Dunfermline`s fifth match of pre-season saw them away to Alloa Athletic. The clubs last met 66 days before, in the final match of last season so this was viewed as another very useful fitness exercise – the final game before the Viaplay Cup kicks off on Saturday when Raith Rovers host the first Fife Derby of the season.

Max Little was given a run out between the posts and youngsters Sam Young, Liam Hoggan and Andrew Tod were handed starts. Latest signing Michael O’Halloran started along with the experience Paul McGowan and Craig Wighton.

The match was just in its fourth minute when Quinn Coulson’s cut back from the left to Miko Virtanen 27 yards out was smashed off the Pars crossbar and behind. The visitors would take the lead however just five minutes later. A Paul Allan corner from the right was taken short to Andrew Tod whose cross was only cleared out as far as Paul McGowan and his chip to the far post was chested down by Chris HAMILTON and he stuck it away into the far side of the net for 0-1.

An Ewan Otoo run forced a 15th minute corner on the left but this time keeper PJ Morrison was able to take Allan’s delivery. The travelling support in the sun kissed east stand were able to watch their side pass the ball about with confidence and purpose. The build up was patient with debutante Hoggan on the right and Miller Fenton on the left being targeted for the route in behind the Wasps defence.

A Fenton cross yielded another corner on the left but by then it was 33 minutes. The home defence duly blotted out the attempts of Hamilton and Wighton in front of goal. Three minutes later Robert Jones, the Alloa Trialist was yellow carded for his challenge on Hamilton. At the same time Otoo required the physios attentions and was subbed as a precaution by Taylor Sutherland. Fenton moved into the back three to make way for the sub.

It was 45th minute before just the third shot at goal. It was Alloa’s Kurtis Roberts who was able to get a cross in from the right and efforts to clear teed up Stefan Scougall 20 yards out but his well connected shot drifted wide left.

Half time: Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1

The two sub’s introduced after the break were both for Alloa – the Trialist keeper and Bradley Rodden replacing PJ Morrison and Robert Jones. The third minute of the half produced the first save of the match. Max Little rose to fist away a decent cross in from the left by Deveney and the keeper reacted well when Virtanen connected with a fierce shot on target.

Dunfermline were reduced to ten men in fifth minute of the half when Chris Hamilton was red carded for a challenge that was deemed as serious foul play. Thereafter Little was made to hold another Alloa cross and he then had to hold a headed effort from Rodden.

Matty Todd and Lewis McCann were brought on for Michael O’Halloran and Craig Wighton just before the hour. Matty became the third Dunfermline player in this match to wear the captain’s armband. Tod and McCann were left upfront and the Dunfermline defence did its job as the home team pressed. They were helped in 75th minute by Rodden’s shot into the sidenetting.

Next Allan made the sub keeper save after he received the ball twice in a close knit move with Tod. It was tough for the Pars and they were relying on limited counterattacks. McCann did well on the left side but his shot got blocked. There was an opportunity from a setplay in 83 minutes Cawley fouled Todd on the left but Allan’s 20 yard free kick was headed away by the defence.

The ten men successfully saw the game out to record the victory but there had not been a huge amount to excite the fans in what some might class a fairly typical pre-season friendly.

ALLOA ATHLETIC: PJ Morrison (Trialist HT): David Mackay (Steven Buchanan 65), David Devine, Morgyn Neill, Miko Virtanen (Kevin Cawley 53), Stefan Scougall (Cameron O’Donnell 70), Euan Deveney, Steven Hetherington, Quinn Coulson, Kurtis Roberts (Nathan Cannon 68), Trialist no.9 (Bradley Rodden HT)
SUBS NOT USED: Luke Rankin, Trialist no.22, Keir Burt (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Trialist 9 (36)

DUNFERMLINE: Max Little: Sam Young, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo (Taylor Sutherland 37), Liam Hoggan, Andrew Tod, Paul Allan, Paul McGowan -Trialist, Miller Fenton: Craig Wighton (Matty Todd 59), Michael O’Halloran (Lewis McCann 59)
SUBS NOT USED: Jake Rennie, Ewan McLeod, Jake Sutherland, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Hamilton (9)
RED CARD: Hamilton (50)

REFEREE: Calum Scott
WEATHER: Sunny 16°C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: Viaplay Cup (away) v Raith Rovers, Saturday 15th July 2023, 5.15pm kick off at Stark’s Park