cinch League One: Mahon makes Dunfermline starting debut in absence of Hamilton. Jordan Allan (23) 0-1: Jordan Allan (33) 0-2: Kyle Benedictus (65 pen.) 1-2: Kyle Benedictus (87 pen.) 2-2:
Two silly goals to lose and a lacklustre Pars performance deeply disappointed both fans and manager.
Dunfermline were out to win the three points that would maintain their six point advantage at the top of League One. Their opponents Clyde were on a mission to put an end to an eleven match losing run in League One.
Pars manager James McPake made one change from the side that faced Falkirk, Chris Hamilton was out and so on loan Motherwell teenager Robbie Mahon was handed his first Dunfermline start. The outfield players on the bench beside the experienced Nikolay Todorov and Rhys Breen, were four sixteen year olds from the U18s who drew 2-2 at Kilmarnock the previous afternoon.
Newly appointed Clyde manager Jim Duffy made two changes as he brought in Paul Kennedy and Jordan Allan in place of Eric Sula and Morgamo Gomis. The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end.
Clyde took the game to Dunfermline and saw a fair amount of the early possession but when Josh Edwards swung in an eighth minute cross from the left it was the left upright that kept out Craig Wighton’s header.
Ten minutes past before a harsh decision against Sam Fisher hand Clyde a free kick 30 yards out on the left side. Kennedy ran over the ball before Ewan Cameron placed the ball deep into the Pars penalty box but Kyle Benedictus rose to head away the potential danger.
The home side had begun to look in much greater control and Comrie got to the right byeline to execute a cross that Mahon was unlucky not to convert. Macdonald had a pop from distance that cleared the crossbar before Clyde took a 23rd minute lead. ALLAN ran on to a Cameron ball and despite Edwards attempts to stop him, was able to stick the ball in off the foot of right post amidst the defensive confusion. 0-1
Five minutes later Chris Mochrie flighted over a free kick from 25 yards out on the left side but Peter Grant headed that away. Mochrie gathered and this time his cross was met by Fisher but his header dropped wide right.
The Bully Wee went further ahead when a soft touch on his own 18 yard line from Edwards let ALLAN in to find the net for the second time in ten minutes. It was Cameron who headed on a long kick from Parry for the striker to take advantage and make it 0-2.
An Edwards cross from the right six minutes from the interval was met by Matty Todd at the far post but he couldn’t get enough on his attempt to beat the keeper. Clyde then forced two corners from the right but the defence held out.
Mochrie showed composure in waiting to pick out Comrie’s run inside that laid the ball off for Todd. His net bound shot was touched but not stopped by Neil Parry before Steven Thicot cleared the ball before it could cross the line. Edwards had one final attempt from a Wighton lay off but for the first time this season the Pars would go in two behind at the interval.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Clyde 2
James McPake made two substitutions before the second half kicked off – Nikolay Todorov and Kane Ritchie-Hosker replacing Robbie Mahon and Kyle Macdonald. Deniz Mehmet was the first keeper in action after a strong crossfield pass from Scullion was headed down by Cunningham for Allan but fortunately he got no purchase on his shot.
A 58th minute foul on Ritchie-Hosler led to a free kick 25 yards out but Joe Chalmers cross was defended away for a corner and despite valiant attempts to convert in the goalmouth scramble Clyde survived.
Todd, Todorov and Mochrie combined to drive into the Clyde box but there was no shot. Then in 62 minutes a Chalmers corner from the right was defended back out to him and he released a shot that the keeper spilled initially to then recover.
A speedy run up the right by Ritchie-Hosler was punctuated by a superb cross that saw Mochrie line up to net only to be bowled over by Cameron. Referee Alan Muir immediately pointed to the penalty spot and in 65 minute BENEDICTUS stepped up to smash the ball past Parry despite the keeper choosing correctly to dive to his right. 1-2
The goal lifted the crowd and the players belief that Dunfermline could avert the first home defeat to Clyde in over 48 years but there was a close one at the Pars end as Cunningham released a shot that only went narrowly wide left.
An Edwards cross was headed behind for an 80th minute corner but Parry punched that away. A Todd cross from the left was headed away and then a 27 yard free kick was curled over the crossbar by Chalmers after Ritchie-Hosler had been fouled.
Todd and Ritchie-Hosler forced a corner on the right but despite Todorov getting his head to it the defence held out. Next Todorov had a chance to shoot and this time Parry blocked his well struck attempt.
Four minutes from the end of the 90 Wighton was brought down on the edge of the Clyde box by Peter Grant earning himself a yellow card. Chalmers shot from the setpiece hit the hand of Ray Grant on the left side of the four man wall and again Referee Alan Muir awarded a second penalty kick and yet again BENEDICTUS crashed the ball past Parry who this time went to his left but the Fifers captain chose to go left again. 2-2
Only six more minutes were played and both sides had chances for a winner but none were taken. A draw halts Clyde’s losing sequence but for Dunfermline one point was a great disappointment.
Falkirk defeated Edinburgh 2-0 so the Bairns and Stewart Petrie’s Montrose remain five points behind league leaders Dunfermline.
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Josh Edwards, Kyle Macdonald (Kane Ritchie-Hosler HT), Joe Chalmers, Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd, Robbie Mahon (Nikolay Todorov HT), Craig Wighton. SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Taylor Sutherland, Liam Hoggan, Max Little (GK) SCORERS: Benedictus (65 pen. 87 pen) YELLOW CARD: Comrie (45)
CLYDE: Neil Parry: Liam Scullion, Steven Thicot, Jon Craig, Peter Grant, Ewan Cameron, Kurtis Roberts, Ray Grant, Paul Kennedy (Morgaro Gomis 66), Ross Cunningham (Oliver McDonald 90): Jordan Allan (Nathan Hendji 89) SUBS NOT USED: Trialist SCORERS: Allan (23, 33) YELLOW CARD: Cameron (59), P Grant (86), Scullion (87), Allan (88).
REFEREE: Alan Muir WEATHER: Sunny 13°C ATTENDANCE 4505
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