DUNFERMLINE 2 KELTY HEARTS 1

Saturday, 29th Oct 2022

cinch League One: Nikolay Todorov starts in place of Chris Hamilton. Nikolay Todorov (22) 1-0: Darren Lyon (30) 1-1: Craig Wighton (55) 2-1:

The Pars cleared their hangover from the previous week’s defeat to see off a valiant challenge from an in form Kelty Hearts team.

Dunfermline welcomed their nearest SPFL neighbours, Kelty Hearts for their first ever league game at The KDM Group East End Park. James McPake made one change from the side that suffered its first league defeat at Montrose the previous Saturday with Nikolay Todorov preferred to Chris Hamilton.

There was little surprise that John Potter named an unchanged starting eleven, sticking by the Kelty team that won at Falkirk in their last match. Kallum Higginbotham started and other former Pars were on the bench – Lewis Martin, Joe Cardle and Jason Thomson.

It was Nicky Low who kicked off for the visitors attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. Playing in an all blue kit Kelty took the game to Dunfermline and the ball spent more time in the Pars half than in Kelty’s during the opening ten minutes. Low sent Barjonas up the left and when Sam Fisher slid in Kelty forced the first corner of the derby.

The corner did not yield anything up Kelty kept up the pressure and Alfredo Ageyman was denied when his shot came back off the crossbar. Higginbotham followed up but could only find the sidenetting on the left.

It was 16 minutes into the match before a Josh Edwards cross created any sort of danger in front of the Kelty goal but after Aaron Comrie headed the ball down for Todorov he was dispossessed before he could turn and shoot. Kelty made a break with Alfredo Agyeman setting off down the right and Rhys Breen was yellow carded for the manner in which he halted his opponent.

Dunfermline began to get further up the park and in 22 minutes the bounce on a long ball from Breen deceived Cammy Logan allowing Craig Wighton to cut back from the left byeline, the perfect assist for TODOROV. The striker crashed home from eight yards out through both central defenders and keeper Darren Jamieson. 1-0

Kelty tried a quick response but Higginbotham’s shot landed in the stand. An Edwards cross next provided Todorov with another chance but this time the 26 year old striker’s effort, a powerful header, was turned away by Jamieson.

An equaliser would come on the half hour. Higginbotham hung on to possession on the right side of the penalty box until he was able to off load a chance for a shot. The first was blocked but when Darren LYON latched on to the next chance his left footed curling shot from 25 yards out on the right flew into the far side of the Dunfermline net. 1-1

Deniz Mehmet held an Agyeman shot from the edge of the box before the Italian drew a foul out of Edwards to win a 39th minute free kick 20 yards out on the right side. That led to a corner on the left but being over hit the defence held out. Reis Peggie went through Wighton on on the right but when Chalmers sent the ball into the Kelty penalty box the dayglo orange keeper advanced to hold with ease.

The half ended with two Dunfermline corners from the left, one from the right and a long Edwards throw in that unfortunately changed nothing.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Kelty Hearts 1

Chris Hamilton replaced Rhys Breen before the second half got going and when it did there was a marked change in the Pars play. Mochrie got over a couple of dangerous crosses and it was altogether a much more positive start.

In 55 minutes Todd, Edwards and Mochrie exchanged passes wide left before the Dundee United loanee made an impressive run inside. He slid a defence splitting pass through to the inrunning Comrie on the right side of the Kelty box and his return was netted by WIGHTON. A great move that put the home side 2-1 ahead.

Kelty regrouped and for a period were able to take play further upfield. Tidser and then Todorov were yellow carded as the temperature rose. Then in 69 minutes a Mochrie pass played Edwards in on the left and he had to be quickly closed out. Kyle Macdonald came on for Todorov and immediately created an opportunity for Wighton as he quickly returned Mochrie’s pass.

In 73 minutes Mochrie was again the supplier of a chance in front of goal for Macdonald. The sub spun to get in the shot but unfortunately did not beat Jamieson. Next a Chalmers free kick found Kyle Benedictus at the far post but his header went wide right. Then in 77 minutes Wighton brushed off two defenders to get through on goal but his shot was saved by the keeper.

A third Pars goal was the more likely but there were a couple of let offs at the other end. Firstly Higginbotham miraculously turned a Cardle cross over the bar from close range. Then the Kelty striker forced a good save out of Mehmet in 82 minutes..

Despite a good shot from sub Jason Thomson, Dunfermline successfully saw out the ninety minutes and the four added on to secure the win. That win kept the Athletic three ahead of FC Edinburgh and four above next opponents, Falkirk

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen (Chris Hamilton HT): Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie, Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton, Nikolay Todorov (Kyle Macdonald 70).
SUBS NOT USED: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Todorov (22), Wighton (55)
YELLOW CARD: Breen (16), Hamilton (57), Todorov (63), Wighton (90+4)

KELTY HEARTS: Darren Jamieson: Cammy Logan (Jason Thomson 76), Thomas O`Ware, Jordan Forster, Reis Peggie (Lewis Martin 76): Darren Lyon, Michael Tidser (c) (Scott McGill 84): Alfredo Agyeman, Nicky Low (Joe Cardle 71): Jamie Barjonas: Kallum Higginbotham
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Doherty, Robbie McNab, Miguel Kamgna Junior, Scott Cameron, Liam Campbell (GK)
SCORERS: Lyon (30)
YELLOW CARD: Peggie (46), Tidser (62), Logan (74), Potter (88)

REFEREE: Calum Scott
WEATHER: Overcast 13°C
ATTENDANCE 4571