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Dunfermline 2 Ayr United 1

Saturday, 16th Apr 2022

cinch Championship: Liam Polworth returns, Ryan Dow on the bench. Aaron Muirhead (35 pen.) 0-1: Reece Cole (79) 1-1: Nikolay Todorov (86) 2-1:

With little more than ten minutes to go and a goal behind Dunfermline looked destined for the Championship play offs but two late goals totally transformed the story. Two substitutes made the impact and ensured the Pars moved into eighth place.

This match brought eight placed Ayr United as the visitors to East End Park and the home side was seeking a win to take them to the same number of points as their opponents with just two matches remaining.

John Hughes made one change to his starting eleven bringing Liam Polworth back into his side after missing the match against his parent club the previous Saturday and that meant Ryan Dow returned to the Fifers bench.

Ayr United made three changes from their last starting eleven. Andy Murdoch, Daire O’Connor and Tommi Adeloye started. Mark McKenzie and Alex Kenyon dropped to the bench. Fraser Bryden missed through injury and 16-year old Max Guthrie was on their bench.

Polworth kicked off for the home side attacking the goal at the east end and Dom Thomas forced a corner within 33 seconds but the visitors headed clear and won two of their own in the fourth minute that came to nothing.

Ayr came closer with an eighth minute corner when Sam Ashford’s header was cleared off the line by Matty Todd. The Pars had corners in 13th and 15th minutes without troubling the keeper but Jakub Stolarczyk had to pull off a great save to deny Adeloye after he was able to compose himself and get a shot in from close quarters. The on loan Leicester City keeper blocked the shot and then recovered to grab the ball before it could cross the line.

Josh Edwards played the ball in from the left for former Ayr United midfielder Joe Chalmers to shoot from 30 yards out but the 26th minute effort screamed over the bar. Next it was Thomas who tried a shot from a similar range but Ayr keeper Aidan McAdams held comfortably.

Ten minutes from half time Adeloye created the opportunity to be fouled in the box and won a penalty. He started the move with a clever pass out to the right for O’Connor whose return picked out the striker in the middle of the box. The decision was not disputed and Aaron MUIRHEAD stepped up to net. 0-1

Both Pybus and Edwards had crosses held before Adeloye almost did more damage with the last move of the half, his effort slipping wide left. The home side had 50% more possession than the opponents but Ayr had managed seven shots to the Pars three.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Ayr United 1

Lewis McCann started the second half in place of the injured Coll Donaldson and the shape changed with three at the back and McCann clearly on to attack as much as possible. Just seven minutes into the half Adeloye burst through again and this time from the edge of the box blasted the ball over the crossbar.

A Pars chance came in 55 minutes when Thomas sent the ball to the far post but unfortunately it was just too far beyond for Lawless to turn in. John Hughes men got stuck in and showed that the final half hour was likely to be a real fight.

Ayr survived a 62nd minute corner and then a penalty appeal six minutes later when a shot appeared to hit Muirhead on the hand. No penalty and a yellow card for protesting for Polworth. A double substitution then followed for Dunfermline, Dom Thomas and Joe Chalmers being replaced by Bobby Kamwa and Reece Cole.

Cole was to score the equaliser just ten minutes after coming on. Muirhead was yellow carded for his challenge on McCann and a free kick was awarded 20 yards out. Lawless and COLE stood over the ball before the later bent it around the four man wall to net in the bottom right. 1-1

Nikolay Todorov was thrown into the action in 84 minutes and he has an immediate impact scoring within two minutes. When McCann broke TODOROV was to his right and as soon as he saw the ball smashed it from 30 yards out, low into the Ayr net. East End Park erupted 2-1

The comeback was complete and Dunfermline saw out the match with Lawless extremely unlucky with an added time chip that was kept out by the far post. Three vital points that leave the teams locked 8th equal on the same points and with identical goal difference.

DUNFERMLINE: Jakub Stolarczyk: Matthew Todd, Coll Donaldson (Lewis McCann HT), Efe Ambrose, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus: Steven Lawless (c), Joe Chalmers (Reece Cole 69), Liam Polworth, Dom Thomas (Bobby Kamwa 69): Kevin O’Hara (Nikolay Todorov 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Ryan Dow, Rhys Breen, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Cole (79), Todorov (86)
YELLOW CARD: O’Hara (38), Polworth (68), Pybus (86)

AYR UNITED: Aidan McAdams: Jordan Houston (Markus Fjørtoft 77), Aaron Muirhead, Sean McGinty (c), Patrick Reading: Daire O`Connor (Mark McKenzie 77), Kerr McInroy, Andy Murdoch, James Maxwell: Sam Ashford, Tomi Adeloye.
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Kenyon, Jack Baird, Paul Smith, Max Guthrie, Fraser Ecremont, Ryan Gondoh, Charlie Albinson (GK).
SCORERS: Muirhead (35 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Muirhead (78)

REFEREE: Colin Steven
WEATHER: Overcast 14°C
ATTENDANCE 4855

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Partick Thistle, Saturday 23rd April 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Firhill Stadium.

The winning ticket number in 50/50 half time draw, 08809 won the prize fund of £500


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Preview Ayr United

Saturday, 16th Apr 2022

cinch Championship (home) v Ayr United, Saturday 16th April 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park

Ayr United and Dunfermline are both battling to avoid ninth place and the play offs. After the clash on Saturday, both have the same teams left to play, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South, so the East End Park show down is a crucial meeting. Lee Bullen’s side have a three point lead so a Pars win is vital

So far this season the sides have met three times, Ayr have won one, Dunfermline won one and the other match was drawn. The teams have met 132 times with Dunfermline ahead 59-39 on wins with 34 matches drawn. At home the Pars have a 35-15 advantage with 15 drawn.

Milestones v Ayr United (home)
Last League Victory | 20/11/21 | 3-0 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 04/01/20 | 0-1 | Championship
Best League Victory | 10/12/94 | 6-0 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 13/10/73 | 0-4 | Div One (old)
Last Goalless League match | 23/01/21 | Championship
First League meeting | 30/11/1912 | 0-0 | Div Two (old)

Last time at East End Park
cinch Championship

Dunfermline 3-0 Ayr United
Sat, 20th Nov 2021

After 13 league matches without a win, two came back to back. The comfortable 3-0 home win made John Hughes an instant hit with the Pars fans.

First goal came in 14 minutes. Lewis McCANN was denied his first senior goal at Inverness when Danny Devine turned the ball into his own net but there was no stopping the 20 year old this time, heading in from close to the right upright. 1-0

The Pars second goal would come five minutes before half time when a Dorrans corner from the left found DOW who timed it perfectly to glance into the Ayr net. 2-0

Seven minutes into the second half Thomas fed Edwards who swung the ball from the left for Comrie on the right to head back along the six yard line and McCANN doubled his tally with a sweep into the visitors’ net. 3-0

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Kyle Macdonald (Craig Wighton 75), Matthew Todd (Paul Allan 67), Graham Dorrans (c), Dom Thomas: Ryan Dow, Lewis McCann (Kevin O’Hara 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Kai Kennedy, Nikolay Todorov, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

AYR UNITED: Aidan McAdams: Jordan Houston, Markus Fjørtoft, Jack Baird, Patrick Reading: Aaron Muirhead (c): Mark McKenzie, Andy Murdoch, Joe Chalmers (James Maxwell 70), Daire O`Connor (Cameron Salkeld 70): Jonathan Afolabi.
SUBS NOT USED: Tomi Adeloye, Steven Bradley, Sean McGinty, Nick McAllister, Charlie Albinson (GK).

Last Twelve Meetings v Ayr United

Dunfermline have won four of the last twelve league matches, Ayr United three and five have been drawn. The Pars win in the last home meeting is their only one over Ayr in the last seven matches between the teams.




Date | H/A | F-A | W D L | League


05/02/22 | A | 1-1 | D | Championship
20/11/21 | H | 3-0 | W | Championship

11/09/21 | A | 1-3 | L | Championship


10/04/21 | A | 1-1 | D | Championship


23/01/21 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
0

7/11/20 | A | 0-0 | D | Championship


04/01/20 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship


03/12/19 | A | 1-0 | W | Championship


19/10/19 | H | 3-2 | W | Championship


29/03/19 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship


23/02/19 | A | 1-0 | W | Championship


22/12/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship


Recent Form

Dunfermline have lost two of their last six matches, both away from home. Their home form reveals an unbeaten 2022 in the six games so far.

Ayr United have won one, lost two and drawn three of their last six games. They have won three of their last five away games at Kilmarnock, Inverness and Raith.

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Kilmarnock (A) L 0-2
Raith Rovers (H) W 2-0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) L 0-2
Partick Thistle (H) W 4-1
Morton (H) D 1-1
Hamilton Academical (A) D 2-2

AYR UNITED
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H) D 2-2
Hamilton Academical (H) D 1-1
Morton (A) D 1-1
Arbroath (A) L 0-1
Kilmarnock (H) L 1-3
Raith Rovers (A) W 4-0

League Record

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 9th
League Points: 32
Goal Difference: -16
Home League Record: P16 W4 D8 L4 GF19 GA21
Last Six Match Form: DDWLWL

AYR UNITED
League Position: 8th
League Points: 35
Goal Difference: -14
Away League Record: P16 W4 D4 L8 GF16 GA24
Last Six Match Form: WLLDDD

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Kilmarnock): Jakub Stolarczyk: Matthew Todd, Coll Donaldson, Efe Ambrose, Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Dan Pybus (Aaron Comrie 59), Joe Chalmers (Rhys Breen 69), Dom Thomas (Bobby Kamwa 69): Steven Lawless (c) (Lewis McCann 59), Kevin O’Hara (Nikolay Todorov 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Leon Jones, Reece Cole, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

AYR UNITED (v Inverness Caledonian Thistle): Aidan McAdams: Jordan Houston (Markus Fjørtoft 72), Sean McGinty (Jack Baird 89), Patrick Reading: Aaron Muirhead (c): Mark McKenzie (Tomi Adeloye 45), Alex Kenyon (Paul Smith 57), Kerr McInroy, James Maxwell (Daire O`Connor 45), Fraser Bryden, Sam Ashford
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Moffat, Fraser Ecremont, Ryan Gondoh, Charlie Albinson (GK).

Other Championship Fixtures

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Kilmarnock (Friday)
Arbroath v Queen of the South
Morton v Hamilton Academical
Partick Thistle v Raith Rovers

Dunfermline Athletic remaining fixtures

Sat 16th April: Ayr United (H)
Sat 23rd April: Partick Thistle (A)
Fri 29th April: Queen of the South (H)

Supporters Conduct Reminder

The home support has played a significant part in recent positive results and the club is grateful for this strong vocal backing.
However, there have been several incidents at the Morton and Raith Rovers matches which breach league rules and break the country’s laws.
It is a reminder to all supporters that pitch incursions and the letting off of flares are criminal offences and bring the club in to disrepute.
Please continue to give the club brilliant vocal backing against Ayr United but within the parameters of the laws.

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