Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 5th Feb 2022cinch Championship: Jakub Stolarczyk started for his Dunfermline debut. Coll Donaldson (10) 0-1: Lewis Martin o.g. (17) 1-1:
The second of three successive away games took Dunfermline down the A77 to play Lee Bullen’s Ayr United. Heavy late morning rain led to the postponement of Partick v Queen of the South but the rain was pelting down as the sides went through their warm ups.
Dunfermline brought in new signing goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, on loan from Leicester City to take the place of Owain Fôn Williams. That was the only change from the side that registered a 2-0 win at Palmerston Park the previous Saturday. Ayr made one change from the team that lost 1-0 at Firhill in midweek, former Pars loanee Kerr McInroy coming in for Jack Baird as Bully adjusted his formation.
There was a minute’s silence before the match kicked off as a tribute to former Ayr United player and director, Alex ‘Dixie’ Ingram who passed away on Thursday at the age of 77. The teams changed ends before the visitors kicked off attacking the goal in front of their travelling support.
Both keepers were called upon to make saves within the second minute Stolarczyk getting down to save at his right hand post then when play switched Steven Lawless tried an effort from 30 yards that Aidan McAdams held. Graham Dorrans was next to try a shot from distance which appeared to be a tactic in the strong cross field wind. His attempt narrowly clearing the bar.
There were loud appeals as Stolarczyk came to the left edge of his box and appeared to pick the ball up outside his area. The referee saw no wrong doing and played on. In the ninth minute Dunfermline forced a corner on the right that was delivered by Lawless. The ball was nodded on into the six yard box and amid the attempts to clear Coll DONALDSON, despite initially being hauled to the deck by Aaron Muirhead, was able to latch on to the ball to hit the net for his debut goal for Dunfermline 0-1
Lewis McCann made a strong cross from the right that McAdams held. It all looked so promising but in 17th minute a kick out from McAdams was headed backwards by Lewis Martin but his header looped over his keeper’s head. 1-1
Ayr began to build up more and more danger with McInroy looking a major threat. A James Maxwell corner from the right dropped on to the roof of the net and there was a 27th minute chance for Maxwell at the back post that he dragged across the face of the goal. The Pars had their sorties but Ayr were doing a fair amount of the pressing.
A McCann cross from the right was met by Dow at the near post but he was closed out. Then a long Muirhead throw in created an opportunity for Ayr but Dan Pybus eventually got in the clearance.
Ayr were marginally ahead on first half possession, it had been a fairly even first 45 minutes and no surprise that the teams went in on level terms.
Half time: Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 1
Ayr started the second half on the offensive right from the off, forcing a free kick and a booking for Joe Chalmers and then from that McInroy’s shot was deflected for a corner on the left.
The next chance in 49 minutes, was the Fifers. Comrie made a dummy run up the right while Dorrans went for a chip into the box that Dow flicked on and McAdams had to get down low to keep the ball out at his left hand post. Three minutes later a Lawless free kick from the left travelled straight to the Ayr United keeper.
A 56th minute corner was cleared by Pybus and then Stolarczyk and Dunfermline had a couple of counterattacks where the wrong choice at the critical moment put an end to the threat.
After a McAdams clearance caught the wind and went out midway inside his own half, the throw in from the left let Dorrans create a chance for Lawless to turn and send the ball across goal but a defender stepped in before Comrie could convert.
Donaldson made a fantastic clearance for a corner on the left when there was real danger of handing Ayr another own goal. From Maxwell’s corner Stolarczyk fisted the ball clear.
Donaldson saw yellow in 68 minutes for a challenge that earned Ayr a free kick 22 yards out. The shot from McInroy evaded the five man wall but Stolarczyk pulled off a great stop and the follow up was sent wide left.
Bobby Kamwa replaced Dan Pybus next minute and within three minutes the sub had a good effort from the edge of the Ayr box that came back off the crossbar. There was some good play in the Ayr half with Comrie, McCann and Lawless combining but there was a distinct lack of action for the home keeper.
A Lawless free kick five minutes from time failed to reach target McCann and when Dow retrieved the ball he appeared to have the legs whipped off him but no foul was given. McCann next found himself bursting through some 40 yards out but as he reached the Ayr box Reading slid in to block the shot.
Ayr finished with two corners in added time but the match would end all square. As a result of Morton’s 1-0 in Inverness both Dunfermline and Ayr drop down a place.
AYR UNITED: Aidan McAdams, Jordan Houston, Sean McGinty (c), Aaron Muirhead, Patrick Reading: Mark McKenzie, Andy Murdoch, Ben Dempsey, Kerr McInroy, James Maxwell (Daire O’Connor 73): Sam Ashford.SUBS NOT USED: Blaine Rowe, Fraser Bryden, Tomi Adeloye, Jack Baird, Ryan Gondoh, Marcus Fjørtof, Finn Ecrepont, Charlie Albinson (GK).
SCORERS: Martin og (17)
YELLOW CARD: McGinty (32), Dempsey (39), Murdoch (79)
DUNFERMLINE: Jakub Stolarczyk: Aaron Comrie, Coll Donaldson, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus (Bobby Kamwa 69), Graham Dorrans (c), Joe Chalmers: Steven Lawless, Lewis McCann, Ryan Dow.
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin O’Hara, Paul Allan, Dom Thomas, Efe Ambrose Matthew Todd, Reece Cole, Leon Jones, Owain Fôn Williams (GK)
SCORERS: Donaldson (10)
YELLOW CARD: Chalmers (46), Pybus (54), Donaldson (68)
REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Cold, windy 8°C
ATTENDANCE 1611
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship: (away) v Kilmarnock, Saturday 12th February 2022, 3.00pm kick off at Rugby Park
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Preview Ayr United
Saturday, 5th Feb 2022cinch Championship (away) v Ayr United, Saturday 5th February 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
Dunfermline will return to Somerset Park on Saturday to face an Ayr United team that is now managed by former Pars fans favourite Lee Bullen. Given their league positions both sides will be equally keen to pick up crucial league points. Prior to Ayr’s match against Partick Thistle on Tuesday the clubs lay joint seventh on 22 points both with a goal difference of -15. Thistle’s 1-0 win over Ayr dented the Honest Men’s goal difference but there is all to play for in this the 24th match for both sides.
The Ayr league record against Dunfermline is lost 49, won 32 and drawn 28.
Milestones v Ayr United (away)
Last League Victory | 03/12/19 | 1-0 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 11/09/21 | 1-3 | Championship
Best League Victory | 12/03/94 | 4-0 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 07/04/51 | 0-8 | Div Two (old)
Last Goalless Draw | 07/11/20 | 0-0 | Championship
First Ever Meeting | 29/03/13 | 0-1 | Division Two
Last Time at Somerset Park
Ayr United 3-1 Dunfermline
Sat, 11th Sep 2021
Dunfermline failed to take any league points for the third successive league match. Their first half performance was better than the interval scoreline suggested but conceding soft goals cost them dearly.
Ayr scored from their first attack, Daire O’Connor raced away down the left with Jones in pursuit and when he cut the ball into the six yard box Tomi ADELOYE directed the ball past Fôn Williams. 1-0 and just 105 seconds on the clock.
Pars were then hit on the break in 25th minute when Reading’s cross was met by Cammy SALKELD and his header made it 2-0.
Fortunately the Pars goals drought ended just three minutes later when TODOROV finished a fine Fifers move. A Dorran pass was touched on to O’Hara off Pybus and he set up Dow who cut in to smash a good effort on target. The big striker polished off the chance in off the right post after Dow’s shot had been stopped by the Ayr United keeper. 2-1
In 63 minutes the defence pressed the self destruct button and Bradley nipped in to steal the ball and he crossed into ADELOYE in front of goal. 3-1
AYR UNITED: Charlie Albinson: Nick McAllister (Markus Fjørtoft 60), Jack Baird, Sean McGinty (c), Patrick Reading: Cameron Salkeld (Mark McKenzie 86), Andy Murdoch, James Maxwell, Daire O`Connor, Steven Bradley (Michael Moffat 74), Tomi Adeloye.
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Chalmers, Finn Ecrepont, Aidan McAdams (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Leon Jones (Craig Wighton 71), Paul Watson, Ross Graham: Aaron Comrie, Graham Dorrans (c), Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus, Ryan Dow (Kai Kennedy 62): Nikolay Todorov, Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Vytas Gašpuitis, Paul Allan, Dom Thomas, Deniz Mehmet (GK).
Last Twelve Meetings v Ayr United
Dunfermline have won four of the last twelve league matches, Ayr United four and four have been drawn. The Pars win in the last match is their only one in the last six matches between the teams.
Date | H/A | F-A | W D L | League
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
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
25/08/18 | A | 1-4 | L | Championship
Recent Form
Dunfermline are now undefeated in the last three and have registered three shut outs in the last five. Their two wins on the road in this Championship season have been at Inverness and Dumfries.
Ayr United have followed impressive back to back home wins over Raith Rovers and Arbroath with four games without a win. They have lost three of their last four matches.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Hamilton Academical (H) W 1-0
Morton (A) L 0-5
Raith Rovers (A) D 0-0
Arbroath (H) L 0-3
AYR UNITED
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1
Hamilton Academical (A) D 1-1
St Mirren (H) L 0-2
Morton (H) L 0-2
Arbroath (H) W 1-0
Raith Rovers (H) W 1-0
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 22
Goal Difference: -15
Away League Record: P11 W2 D4 L5 GF10 GA18
Last Six Match Form: LDLWDW
AYR UNITED
League Position: 8th
League Points: 22
Goal Difference: -16
Home League Record: P12 W4 D4 L4 GF13 GA16
Last Six Match Form: WWLLDL
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Queen of the South): Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Coll Donaldson, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus, Graham Dorrans (Bobby Kamwa 84), Joe Chalmers: Steven Lawless, Lewis McCann, Ryan Dow.
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin O’Hara, Rhys Breen, Paul Allan, Dom Thomas, Matthew Todd, Reece Cole, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
AYR UNITED (v Partick Thistle): Aidan McAdams, Jordan Houston (Blaine Rowe 72), Jack Baird, Sean McGinty, Patrick Reading: Aaron Muirhead (Fraser Bryden 72): Mark McKenzie, Andy Murdoch, Ben Dempsey (Kerr McInroy 81), James Maxwell: Sam Ashford (Tomi Adeloye 86).
SUBS NOT USED: Daire O`Connor, Ryan Gondoh, Marcus Fjørtof, Finn Ecrepont, Charlie Albinson (GK)
Other Championship Fixtures
Arbroath v Kilmarnock (Friday)
Inverness Caley Thistle v Morton
Partick Thistle v Queen of the South
Raith Rovers v Hamilton Academical
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