Dunfermline 2 Ayr United 1

cinch Championship: Liam Polworth returns, Ryan Dow on the bench. Aaron Muirhead (35 pen.) 0-1: Reece Cole (79) 1-1: Nikolay Todorov (86) 2-1:

With little more than ten minutes to go and a goal behind Dunfermline looked destined for the Championship play offs but two late goals totally transformed the story. Two substitutes made the impact and ensured the Pars moved into eighth place.

This match brought eight placed Ayr United as the visitors to East End Park and the home side was seeking a win to take them to the same number of points as their opponents with just two matches remaining.

John Hughes made one change to his starting eleven bringing Liam Polworth back into his side after missing the match against his parent club the previous Saturday and that meant Ryan Dow returned to the Fifers bench.

Ayr United made three changes from their last starting eleven. Andy Murdoch, Daire O’Connor and Tommi Adeloye started. Mark McKenzie and Alex Kenyon dropped to the bench. Fraser Bryden missed through injury and 16-year old Max Guthrie was on their bench.

Polworth kicked off for the home side attacking the goal at the east end and Dom Thomas forced a corner within 33 seconds but the visitors headed clear and won two of their own in the fourth minute that came to nothing.

Ayr came closer with an eighth minute corner when Sam Ashford’s header was cleared off the line by Matty Todd. The Pars had corners in 13th and 15th minutes without troubling the keeper but Jakub Stolarczyk had to pull off a great save to deny Adeloye after he was able to compose himself and get a shot in from close quarters. The on loan Leicester City keeper blocked the shot and then recovered to grab the ball before it could cross the line.

Josh Edwards played the ball in from the left for former Ayr United midfielder Joe Chalmers to shoot from 30 yards out but the 26th minute effort screamed over the bar. Next it was Thomas who tried a shot from a similar range but Ayr keeper Aidan McAdams held comfortably.

Ten minutes from half time Adeloye created the opportunity to be fouled in the box and won a penalty. He started the move with a clever pass out to the right for O’Connor whose return picked out the striker in the middle of the box. The decision was not disputed and Aaron MUIRHEAD stepped up to net. 0-1

Both Pybus and Edwards had crosses held before Adeloye almost did more damage with the last move of the half, his effort slipping wide left. The home side had 50% more possession than the opponents but Ayr had managed seven shots to the Pars three.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Ayr United 1

Lewis McCann started the second half in place of the injured Coll Donaldson and the shape changed with three at the back and McCann clearly on to attack as much as possible. Just seven minutes into the half Adeloye burst through again and this time from the edge of the box blasted the ball over the crossbar.

A Pars chance came in 55 minutes when Thomas sent the ball to the far post but unfortunately it was just too far beyond for Lawless to turn in. John Hughes men got stuck in and showed that the final half hour was likely to be a real fight.

Ayr survived a 62nd minute corner and then a penalty appeal six minutes later when a shot appeared to hit Muirhead on the hand. No penalty and a yellow card for protesting for Polworth. A double substitution then followed for Dunfermline, Dom Thomas and Joe Chalmers being replaced by Bobby Kamwa and Reece Cole.

Cole was to score the equaliser just ten minutes after coming on. Muirhead was yellow carded for his challenge on McCann and a free kick was awarded 20 yards out. Lawless and COLE stood over the ball before the later bent it around the four man wall to net in the bottom right. 1-1

Nikolay Todorov was thrown into the action in 84 minutes and he has an immediate impact scoring within two minutes. When McCann broke TODOROV was to his right and as soon as he saw the ball smashed it from 30 yards out, low into the Ayr net. East End Park erupted 2-1

The comeback was complete and Dunfermline saw out the match with Lawless extremely unlucky with an added time chip that was kept out by the far post. Three vital points that leave the teams locked 8th equal on the same points and with identical goal difference.

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