled as the third best in the Championship’s last six form league. Just as well then that the second placed team on form was Dunfermline Athletic.
No surprise that Allan Johnston named the same starting eleven as took the three points away from Falkirk the previous week. For Alloa Athletic, Jim Goodwin made three changes from the side that started against Dundee United. Out went Kevin Cawley, Jon Robertson and Jake Hastie to make way for Iain Flannigan, Connor Shields and Jordan Kirkpatrick who returned to Alloa in midweek.
The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. When Steven Hetherington went through Myles Hippolyte just after the second minute mark, referee Gavin Ross produced his first yellow card of the game and from the free kick just inside the Alloa half Dunfermline launched the ball into the opposition box. The defended ball dropped to James Craigen and he returned it but was too strong to create danger.
This prompted a sustained period where the home side took the game to their opponents. Hippolyte juggled the ball past Liam Dick to smash a ninth minute attempt narrowly outside the right goalpost. The away side’s defence were doing well to keep the Pars away from shooting opportunities, Hippolyte seeing his 14th minute shot blocked and Aidan Keena driving his 16th minute snapshot from 20 yards over the bar.
Joe Thomson accepted a lay off from Hippolyte but his 30 yarder hit Andy Graham. Next try was more successful. Aidan KEENA took the 18th minute chance 20 yards out on the right side and smashed the ball into the far side of the net for the Fifers first goal of 2019. 1-0
Alloa tried to respond immediately and it took a good Robinson save low to his right to deny Kirkpatrick’s power packed shot from 25 yards out. Hippolyte has his effort deflected for a corner on the left and despite Jackson Longridge meeting that at the far side of the six yard box Neil Parry fisted away the headed knock back.
Soaking up the pressure Alloa reverted to six men strung along their 18 yard line at times. Kallum Higginbotham tried to counter that with a 26th minute shot from 25 yards out but was off target. Two minutes later Dunfermline were to extend their lead when FLANNIGAN could not avoid directing the ball into his own net.
The goal came after James Vincent won possession well inside the Pars half. His pass sent Keena racing in on the right side of the Alloa box to release a shot that Parry beat out only to go past him off his own player. 2-0
Keeping up the search for more goals Hippolyte sent a good attempt narrowly wide right. The Pars dominated and finished the half displaying several strings of successful passes. At the break 2-0 up, stats showed just 52% possession in the first half but the Pats were totally in control of the match.
Half time: Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 0
First shot of the second period was a low one at Party from Longridge but when Alloa broke a cross from the left found TROUTEN well placed to hit the ball into the Pars goal at the left goalpost. Just three minutes of the second half gone and it was 2-1.
In 53 minutes Keena twisted and turned on the right side of the visitors box. Despite being apparently surrounded by Wasps he eventually got a shot in only for keeper Parry to clutch. Ryan Williamson was the first sub to used replacing James Craigen in 12th minute of the half.
One minute later Keena was taken down 25 yards out but Hippolyte’s attempt from the free kick was scooped over the crossbar and into the McCathie Stand. Back at the other end Scott Taggart’s cross allowed Trouten a headed effort that dropped wide left. Next Kirkpatrick rocketed a shot from 25 yards out that zoomed over Robinson’s bar.
A Williamson foul on Zanatta gave Alloa a chance from a free kick 30 yards out but Kirkpatrick fired that straight to Robinson. When Dunfermline got forward Higginbotham lofted a free kick into the Alloa box only for Parry to advance and hold. His clearance swiftly took play back into the Pars half where again the visitors looked much better than they had done in the first half.
Sensing the change the home fans could be heard urging their team on but it was a cut back from Shields at the right corner flag that created a good opportunity for Trouten and from the edge of the box he hit the roof of the net, thankfully on the outside.
In 72 minutes Beadling sent the ball wide right for Williamson to cross but from eight yards out Keena’s header dropped wide left. Four minutes later Flannigan forced a corner off Ashcroft and when that came over from the right Higginbotham scooped the ball away at the right goalpost.
Then another good move from Dunfermline ended up with a Williamson cut back that Higginbotham just couldn’t reach. Time was running away from Alloa who introduced Kevin Cawley, Liam Burt and then Greig Spence in an effort to grab an equaliser.
Jim Goodwin’s men finished strongly forcing a corner on the left and then a free kick that was returned into Robinson’s hands.
But in the third minute of added time from a free kick in his own half, keeper Neil Parry launched the ball forward sub Spence sent the ball right for TROUTEN and he picked his spot from the edge of the box low left for a dramatic and disappointing finale. The part time surveyor’s 14th goal of the season meant it ended 2-2.
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen (Ryan Williamson 57), Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling, Joe Thomson, James Vincent: Myles Hippolyte, Aidan Keena, Kallum Higginbotham.
SUBS NOT USED: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Callum Smith, Robbie Muirhead, Lewis McCann, Mark Durnan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Keena (18), Flannigan (28 og),
YELLOW CARD: Devine (40)
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Andy Graham, Sam Roscoe, Liam Dick: Connor Shields (Kevin Cawley 74), Steven Hetherington (Greig Spence 86) Iain Flannigan, Jordan Kirkpatrick (Liam Burt 81): Alan Trouten, Dario Zanatta.
SUBS NOT USED: Jon Robertson, Adam Brown, Ahmed Aloulou, Chris Henry (GK)
SCORERS: Trouten (49, 90+3)
YELLOW CARD: Hetherington (3), Zanatta (34),
REFEREE: Gavin Ross
WEATHER: Overcast 5C
ATTENDANCE 4723
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Dundee United, Saturday 12th January 2019, kick off 3.00pm at Tannadice.
50/50 Half Time draw winning ticket number is 315027, congratulations on winning today’s prize of £735
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Preview Alloa Athletic
Saturday, 5th Jan 2019Ladbrokes Championship: (home) Saturday 5th January 2019, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
The first match of 2019 brings Alloa Athletic back to East End Park for the third time this season. The previous two resulted in two draws but the Pars won when the sides met at the Indodrill Stadium in November, Jackson Longridge scoring the only goal of the game in 69th minute.
Alloa came back from a goal down against Dundee United last time with goals from Andy Graham and Dario Zanatta securing consecutive home wins for Jim Goodwin`s part-time side.
It is seventh placed Dunfermline v eighth placed Alloa who sit four points behind their hosts in the Championship.
The teams have met 85 times in all competitions and Dunfermline have the advantage with 34 wins to Alloa’s 28. 23 matches have been drawn.
Milestones v Alloa Athletic (home)
Last home win | 19/05/13 | 1-0 | First Division Play off
Last home defeat | 18/09/76 | Second Division
Best home win: | 30/01/58 | 8-1 | Second Division
Worst home defeat: | 11/09/1886 | 4-8 | Scottish Cup
Last home goalless draw | 15/09/18 | 0-0 | Championship
First home league meeting: | 10/09/21 | 0-1 | Division Two
Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic
One Alloa win, seven Dunfermline wins with four drawn in a period stretching back over 35 years.
03/11/18 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
13/10/18 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Irn Bru Challenge Cup
15/09/18 | Dunfermline 0 Alloa Athletic 0 | Championship
21/01/17 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 3 | Scottish Cup
19/05/13 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | Div One Play off
15/05/13 | Alloa Athletic 3 Dunfermline 0 | Div One Play off
26/08/08 | Dunfermlne 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | League Cup
26/09/01 | Dunfermline 3 Alloa Athletic 0 | League Cup
20/08/91 | Dunfermline 4 Alloa Athletic 1 | League Cup
05/05/85 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 0 | Second Division
26/02/85 | Alloa Athletic 1 Dunfermline 3 | Second Division
27/10/84 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Second Division
Last time at East End Park
Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2
Irn Bru Challenge Cup, 13th October 2018
The visitors were to go ahead in the eighth minute when Allan TROUTEN’s shot seemed to deflect off Lee Ashcroft giving Lee Robinson no chance of keeping it out. 0-1
The Pars shooting eventually paid off with an equaliser 20 minutes later, Louis LONGRIDGE firing a good attempt to beat keeper Neil Parry from from 25 yards. 1-1
Two minutes into the second half a L Longridge strike came back off the left upright and in the scramble to net the rebound Alloa conceded a penalty. Louis LONGRIDGE made no mistake from the spot kick to put the Pars 2-1 up
Dario Zanatta made the deadly cross from the left that created the opening for TROUTEN to sweep the ball home from close in. 2-2. The visitors won 5-4 on penalties and the Pars exited the cup.
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Louis Longridge, James Vincent, Malaury Martin (Tom Beadling 66), Aidan Connolly: Andy Ryan (Myles Hippolyte 68), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Thomson, Stuart Morrison, Lewis McCann, Robbie Muirhead, Cammy Gill (GK)
ALLOA ATHLETIC: Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Andy Graham (c), Reis Peggie, Liam Dick: Kevin Cawley, Jon Robertson, Alan Trouten, Iain Flannigan: Connor Shields (Adam Brown 66), Dario Zanatta.
SUBS NOT USED: Greig Spence, Ahmed Aloulou, Zdrako Karadachki, Chris Henry (GK)
Form Last Six Matches
DUNFERMLINE
Falkirk (A) W 4-2
Ayr United (H) D 0-0
Queen of the South (A) D 0-0
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-2
Morton (H) W 3-0
Ross County (A) L 1-2
ALLOA ATHLETIC
Dundee United (H) W 2-1
Queen of the South (H) W 2-0
Partick Thistle (A) D 2-2
Falkirk (A) D 2-2
Ross County (H) L 0-1
Dundee United (A) L 2-4
League Form
The Pars have taken four points from their last two home league games and everyone hopes that the 4-2 win at Falkirk on Saturday is the start of that most sought after run.
Alloa Athletic’s only away win in this Championship season was at Morton in November. They have taken full points from their last two league matches and are unbeaten in their last four.
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 23
Goal Difference: -5
Home League Record: P9 W2 D2 L5 GF5 GA10
Last Six League Match Form: LWLDDW
ALOA ATHLETIC
League Position: 8th
League Points: 19
Goal Difference: -8
Away League Record: P9 W1 D5 L3 GF13 GA17
Last Six League Match Form: LLDDWW
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Falkirk):Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling (Robbie Muirhead 79), Joe Thomson, James Vincent: Myles Hippolyte (Malaury Martin 87), Aidan Keena (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 72), Kallum Higginbotham.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson, Lewis McCann, Mark Durnan, Cammy Gill (GK)
ALLOA ATHLETIC (v Dundee United): Neil Parry: Scott Taggart, Liam Dick, Sam Roscoe, Andy Graham, Steven Hetherington, Jon Robertson, Jake Hastie, Kevin Cawley (Connor Shields 66), Alan Trouten (A Brown 77), Dario Zanatta.
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Burt, Greig Spence, Ahmed Aloulou, Zdrako Karadachki, Chris Henry (GK)
Other Championship fixtures
Morton v Ross County
Ayr United v Falkirk
Dundee United v Partick Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Queen of the South
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