Miles Welch-Hayes scored his first goal for Dunfermline in a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Cappielow on Saturday, heading home from a cross in the tenth minute of the second half. “I had one chance in the first half but I got there a bit late. So when I saw that he was going to cross and literally just got my head on the ball,” Miles recalled of Kane Ritchie-Hosler’s delivery from a short taken corner. “I don’t know how close I was to the goal but I could see that he was going to cross so I just tried to sprint to it and got good contact with the ball.”
It was the defender’s first goal since netting in the National League for Altrincham against Wrexham back in February 2023. Despite the crucial match winning goal, Miles admitted “it was a horrible game, a proper dog fight” where they had to “win the battle” against their opponent’s long balls. “We defended really well, we had worked on a few things in training to be fair…It was one of those games where there was not much football played but it shows good character from the boys to grind out a win.”
The victory keeps Dunfermline in the hunt for a playoff place, though Miles urges caution. “I think we just need to focus on the next game and not get too ahead of ourselves. The last couple of games we have been excellent, even in the last four or five games we have been good. We’ve been a good team and played good football. We just listen to what the gaffer and the staff want from us. It is going well at the minute so we just need to focus on the next game and see what happens. Keep grinding it out, training well and hoping that we can pick up points.”
On a personal level, the 27-year-old is thoroughly enjoying his loan spell from parent club Livingston. “I’m very grateful to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity. I have not played much football this season which is very frustrating. You can’t really show your ability when you are not playing. So I’m very grateful to the club for giving me this opportunity and just happy to find my feet.
“I have not played much football so when I came I needed to make sure that I was ready, so I have just been working hard staying ready for any opportunity. I feel that I’m finding my feet a bit now. I still have a lot of things to work on but I’ll keep my head down and keep trying to help the team.
“It is a very good team and I’m enjoying myself, probably the happiest that I have been with football for a while now. I’m really enjoying my time at the club, the fans, all the staff – it seems like a big family club. Everyone is together so it’s nice to be here, I’m really enjoying my time.”
While thriving at Dunfermline, Miles is sympathetic towards Livingston’s plight as they battle relegation from the Scottish Premiership. “It is tough because I have some really close friends at Livingston. I hope they do pick up some points. I know it’s going to be very tough, it’s been a tough season but I’m here now and I just try to focus on what I can control.”
He added: “I haven’t played much there and I haven’t been given much opportunity there, so I can’t really do anything to help. I’m not bitter or anything like that I really do hope that they start picking up points. I do wish the best for the club and obviously I have still got two years left on my contract there but I’ve not been played and it’s out of my control.”
