Hamilton Academical 1 Dunfermline 0

cinch Championship: Kai Kennedy starts in place of Dom Thomas. Dorrans red card (60): David Moyo (61 pen.)

A decision by Referee David Munro to award Hamilton a penalty on the hour mark and reduce Dunfermline to ten men by sending off captain Graham Dorrans for a hugely doubtful hand-ball changed this important meeting between the teams.

Dunfermline travelled to the Fountain of Youth Stadium for the first away league match against Hamilton Academical since February 2013. It was eighth v sixth but both sides started level on 13 points.

John Hughes was without Dom Thomas, out with a knee problem, but Kai Kennedy came into the starting eleven for his seventh Pars start and his first under the new manager.

Hamilton made six changes from the side knocked out of the Scottish Cup the previous Saturday at Beechwood Park by Auchinleck Talbot. The rain had relented, the home tannoy blasted out the Christmas music and then “Things can only get better” as the teams warmed up. We had to hope that it was the Fifers who were going to change the tune. The ball boys unofficial penalty kick competition added to the pre-match ‘entertainment’ and you had to hope that there would be plenty of goalmouth action to follow!

Matty Todd got the match underway with the Pars defending the goal in front of their travelling support. Graham Dorrans was the first to attempt to score, his fifth minute shot from 30 yards out going wide left of target. Then two minutes later Lewis McCann’s break set up Kennedy but his shot was deflected wide for a corner on the right. Dorrans delivered and when defended out, Todd struck a shot from 25 yards over the top.

A skied clearance handed Accies an 11th minute corner that Owain Fôn Williams fisted clear. A quarter of an hour past before on the break Marley Redfern gave the Pars keeper an easy take. Then in 28 minutes a Lewis Smith cross was deflected for a corner on the right and again Fôn Williams punched a clearance away.

McCann forced the visitors second corner in 37 minutes but Dorrans delivery from the left was defended back out to him via Kennedy but the captain’s effort went wide right. Next time however the 34 year old’s effort would be kept out by the crossbar. Dorrans latched on to a blocked Macdonald attempt and connected well from 20 yards out. As the ball rebounded out Aaron Comrie tried to convert with a header but the ball went out on the left side.

Just before the break the home side had a good opportunity to take the lead. Firstly Lewis Smith flashed the ball through the six yard box and Josh Edwards headed behind. The corner from the right was met by McCann but his header sent the ball skyward and there was a stramash as players fought to get on the ball on the edge of the six yard box. Fortunately the ball was hooked out by a Dunfermline player.

Seven shots apiece in the first half but not much to cheer either fans.

Half time: Hamilton Academical 0 Dunfermline 0

The Pars keeper was the first called into second half action holding a 51st minute cross after a swift exchange through Reegan Mimnaugh and Lewis Smith for Josh Mullin to cross from the right.

A Todd move five minutes later almost brought joy for the visitors. The 20 year old won the ball by chesting it down for Kennedy who then sent Toddy steaming down the left. His low cross caused difficulties for the defence and Kennedy was unlucky not to be able to use the loose ball.

The match changed as a result of a red card shown to Dorrans for a clearance off the line at the second of two corners taken one after the other. Mihai Popescu rose to head the setpiece on target but Dorrans cleared off the line. Then from the second corner the on loan Hearts got his head on the cross again, the ball came back off the right goalpost and then follow up was deemed to be stopped illegally and Dorrans was sent off for hand ball on the line. A decision that video replays would suggest harsh.

David MOYO stepped up and his right foot did the business to shoot the Accies ahead from the penalty spot. 61 minutes on the clock and 1-0.

Kevin O’Hara replaced Kai Kennedy but it was Accies who threatened with Scott Martin’s low shot held by Fon Williams. Dan Pybus was introduced for Kyle Macdonald and the home side brought on Miko Virtanen for Jamie Hamilton. The home side were finding space but fortunately the defence was doing its job.

Nikolay Todorov was the final Pars substitute for Matty Todd with 12 minutes remaining. Dunfermline were up against it with just ten men but McCann forced an 82nd minute corner and Mark Connolly was raging as his marker was not penalised for what he deemed to be hand ball.

An 84th minute setpiece afforded the visitors another opportunity and Edwards delivery picked out Vytas Gašpuitis and again another penalty claim went by. Popescu and McCann were yellow carded as the Pars pushed for an equaliser and Hamilton did begin to get anxious but they saw out the 90 and three added minutes to take the three points.

The relief of the home fans and their team was evident and Slade had been thawed out to play the happy folk out.

The defeat means that Dunfermline drop to ninth level with Queen of the South on points at the foot of the table but ahead virtue of having scored more goals. Next up a home match against Queen of the South!

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