Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 8th Apr 2023cinch League One: Matty Todd returns. Aidan Nesbitt (8) 1-0: Rumarn Burrell (33) 2-0: Craig Wighton (35) 2-1: Lewis McCann (44) 2-2:
The Pars unbeaten league run extended to nineteen and the point from the Falkirk Stadium meant Dunfermline were eleven points ahead at the top of League One with fifteen points left to play for.
With six league matches remaining Dunfermline travelled to play second placed Falkirk. The home team desperately needed a win to have any hope of stopping their arch rivals winning the league and everyone expected them to put up a fight in this derby match.
Dunfermline’s starting eleven welcomed back Matty Todd after his dead leg injury against FC Edinburgh a fortnight ago. Robbie Mahon was the one who dropped to the subs bench. Maksym Kucheriayvi and Rumarn Burrell came into John McGlynn’s team with Craig McGuffie and Liam Henderson consigned to the bench.
The away stand filled up from well ahead of kick off with the travelling fans basking in the Spring sunshine and the stadium music trying hard to drown out their vociferous support. Craig Wighton kicked the game off with Dunfermline attacking the goal in front of the Falkirk fans.
Kane Ritchie-Hosler started wide left but it was a Joe Chalmers chip in from the left that allowed Lewis McCann the first attempt at goal but Brian Kinnear easily held the fifth minute header. Three minutes later the home side scored the opener when inside the Pars box, Calumn Morrison flicked the ball on for Aidan NESBITT to bury in the left side of the net. 1-0
Next chance came to Gary Oliver but that was deflected behind. Two corners ensued but they failed to deliver although Deniz Mehmet was down to hold a 17th minute shot from Morrison. Falkirk retained a lot of possession and Dunfermline were finding it hard to get out of their own half. There were appeals for a penalty as first Burrell and then Nesbitt went down in the box but nothing was given.
There were jeers when a free kick was awarded 23 yards out midway through the first half but Kucheriayvi fired that on to the roof of the net. A handball decision against Chalmers led to a 27th minute free kick that was pumped into the six yard box by Nesbitt but Mehmet held. Not a lot was going the Pars way and misplaced passes and interceptions were proving costly.
Todd earned the visitors their first corner of the game in 31 minutes but when Chalmers swung the ball over from the right, McCann’s header cleared the bar. At the other end a Kucheriayvi corner sneaked right through the Pars box before another ball was passed into the box from the right. Oliver’s shot was parried by Mehmet but BURRELL finished it off. 2-0
The two goal deficit with ten minutes to the interval looked gloomy but the Fife fans were back on song within two minutes. From the restart every Pars outfield player touched the ball with virtually none for Falkirk, before Craig WIGHTON converted. The striker latched on to a McCann slipped the ball in from the left between the two central defenders - 30 seconds from restart to net! 2-1
The goal lifted Dunfermline and Nesbitt was yellow carded for his attempt to cut down Todd. A Chalmers free kick was headed wide right by Kyle Benedictus but suddenly it was looking much more positive for the league leaders. Things got even better when Todd’s perseverance allowed him, with a fortunate break off Nesbitt to deliver the ball to the feet of Lewis McCANN and from the left corner of the box he slotted home the 44th minute equaliser. 2-2
Before the conclusion of the two minutes added on at the end of the half Todd came extremely close to heading home a Chalmers cross. Quite a stunning end to the first half. Dunfermline would be mighty relieved to go in all square at the break. Falkirk enjoyed 60% possession, were ahead 3-1 on corners but it’s goals that count.
Half time: Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 2
Liam Henderson was the first substitute of the game replacing Leon McCann before the second half got underway. The Bairns started strongly with Morrison sending an effort high in 52 minutes after a good delivery from Blaine Rowe. Next Oliver fouled Edwards and Chalmers was afforded another free kick to fire into the Falkirk box but that was cleared. At the other end Edwards did well to block out Nesbitt right in front of goal.
Dunfermline forced a 59th minute corner after McCann had ran on to a clever Wighton chip. The corner caused mayhem in the six yard box with Ewan Otoo challenging and eventually Wighton forcing the ball towards the goal only for Kinnear to hold while sitting on his goalline. His counterpart, Mehmet made a truly magnificent save from Burrell in 62 minutes but the offside flag had been raised anyway.
Chris Hamilton clipped Kucheriayvi on the edge of the box and Falkirk had an opportunity from a 66th minute free kick but Kucheriayvi smashed his shot into the Pars wall and the danger was over.
There was a bit of a let off in 72 minutes when Oliver and then Kucheriayvi took the ball down the left and his cross sat up for Nesbitt who drove the ball wide right. Nikolay Todorov then replaced Craig Wighton while at the same time Jordan Allan came on for Gary Oliver.
Chris Mochrie came on for Matty Todd and then Paul McGowan for Lewis McCann as the minutes ran down. Dunfermline had some defending to do including from an 89th minute Kai Kennedy corner.
There were fantastic scenes at the final whistle with the players and fans full of joy. The champions title moves ever closer and the Pars extend their undefeated league record in Falkirk to six years.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig McGuffie, Ryan Williamson, Paul Watson, PJ Morrison (GK).
SCORERS: Nesbitt (8), Burrell (33)
YELLOW CARD: Nesbitt (37), Henderson (89), Watson (90+1)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton: Joe Chalmers, Kane Ritchie-Hosler: Matty Todd (Chris Mochrie 79): Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 73), Lewis McCann (Paul McGowan 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kevin O’Hara, Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK).
SCORERS: Wighton (35), McCann (44)
YELLOW CARD: McCann (75), Mackay (90+1)
REFEREE: David Dickinson
WEATHER: Sunny 12°C
ATTENDANCE 6301
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (away) v Peterhead, Tuesday 11th April 2023 kick off 7.45pm at the Balmoor Stadium.
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Preview Falkirk
Saturday, 8th Apr 2023cinch League One (away) v Falkirk, Saturday 8th April 2023, kick off 3.00pm
Dunfermline Athletic return to The Falkirk Stadium for just the second time since December 2018 hoping for a repeat of their success there in November. So far this season the Fifers have taken seven points from the nine competed for.
In the previous 105 league meetings Dunfermline have won 37 times, Falkirk 45 and 23 matches have been drawn. The Pars have won 17 of the 52 league matches hosted by the Bairns.
Milestones Falkirk (Away)
Last Victory | 05/11/22 | 1-0 | League One
Last Defeat | 05/10/17 | 0-2 | Irn Bru Cup
Best Victory | 01/01/65 | 4-0 | First Division*
Worst Defeat | 17/10/36 | 4-6 | First Division*
Last Goalless Draw | 15/04/06 | Premier League
First Meeting | 09/10/26 | 0-2 | Division One*
*Pre league reconstruction
Last meeting at the Falkirk Stadium
Falkirk 0-1 Dunfermline
Sat, 5th Nov 2022
Dunfermline scored the only goal of this eagerly awaited contest. Aaron Comrie forced a 60th minute corner and when Chalmers inswinger came in from the right, WIGHTON dipped to head the ball in at the far post.
The Fifers performance thoroughly merited the win and James McPake was delighted his players carried out the game plan.
FALKIRK: Nicky Hogarth: Leon McCann, Brad McKay, Coll Donaldson, Liam Henderson, Finn Yeats (Gary Oliver 63), Stephen McGinn (c) (Juan Alegría 71), Aidan Nesbitt, Calumn Morrison, Kai Kennedy (Craig McGuffie 63), Rumarn Burrell.
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Hetherington, Seb Ross, Blair Sneddon, Ola Lawal, Paddy Martin (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Josh Edwards, Chris Hamilton, Kyle Macdonald, Joe Chalmers, Chris Mochrie (Rhys Breen 87), Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 77).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Allan, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Robbie Mahon, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
Last 12 Matches v Falkirk
Dunfermline have won seven of the last twelve meetings, Falkirk three and two have been drawn. The Pars have not lost a league game at Falkirk since February 2017.
07/03/23 | (H) | 2-0 | W | League One
05/11/22 | (A) | 1-0 | W | League One
17/09/22 | (H) | 1-1 | D | League One
09/10/00 | (H) | 2-0 | W | League Cup
13/04/19 | (H) | 0-1 | L | Championship
29/12/18 | (A) | 4-2 | W | Championship
10/11/18 | (H) | 0-1 | L | Championship
06/10/18 | (A) | 2-0 | W | Championship
07/04/18 | (A) | 2-1 | W | Championship
02/01/18 | (H) | 2-0 | W | Championship
04/11/17 | (A) | 1-1 | D | Championship
05/10/17 | (A) | 0-2 | L | Irn Bru Cup
Recent Form
Falkirk have now gone four league matches without a win and in all four they have failed to score. Their last victory was the 2-1 win over Championship side Ayr United that took them through to the Scottish Cup semi finals.
Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last eighteen league matches and have won their last three away from home.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Kelty Hearts (H) D 0-0
Montrose (A) W 3-1
FC Edinburgh (H) D 0-0
Falkirk (H) W 2-0
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-0
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
FALKIRK
Clyde (A) D 0-0
Kelty Hearts (H) D 0-0
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (H) W 2-1
Dunfermline (A) L 0-2
Peterhead (H) W 5-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 67
Goal Difference: +32
Away League Record: P15 W11 D2 L1 GF26 GA8
Last Six Match Form: WWWDWD
FALKIRK
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 56
Goal Difference: +26
Home League Record: P15 W10 D3 L2 GF33 GA11
Last Six Match Form: WLWLDD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Kelty Hearts): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers (Kevin O’Hara 73): Robbie Mahon (Paul McGowan 59), Craig Wighton (Chris Mochrie 59), Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Allan, Miller Fenton, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK).
FALKIRK (v Clyde): Brian Kinnear, Blaine Rowe, Coll Donaldson, Brad McKay, Leon McCann, Stephen McGinn (Jordan Allan 78), Liam Henderson (Maksym Kucheriayvi 59), Aidan Nesbitt (Finn Yeats 78), Craig McGuffie (Rumarn Burrell 59), Calumn Morrison, Gary Oliver.
SUBS NOT USED: PJ Morrison, Matthew Wright, Ola Lawal, Paul Watson.
Referee will be David Dickinson.
Other League One Fixtures
Airdrieonians v Montrose
Alloa Athletic v Queen of the South
Kelty Hearts v Clyde
Peterhead v FC Edinburgh
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