Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 3 Arbroath – Match Report
cinch Scottish Championship – Game 04 – Season 2021/2022
Saturday 28th August 2021, East End Park, Dunfermline, 3.00pm kick off
Arbroath claimed their first league win at East End Park on Saturday, a staggering 2933 days or 8 years and 11 days after their last victory which came back in August 2013 where two goals by Alan Cook and a strike by Steven Milne gave Paul Sheerin’s Arbroath the 3 points in a 3-2 win back in League One (a match that both Bobby Linn and Colin Hamilton played in), that result was Arbroath’s first win at East End Park since December 1984!
Having watched his side tear apart Partick Thistle last Saturday, Dick Campbell had an easy selection choice as he kept the same starting line up, with only one change in the squad with Harrison Clark returning and Dylan Patterson missing out.
It was an incredibly warm afternoon in Fife, and a large Arbroath travelling support were in fine voice as the game kicked off under perfect conditions.
It didn’t take long for Arbroath to show their intentions for the afternoon and the same flowing attacking football continued right from where it left off last Saturday as Joel Nouble played in Michael McKenna in the 5th minute.
As McKenna found space in the between the Dunfermline defenders he seem to have his left leg stood on by Dan Pybus and as he and the Arbroath bench claimed for a penalty Referee Mike Roncone waved play on.
Then just two minutes later there was a melee in the Pars box. A cross from the right by Nicky Low seen goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet punch the ball clear, but the ball was won back by Michael McKenna whose header seen the ball come off the arm of Ryan Dow before Joel Nouble flicked the ball over Paul Watson’s head and then hitting the ball on the volley only for the ball to hit the hand of Vytas Gašpuitis yet despite the Referee being in a prime position for both penalty claims he wasn’t interested and as the ball broke to David Gold his shot was wide.
These two set backs didn’t discourage Arbroath and 5 minutes later they took the lead. A long kick up field by Derek Gaston wasn’t cleared by Gašpuitis and Gold picked up the ball on the right wing. As Edwards got a toe to the ball, it broke to Nicky Low in space and from some 35 yards out he struck a long range bobbling shot towards goal.
The bounce made it difficult for Mehmet, but he really still should have held onto the ball but as hit his stomach, it bounced back out into play and Michael McKenna made no mistake to score his 4th goal in 4 games from 6 yards out to send the travelling support wild!
In the 16th minute a quick break by Dunfermline was intercepted by James Craigen, but as the ball came off his studs it fell kindly to Nikolay Todorov but despite getting in space and running in on the Arbroath goal Derek Gaston had got his angles spot on and pushed the ball away for a corner kick.
Dunfermline looked for an equaliser and came close in the 23rd minute. Kevin O’Hara found Kai Kennedy in space on the left and he advanced towards the Arbroath goal before hitting a shot which bounced back off the post to Pybus but Kennedy’s shot was a low routine save for Gaston.
Dan Pybus was booked in the 26th minute for a foul on Liam Henderson as he became the first player to go into the Referee’s note book.
Arbroath thought they had scored their second goal as a Nicky Low free kick from the wing was met by Captain Thomas O’Brien at the back post but his header just grazed the post hitting the side netting with the Lichtie support for a second thinking the ball had landed in the net.
Another corner in the 34th minute from the opposite wing was met by Ricky Little but his header didn’t have enough power to threaten Mehmet.
Dunfermline did have the ball in the back of the net shortly after that as Dow raced forward before spreading the ball to Kennedy on the wing but as he cut to the byline and crossed, O’Brien and Hamilton stepped out leaving both Todorov and O’Hara who netted offside and the assistant Referee’s flag was correctly raised for offside.
In the 44th minute, the ball was again in the Arbroath net but again it was ruled out. A great cross from the Dunfermline right wing by Kyle MacDonald was plucked out of the air by the gloves of Derek Gaston but at the same time Todorov rose up and his header hit the gloves of Gaston and sent the ball into the net, but Referee Roncone gave Arbroath the free kick for the foul on Gaston.
It was to be a turning point with Gaston sending the free kick high up the pitch it eluded everyone with its bounce before David Gold picked the ball up 25 yards from goal. He passed to Liam Henderson who played the ball back to Craigen who hit a perfect ball over to the right wing to McKenna.
McKenna played a great weighted pass into the overlapping Scott Stewart who crossed the ball in from the byline which was met by David Gold on the 6 yard line and his right foot shot went into the far corner of the net for Arbroath’s second goal. It was a stunning move and all of the Arbroath substitutes sitting behind the goal celebrated as passionately as the fans in the stand.
It isn’t easy not playing in the starting XI, but the spirit within the Arbroath dressing room really is a damn good one and was evident to all just how much the team are as one.
Half Time – Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 2 Arbroath
Half Time Stats
Possession – Dunfermline Athletic 57% – 43% Arbroath
Shots – Dunfermline Athletic 4 – 7 Arbroath
Shots on Target – Dunfermline Athletic 2 – 4 Arbroath
Shots Off Target – Dunfermline Athletic 2 – 2 Arbroath
Blocked – Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – Dunfermline Athletic 2 – 1 Arbroath
Fouls – Dunfermline Athletic 10 – 3 Arbroath
Both sides made a change at the break with Dom Thomas coming on for Dan Pybus for the hosts with Dale Hilson replacing Liam Henderson for the Arbroath as he took position on the wing, with James Craigen moving into central midfield.
Joel Nouble was having another sensational game for Arbroath and he chased the ball down the wing in the 47th minute before coming inside and forced Mehmet into an early second half save.
Four minutes later and Nouble was at it again, this time his shot was over the bar, with Dale Hilson having a shot blocked just 60 seconds later.
Scott Stewart picked up a yellow card in the 54th minute for a late tackle on Kai Kennedy.
Derek Gaston was called into action as he punched away a fierce cross into the box in the 56th minute.
Former Lichtie Craig Wighton came on for Ryan Dow in the 62nd minute as the hosts tried to find a way back into the game.
A poor free kick on the half way line by Graham Dorrans to Dom Thomas was chased down by Nicky Low before Thomas O’Brien read the ball and intercepted. He in turn fed the back to Low who carried on his run deep into the Pars half before finding Nouble who had peeled off down the left wing.
Nice play by McKenna and Nouble seen Nouble dribble into the box before hitting another shot at goal this time which Mehmet had to get down to save.
Derek Gaston pulled off a sensational reflex save on his line to deny Todorov from point blank range as the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker connected to a Kennedy Cross. Whilst Gaston hadn’t been overworked in the game, his concentration levels were always on and this was another stunning save from the Arbroath keeper.
Arbroath killed the game in the 67th minute. Scott Stewart who was again brilliant in midfield intercepted the ball deep in his own half. He passed to Low who fed Nouble out on the wing, his surging run and cross was met by Michael McKenna who had ran between the two defenders and stretched out to hit the ball into the back of the net.
As Arbroath celebrated, the cheers from the Arbroath fans were soon muffled by the boos ringing out by the disgruntled home support.
Kevin O’Hara found space to squeeze past the Arbroath defence but again Gaston was quick to react, rushing in and closing down the shot but as the ball fell back into play Todorov tried the chip into the empty net but his shot was high over the bar.
Joel Nouble went off to applause from both sets of supporters as he was replaced by Luke Donnelly in the 71st minute.
Donnelly came close to adding a 4th as he raced onto a long ball before twisting and turning the tiring Pars defence before seeing his shot bounce off the chest of Mehmet.
Bobby Linn replaced Scott Stewart in the 75th minute and was soon involved in the action. A cheek back heel by Low found McKenna who hit a cross field pass to Linn who controlled the pass with a beautiful touch before turning Edwards and cutting the ball in from the byline to Donnelly who netted from close range. The flag was raised for offside but it looked like both Watson and Gašpuitis were playing Donnelly onside and as it was a cut back it surely was impossible to be offside.
Linn was again back in action just minutes later, this time hitting the ball before running round Edwards to latch back onto the ball before firing a ball across the goal which MacDonald put out for a corner kick.
With the game into injury time a long ball from Thomas was met by Todorov who just had Gaston to beat, but once again Gaston had covered his angle perfectly and Todorov’s shot was saved by Gaston, with Todorov then going down with an injury as he was replaced by Reece Cole.
A series of cheers went around as Arbroath put a series of passes together before the full time whistle blew and a series of boos rang out around East End Park as the home supporters showed their dismay.
Meanwhile at the other end the Arbroath supporters cheered on every player as they toasted a fantastic win.
Full Time – Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 3 Arbroath
Full Time Stats
Possession – Dunfermline Athletic 52% – 48% Arbroath
Shots – Dunfermline Athletic 8 – 12 Arbroath
Shots on Target – Dunfermline Athletic 4 – 7 Arbroath
Shots Off Target – Dunfermline Athletic 4 – 3 Arbroath
Blocked – Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 2 Arbroath
Corners – Dunfermline Athletic 5 – 3 Arbroath
Fouls – Dunfermline Athletic 10 – 9 Arbroath
Hard to pick one particular player as every player again performed to their very best. Arbroath’s fitness levels again never looked out of place, especially in the hot sun and despite the label of being part time, this team is proving that they have more than what it takes to compete with the very best. Determination, hard working, skilful and every player on and off the pitch together this is a spectacular time to be a Lichtie!
C’mon the Lichties
Dunfermline Athletic
29 – Deniz Mehmet
6 – Kyle MacDonald
44 – Paul Watson
13 – Vytas Gašpuitis
3 – Josh Edwards
11 – Ryan Dow (Wighton 62)
16 – Dan Pybus (Thomas 45)
17 – Graham Dorrans ©
8 – Kai Kennedy
10 – Nikolay Todorov (Cole 90+1)
7 – Kevin O’Hara
Substitutes
1 – Owain Fon Williams
2 – Aaron Comrie
9 – Craig Wighton – 11; 62nd
18 – Paul Allan
23 – Dom Thomas – 16; 45th
26 – Matty Todd
28 – Reece Cole – 10; 90+1
Yellow Card – Pybus 26
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
12 – Scott Stewart (Linn 75)
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
6 – Nicky Low
7 – David Gold
8 – Michael McKenna
22 – Liam Henderson (Hilson 45)
17 – Joel Nouble (Donnelly 71)
28 – James Craigen
Substitutes
9 – Dale Hilson – 22; 45th
10 – Gavin Swankie
11 – Bobby Linn – 12; 75th
15 – Luke Donnelly – 17; 71st
16 – Harrison Clark
19 – Anton Dowds
21 – Calum Antell (GK)
Goals – McKenna 12, 67, Gold 44
Yellow Card – Stewart 54
Attendance 2, 928
Referee; Mike Roncone
Assistant Referee 1 – Ross MacLeod
Assistant Referee 2 – Chris Rae
