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10-0, Arthurlie, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic, East End Park, Falkirk, Falkirk Stadium, Hearts, Penicuik Athletic, Rangers, Scottish Championship, Scottish Junior Cup, Scottish League One, Stirling Albion, Tynecastle Park, wandywatson
Friday 27 February 2015, The Falkirk Stadium
With the television companies messing around with the fixtures as per usual, we decide to take in the Friday night game between Falkirk and Rangers in the Scottish Championship.
The Bairns are in a fine run of form and are unbeaten in their last eight games. Rangers won their last game, on the previous Friday, 2-1 against Raith Rovers, after three straight defeats.
The teams have already met three times this season, with all ending in comfortable wins for Rangers. Falkirk have improved markedly since then and will be hoping for better things this evening.
The hosts will jump a place to fourth if they pick up any points, while Rangers will go into second, leapfrogging Hibs with a win. There are 7,492 in attendance to see how it pans out.
Marius Zaliukas and Ian Black are out of the Rangers squad after being struck by illness. Wallace and McCulloch are also missing. (Wallace reportedly with a “strained buttock”). This adds to the lengthy injuries to Bell and Foster. Mohsni and Miller have shaken off injuries.
Falkirk will again be missing Muirhead and Tudur-Jones, but Cooper is available again after serving a two-match suspension.
After a couple of early fouls, it’s the home side who are first to look dangerous. A quick turn by Loy wide on the left in 2 minutes is followed up by a teasing ball into the six yard box, but he has no team mates that react quickly enough.
Good closing down by the Bairns in the 6th minute sees Law give the ball away to Loy and he quickly plays Baird in down the right, but McGregor blocks his attempted cross behind for the first corner of the match which is cleared to the edge of the box where Leahy slices his shot well wide.
After another Rangers pass is intercepted in the middle of the park after 9 minutes, Sibbald plays an attempted one two with Loy, but Robinson is out quickly to smother.
Some nice passing by Falkirk ends with Kerr playing Sibbald in wide in the box, but McGregor manages to send the ball behind with Loy waiting to pounce after 12 minutes. Taiwo’s corner is headed away and Leahy tries another long range effort, this time well over the bar.
In 13 minutes, Vaulks and Grant both challenge for the same ball and have a sickening clash of heads. The Falkirk team mates completely oblivious to each other’s presence. After treatment, both manage to continue.
Rangers have their first effort on goal in 17 minutes, when Moshni’s high ball into the box is chested down by Boyd for Clark to strike, but McCracken blocks the ball before it could get to MacDonald.
In 20 minutes, Law swings a high free kick into the box. Boyd flicks the ball on and Duffie gets a touch on it. Faure challenges Vaulks as he tries to clear and the ball falls to McGregor who lashes the ball into the bottom corner past a helpless MacDonald to give Rangers the lead.
Kerr picks up the ball in midfield for Falkirk in 22 minutes and sends Sibbald scampering forward where he feeds Baird on the left. His left foot cross nicks off Faure and lands perfectly on the head of Loy in the box, who nips in in front of Moshni to steer the ball into the corner of the net to give Falkirk a quick-fire equaliser.
Rangers look to get back in front and after Law and Vukic exchange passes on the left in 24 minutes, the former sends a cross into the back post where Boyd has peeled away from Leahy and despite back peddling, he almost sneaks it into the net, MacDonald managing to turn it past with the aid of the bar.
Some more, quick passing by Falkirk sees Taiwo pass to Loy, who dummies the ball where Kerr slips in Baird on the right of the box, but McGregor shows great anticipation to get across and block his attempted cutback to Kerr.
Taiwo’s corner finds Leahy at the far side of the box, but his shot is blocked to Vaulks, who fires just wide.
After half an hour, Leahy finds Sibbald in the box who shows great skill to flick the ball past Faure, but McGregor is across again to block. The ball goes back to Sibbald who tries to chip the ball over Robinson, but he’s got his bearing wrong.
In 38 minutes, Loy plays a lovely one two with Vaulks and the Falkirk striker is free on the left of the box, but Faure manages to get back to block, which allows Robinson to claim.
With 42 minutes gone, more crisp passing by the home side sees Kerr play to Vaulks who passes first time to Baird, but his shot is well wide.
Rangers look to break quickly in the last minute of the first half and Clark sends Vukic through on the right hand side of the box, but with the close attention of Leahy, he can only poke the ball towards goal with his left foot when a right foot shot would have been the thing to do, and it’s easy for MacDonald.
As we reach injury time, Law sends Smith down the left and he sends a good ball into the box where Boyd miskicks before seeing his second effort saved by MacDonald, only to see the flag is up for offside anyway.
All square at half time with Falkirk looking by far the more likely. Sibbald has been excellent for the home side and Loy and Baird both look very lively up front. McGregor has almost singlehandedly kept Falkirk at bay and has scored his teams’s goal as well. Law and Vukic are trying to make things happen for Rangers, but to little avail.
We are treated to a mascot race at half time, with some weird looking yellow thing winning.
Falkirk are on the attack straight from kick off and the ball is worked to Leahy whose powerful shot from the edge of the box is wide of the goal.
Vukic gets a break of the ball in 48 minutes when it ricochets off him to see him charging into the box, but MacDonald is out quickly to smother.
A clever chip forward by Kerr in 56 minutes looks for Taiwo down the right, but it’s well read by Moshni, who then conspires to completely miskick the ball behind for a corner to Falkirk. Robinson drops the corner due to the attentions of Moshni and McCracken and Faure pokes the ball away for another corner as McCracken goes down, with Falkirk claiming for a penalty. There didn’t look to be anything to me.
The game is a lot more scrappy this half, and collisions abound. Hutton goes down after colliding with Moshni, before Sibbald needs treatment after landing awkwardly. Then Hutton and Taiwo have a mid-air clash in 63 minutes which sees some concern for both players, although both are able to continue after treatment.
Loy works the ball to Baird on the edge of the box in 67 minutes, but Robinson saves the Falkirk striker’s shot low down with little fuss.
Some good play by Ranger sees Clark release Faure down the right in 70 minutes, but Clark slips on the edge of the box when Faure returns the ball to him and the chance is gone.
Moshni is lucky to escape a booking in 72 minutes when a wild kick on the half way line seems to catch Baird on the chin.
In 73 minutes, Kerr lofts the ball into the box where McCracken, who is still forward following a free kick, heads it down to Loy, who takes a touch then finds his shot blocked by Moshni. The ball seems to spin up and hit Smith on the arm, but it would have been a harsh penalty.
Rangers get a free kick near the corner of the box after substitute Templeton is hauled down by Kerr in 83 minutes, and Boyd hits a low effort which is well wide of the far post.
Law’s cross from the right in 85 minutes is half cleared by McCracken to Boyd, who hits a volley wide of the goal.
In 88 minutes, Law plays the ball back to Robinson who wants too much time on the ball and Loy manages to block his clearance, but the keeper is lucky that the ball goes out for a throw in.
Falkirk substitute Smith escapes the attention of Law down the left in 89 minutes and his cross finds Loy who goes down with McGregor appearing to have hold of his shirt. Loy quickly gets up and sends the ball across goal, but nobody is there to apply the finishing touch.
Despite looking the better side, the Falkirk fans seem to be worried at the addition of 5 minutes injury time at the end. The ones near me saying they would take a draw.
They needn’t have worried though, as Rangers fail to create another chance and it ends in a draw.
A poor second half after the promise of the first, although the wind and rain didn’t help. Falkirk may regret not picking up three points in this one.
Full Time: Falkirk 1 Rangers 1
Admission: £18
Falkirk: 1 MacDonald, 2 Duffie, 5 McCracken, 14 Grant, 19 Leahy, 7 Taiwo (Alston 74), 6 Vaulks, 11 Kerr, 10 Sibbald (Smith 85), 33Loy, 35 Baird (Morgan 81). Subs: 8 Alston, 9 Smith, 12 Bowman, 15 Dick, 17 Maybury, 20 Cooper, 36 Morgan.
Rangers: 25 Robinson, 16 Faure, 3 Moshni, 24 McGregor, 2 Smith, 7 Law, 20 Hutton, 34 Murdoch (Templeton 77), 10 Vukic (Miller 76), 14 Clark, 15 Boyd. Subs: 9 Daly, 11 Templeton, 18 Miller, 22 Shiels, 31 Simonsen, 38 Halkett, 49 Walsh.
Referee: Willie Collum
Programme: £2.50
Saturday 28 February 2015, Tynecastle Park
Hearts play Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Championship this afternoon and after Rangers draw the night before, Hearts are still 20 points clear at the top of the league. Hibs are second and a point further back is Rangers although they have two games in hand. Cowdenbeath are languishing in second bottom place, level on points with 3rd bottom Alloa Athletic, but with a game in hand. They lost to Alloa in their previous game.
Prince Buaben, Carrick and McHattie are missing for Hearts. Cowdenbeath will be without Marshall due to a hamstring injury. Armstrong and Brett added to the squad after the defeat to Alloa.
Cowden lost 5-0 on their visit to Tynecastle earlier in the season so will be looking to improve upon that. Hearts have won four in a row following their solitary league defeat so far, to Falkirk.
Hearts are quickly on the front foot and in three minutes, Ozturk lines up a free kick from about 25 yards out. His shot beats Thomson, but comes back off the post.
The home side continues to come forward and King has the next real effort in 9 minutes, shooting from inside the box, but it’s too central and the keeper saves.
King is again in the action in 10 minutes, beating Thomson this time, but his shot comes back off the bar. Is this not going to be Hearts day?
Pallardo is next to try and give Hearts the lead, but his shot from distance goes wide of the post after 11 minutes.
Ozturk has his second effort from a free kick after 17 minutes, but it’s too high this time.
In the 26th minute, Nicholson picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box and fires it at goal. The ball smacks against Adamson’s arm and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Although it didn’t look deliberate, his arms didn’t seem to be in a natural position. A booking seemed harsh. Zeefuik steps up and although Thomson goes the right way, the ball finds the net via the post.
Just a minute later, Walker plays the ball inside to Zeefuik who turns cleverly away from Robertson and fires the ball into the same corner for a quick-fire double.
In 29 minutes, Nicholson charges into the Cowdenbeath area and Toshney seems to trip him and also may have pushed him and the ref gives another penalty. Toshney receives a red card and to add to the Fifers’ misery, Zeefuik puts the penalty into that same corner again. A three and a half minute hat-trick.
Cowden commit a few fouls over the next few minutes, trying to stem the flow of the Hearts attacks.
With 33 minutes on the clock though, Hearts make it four. Eckersley plays the ball inside from wide left to Nicholson who knocks the ball out of his feet and hits an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net with a cracking strike.
The crowd only have to wait another 6 minutes before Thomson is picking the ball out of the net again. Nicholson is running at the beleaguered defence again and plays the ball to his right to find Walker. He spins on the edge of the box and hits a curling shot in off that same post to put Hearts five in front.
After 25 minutes it looked as if it might be one of those days for the home side. Fourteen minutes later they are 5-0 up.
Walker has a chance for another goal after 40 minutes, but he puts his effort over the bar. Pallardo has a similar strike just before half time, from a bit further out, which again sails over the bar.
Cowdenbeath manager Jimmy Nicholl would be glad to hear the half time whistle.
Although I expect the away side had little hope of a comeback in the second half, they do decide to replace Kane with Armstrong at half time.
The second half soon continues the same way as the first and King is first to aim a shot at goal for Hearts, but his effort is blocked after 48 minutes. The same player tries his luck from outside the box in 54 minutes, but Thomson saves the effort which was headed for the bottom corner.
Paterson is next to continue the procession towards the Cowdenbeath goal in 55 minutes, this time from close range, but it’s too near the keeper.
Good build up play by Hearts between Zeefuik, Nicholson and Gomis finds the latter in the box with 56 minutes gone, where he is tripped by O’Brien, giving the Jambos their third penalty of the afternoon. With Zeefuik’s hat-trick already in the bag, Gomis takes the penalty himself, and executes perfectly the simple chip straight down the middle as Thomson dives to his left. A first goal of the season for the Hearts midfielder.
In 59 minutes, Hearts make a triple substitution, but bringing on three hungry players is unlikely to detract from the home side’s desire to push for more goals.
The subs certainly don’t seem to have disrupted the flow, as Hearts make it seven in the 61st minute. Gomis picks the ball up in the middle of the pitch and plays it to Ozturk. With the Hearts fans shouting for him to “shoooooooot”, he lets fly from around thirty yards and although Thomson manages to get at least one hand to the ball, he can’t stop the powerful drive ending up in the bottom corner.
Two quick chances for Hearts to extend their lead in the 66th minute with first Nicholson and then substitute Sow failing to trouble those keeping count. The former over the bar, and the latter saved by the keeper.
A minute later, Adamson concedes a corner and Keatings’s delivery is met by Paterson whose shot is blocked. The ball eventually drops to the feet of Wilson and the Hearts captain send it into the net via the post.
Cowdenbeath look completely demoralised and the whistle can’t come soon enough for them. Hearst manager Robbie Nielson continues to urge his team on from the touchline.
Sow tries an effort from the edge of the box in 70 minutes which is blocked. Fellow substitute El Hassnaoui picks the ball up soon after and plays a clever ball behind the defence which Sow latches onto and despatches into the net via the goalkeeper for number nine.
With 74 minutes on the clock, Paterson passes to sub Keatings who plays the ball to Sow who hits a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box past a wrong footed Thomson. Ten nil. Quite incredible.
The Hearts manager appears to signal to his players that they should take the foot off the gas now, which is fully understandable if that was indeed the case. Hearts are ten goals up and there are still 16 minutes to play.
Nish has a rare effort at goal for Cowdenbeath in 77 minutes, but it’s comfortable for Alexander.
Keatings has a go from a free kick after he had been brought down in 86 minutes, but it’s an easy save in the end for Thomson. The keeper is called into action again a minute later when he is required to save El Hassanoui’s effort.
Armstrong has a great chance for a consolation goal in the 89th minute, but his header from inside the six yard box goes wide of the post.
Milne has a very late free kick for the away side, but he can’t find the target.
A quite remarkable afternoon for the 15,180 present and certainly the biggest victory I’ve ever seen in the flesh. As well as being several points clear at the top of the table, Hearts goal difference certainly took a boost this afternoon.
Very few positives for Cowdenbeath, who on this form will struggle to avoid relegation. Some tough times ahead.
Full Time: Hearts 10 (Ten) Cowdenbeath 0
Admission: £23
Hearts: 1 Alexander, 2 Paterson, 5 Ozturk, 4 Wilson, 44 Eckersley, 14 Pallardo, 6 Gomis, 11 Nicholson, 7 Walker (El Hassnaoui 60), 12 King (Keatings 59), 23 Zeefuik (Sow 59). Subs: 9 El Hassnaoui, 15 Gallacher, 19 Keatings, 20 Sow, 21 Anderson, 22 McKay, 30 McGhee.
Cowdenbeath: 17 Thomson, 27 Toshney, 4 O’Brien, 6 Wedderburn, 14 Brett, 7 Robertson, 12 Kane (Armstrong 45), 28 Hughes, 3 Adamson, 11 Herron (Milne 71), 9 Nish. Subs: 5 Armstrong, 8 Milne, 10 Higgins, 18 Brownlie, 19 Oyenuga, 20 Miller, 25 Sneddon.
Referee: Bobby Madden.
Programme: £3.50
Saturday 7 March 2015
Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round action today with Penicuik Athletic playing Arthurlie. A place in the quarter finals is at stake for the teams today and it’s Midlothian against Barrhead.
Penicuik had to wait a while to find out their opponents and get this tie played after they beat Spey Valley at home in the last round on 7 February. This after they had previously despatched Lanark United, Maybole Juniors and Arbroath Vics.
Arthurlie had to endure postponements before they could play their fourth round tie with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, which was of course then a draw, and after the replay was also postponed due to the weather, they eventually won it on penalties. They had previously knocked out Hall Russell, Dunbar United and Darvel.
It’s my first visit to Penicuik since December and the East Super League side are looking likely to finish comfortably in the top half of the table in their first season back in the top league in the Junior ranks of the East. A win would see them reach their first Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final in 45 years and let them dream of only a second ever Junior Cup Final, after their losing appearance in the final of 1970.
Arthurlie are looking set for a mid-table finish in the West Super League. After being founded in 1874, Arthurlie were a senior league side until 1929. In the 1896/97 season they even knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup. After financial difficulties, “The Lie” (pronounced Lee) joined the Junior ranks in 1930. They’ve won the Junior cup on two occasions, most recently in 1998 and have been runners-up twice.
While the home side are pretty much at full strength, Arthurlie are missing the suspended Devlin, the cup tied Palmer and the injured Dallas.
The afternoon begins with a minute’s silence for Maybole Juniors captain Stuart McGrady who died in his sleep the previous weekend.
Despite ensuring it wasn’t in close proximity, I am somewhat aggrieved to discover that the Arthurlie fans have brought a drum with them. “Beat it” would be my suggestion.
It’s not clear what it is that delays the kick off, but the police seem to be talking to the referee.
The Lie are first to have an effort on goal in the first minute, but Rushford’s attempt at the spectacular is well wide of the post and without power.
At the other end in the next minute, Gay plays the ball to McCallum in the box, who lays it off to Ross, but he can’t get any purchase on his shot.
In the 3rd minute, a late challenge by Rafferty on McCulloch gives Jancyzk the opportunity to put a free kick into the Arthurlie box. It finds the head of McCulloch, but drifts well wide.
After a period of scrappy play, the game comes alive again in the 8th minute. Rafferty brings the ball forward for Arthurlie with purpose, he jinks past a couple of challenges before forcing Bejaoui to parry his shot, before the ball is cleared to safety.
Blakey hits a free kick at the Penicuik goal from about 30 yards in 9 minutes. It’s a very well struck shot and Bejaoui looks on anxiously as it goes past the post.
After Ross has received a lengthy telling off for a late tackle which had the away bench leaping to its feet, McGlinchey floats the ball into the box in the 10th minute, where Smith meets it with a looping header, which a backpeddling Bejaoui catches.
The home side were down to 10 men for what seemed to be at least 8 minutes when McCallum was off receiving treatment for a head injury. He returns to the fray with a bandage on.
Rushford brings the ball forward for Arthurlie in 15 minutes and despite handling the ball, the referee allows play to continue before he flicks it through to McTernan, who drags his shot wide.
Penicuik put together a good move down the right in 17 minutes when Lister back heels the ball to Killin, but his cross is half blocked and goes behind the advancing McCallum.
Gay tries his luck from distance on 18 minutes, but his shot sails over the bar.
A bit of a midfield battle is taking place now, with neither side really having the upper hand. Although Arthurlie started the better, things are very even as the half progresses.
With half an hour gone, a Jancyzk free kick to the back post finds McCulloch at the back post. He flashes the ball across the six yard box, but there are no takers for Penicuik.
In 32 minutes, the deadlock is broken. A Penicuik corner taken by Gay is met by the head of Young, whose header comes back off the bar. Cunnison dives in to head the ball into the net, with team mate White backing into the goal to allow the ball in. There are lengthy complaints by the away side for offside, but there looked to be several players on the line. Green is booked for taking the complaining too far.
A great through ball in 35 minutes by McGregor for Arthurlie looks like it’s going to create a chance, but White slides in to clear for the home side.
Arthurlie come forward again in 36 minutes and Rushford plays the ball wide for McArdle, who swings a cross in to the near post which Smith meets with a diving header, but he misses the target.
Good build up play by Arthurlie in 38 minutes culminates in Smith crossing to the back post, but it is just too high for McGregor.
A minute later, Cunnison lifts the ball high into the Arthurlie box. White goes to catch the ball but fumbles, and McCulloch has a chance to add to Penicuik’s lead, but puts it in the side netting.
Right on half time, Arthurlie win a very debatable free kick on the corner of the Penicuik box. Blakey hits the wall with his effort, then Green hits the rebound high over the bar.
Lie can consider themselves to be a little unfortunate to be behind at the break, but the home side have come into the game the longer it has gone on. A £30 raffle win at half time means I’m enjoying the game more than most.
Nearly calamity for Penicuik right at the start of the second half when Ross passes back to the goalkeeper, who miscontrols the ball, but manages to hammer it behind for a corner. Arthurlie force a couple more corners, but the home defence manage to deal with McCardle’s deliveries into the box.
In 50 minutes, McCallum holds the ball up in the box and lays it off for his Penicuik teammate Gay, but his shot is wide.
As Athletic try to break quickly in 52 minutes, McCulloch is brought down by Green who picks up his second yellow card and Arthurlie are down to ten men.
From the free kick, Cunnison is there again to poke home for the hosts, but this time the flag is up.
Penicuik are starting to play some nice one touch football with Jancyzk pulling the strings as they make use of the man advantage, and it is definitely their best spell, without creating too many chances.
In 60 minutes, McCallum holds the ball up for substitute Burrell, but the latter’s shot has the sting taken out of it with a deflection and it’s easy for White.
A long ball forward by Arthurlie almost caught out Penicuik in 64 minutes, as the defenders misjudged its flight in the wind, and McTernan has a chance for an equaliser, but his curling shot is wide of the post.
Three minutes later, Arthurlie go further behind. This time completely self-inflicted. Gay crosses from the right looking for the head of McCallum, but a mix-up between keeper and defender Rushford saw the latter head into his own net.
Down to ten men and two goals behind, things aren’t looking good for the Barrhead side. Penicuik, though, appear to believe the tie is over, and have begun to defend deep.
McCallum does create a chance for the home team though, with a terrific turn and cross in 73 minutes, but there are no takers.
As Penicuik sit back, Arthurlie come forward and they are rewarded for their efforts by getting a goal back in 76 minutes. After getting the break of the ball in midfield, substitute Burns cracks the ball into the bottom corner and past the reach of Bejaoui from the edge of the box to give Arthurlie some hope.
The goal seems to make the home side sit even deeper and Arthurlie look to put the pressure on.
A corner for the away side in 83 minutes falls to the feet of Rushford at the edge of the box, but his low shot drifts wide of the post.
In 84 minutes, Penicuik’s Burrell and Arthurlie’s McGregor clash. The Penicuik player is booked and it looked to me like he might have caught McGregor with a forearm smash. He was perhaps lucky to escape with a booking.
With three minutes left, Arthurlie substitute Stewart goes down on the edge of the box as though he has sustained a serious injury. It didn’t even look like a foul to me and he immediately leaps to his feet as soon as the free kick is given. This isn’t the first time and it is disappointing to say the least that this gamesmanship is even creeping into the Junior game.
Blakey takes the free kick and sees his effort crash off the bar, the rebound is hit towards goal and as the Lie players claim that the ball had gone over the line as Young clears, the linesman has his flag up for offside.
As we reach the final minute, a long ball out of defence by Penicuik sees McGregor misjudge the bounce, and as the ball starts to go over his head, and looks to have Gay clean through on goal, he sticks his hand up to stop the ball. It looked like a clear red card, but the referee just shows him a yellow. It is, however, his second, so he has to go off.
Arthurlie are reduced to 8 men in injury time when Blakey fouls Penicuik sub Patterson and Rushford throws the ball at the prone player. The referee shows him a straight red.
The final whistle goes and Penicuik are through to the quarter finals. Arthurlie could maybe have felt unfortunate to be behind at the break but they were very much the architects of their own downfall in the second half. There certainly wasn’t much between the teams, but Penicuik’s discipline won them the match.
Rafferty looks like a good player for Arthurlie, while Jancyzk looked impressive in Penicuik’s midfield.
Full Time: Penicuik Athletic 2 Arthurlie 1
Admission: £5
Penicuik Athletic: 18 Bejaoui, 2 Cunnison, 3 Ross, 4 White, 5 Young, 6 Lister (McDermott), 7 Killin (Burrell),8 McCulloch, 9 McCallum, 10 Gay, 11 Janczyk. Subs: 12 Burrell, 14 Patterson, 15 Weir, 16 McDermott, 17 Bunyan
Arthurlie: 1 White, 2 Green, 3 McGlinchey, 16 Rafferty (Burns), 5 Rushford, 6 Lyden, 7 McCardle, 8 McGregor, 9 Smith (Stewart), 10 McTernan (McPherson), 11 Blakey. Subs: 12 Stewart, 14 Burns, 15 McPherson, 4 Muir, Bannister.
Referee: Peter Stewart
Programme: £1
Saturday 14 March 2015, East End Park
A first game of the season for me in Scottish League One as Dunfermline Athletic take on Stirling Albion.
The home side are in a period of transition. They were relegated from the top division in 2007. After some well publicised financial difficulties they went into administration in April 2013. It was touch and go for a while whether or not they would survive and in October 2013, the fan group “Pars United” assumed control of the club. It’s my first trip to the ground since those trying periods of 2013 when I leant my (getting increasingly significant) weight to the cause.
The Pars are on a much more even financial keel now, but find themselves in League One. It’s hard to take for the younger fans after the comparative success of the 2000s, when they reached three cup finals as well as being treated to top flight football. The older fans who remember the clubs most successful period in the 60s may feel the same way.
It’s been quite a bit longer since fans of the Binos have been in the top flight, but they also had a degree of success in the 2000s, winning the Scottish third tier, as well as being runners up and play-off winners in the same league. They were also runners-up in the fourth tier in this period. Throughout their history it always does seem to be a case of what goes up must come down. The differences have just been what two leagues it has been between.
The up and down nature is exemplified by a couple of events in the 80s. A few years in the 2nd tier ended in 1981 when the team failed to score a league goal for 8 months. Three years later, they made headlines everywhere after beating Selkirk by 20 goals to nil in the Scottish Cup. If you like rollercoasters that don’t quite go all the way to the top, but are full of peaks and troughs, this is the club for you.
Albion sit at the foot of the table and are looking like they are doomed to another relegation while Dunfermline are sixth and chasing one of the playoff places. The visitors have won two league games all season and have lost seven in a row. The Pars have won one game out of the last five.
So far this season, Dunfermline have beaten Stirling twice with one draw. Albion haven’t won at East End Park since 1993.
Graham Weir, yet to play in 2015, is in the Stirling squad. Doris, Darren Lee Smith and Hearts loanee Angus Beith are all missing through injury. With Wedderburn leaving the club during the week, Forsyth also unavailable, and Andy Stirling on loan from the Pars unable to play against his parent club, Albion have three under 20s on their bench.
The Pars go with the same starting eleven that won against Ayr United the previous Saturday. Buchanan, Falkingham and Whittle return to the bench this week with Williamson, O’Kane and Thomson dropping out.
There are 2,138 in attendance which is pretty impressive given the respective seasons of both sides.
There are lots of misplaced passes in the first few minutes and it’s easy to see why both teams have struggled this year.
With 4 minutes gone, Johnstone swings a cross into the Dunfermline box which lands at the feet of Coult. He scuffs his shot across goal and Spence turns it behind for a corner. Comrie’s corner is almost met by Coult.
Coult is very tall, but Urquhart, Martin and McAusland in the home defence certainly won’t be singing “Hi-ho” as they go to work either.
Good play by Moffat out wide for the Pars in 7 minutes releases Hopkirk running into the box, but his ball across goal is blocked.
Robertson tries his luck from outside the box for Albion in 12 minutes and Scully can only parry the ball, but as a forward looks to take control of the rebound, the flag goes up.
Hopkirk shows some great skill on the halfway line for Dunfermline in 15 minutes, but his advances come to nothing.
In 17 minutes, Comrie plays a free kick into the box which is headed towards the Athletic goal by Coult from close range. Scully manages to save and the rebound hits Cummins but trickles wide. The home defence was nowhere to be seen.
George is down injured for Athletic in 20 minutes after he miscontrols the ball and has it taken away from him by a robust challenge from McKinlay.
A ball into the box by Stirling in 23 minutes is cleverly headed down by Coult to the edge of the box where Gordon Smith is waiting, but he miscues his shot and it goes wide.
In the next minute, a quick break by the hosts sees Spence charging forward. He lays it off to Hopkirk who tries to give him it back, but the ball is intercepted. There seems to be a lack of confidence in having a shot.
In 32 minutes, an Albion free kick from Cunningham finds the head of Cummins, but it goes just wide of the post.
Scully in the home goal seems to be having a lot of problems with his kicking, which is very poor.
Dunfermline have their best chance so far when Geggan picks out Moffat in the box, but his effort is off target and clips the bar on the way over.
The Pars bring on Falkingham for George in 34 minutes, after he fails to recover completely from the injury he picked up. Although George is diminutive, Falkingham can barely be seen with the naked eye.
In 42 minutes, McGeachie misplaces a pass back which goes for a fruitless corner. This has been the biggest cheer of the first half.
Right on half time, Hopkirk has a good run and cross into the Albion box, but Robertson produces an excellent clearing header.
Hopefully some football breaks out in the second half. There hasn’t been too much to entertain the crowd so far.
Half time sees us treated to a woman at the pie stand telling us that there are “none pasties”.
Dunfermline start the second half with some good ball retention which ends with Hopkirk cutting inside and skewing a shot wide of the post in 47 minutes.
There’s a sign of how the game has been in 49 minutes when McAusland attempts to clear from the edge of the home box and the ball goes straight up in the air and pretty much back to him where he stood. Sigh.
In the 55th minute, Millen sees his free kick spectacularly turned over by Reidford in the Stirling goal. It was a decent save, but looked like one for the cameras.
A Stirling corner in 59 minutes almost sees Chris Smith’s header almost sneak in, but sheer weight of numbers manages to keep it out.
A lovely lay off by Albion’s Coult to Cunningham out wide in 70 minutes sees the latter win a corner off McAusland. From the corner, Coult rises for a free header which crashes off the crossbar and may have gone over the line, but former Hearts striker Gordon Smith is there to poke it over the line and give the Binos the lead.
Dunfermline respond by bringing on Whittle and with 76 minutes on the watch, he swings a ball to the back post where Geggan heads into the bottom corner for an equaliser.
The Pars are finally showing some urgency in looking for a winner and Moffat finds Hopkirk out wide in 79 minutes. He curls an effort towards goal but is just too high as the ball hits the top of the net.
With 5 minutes left, a long cross into the box is headed back by Geggan into the path of Barrowman, but the Athletic substitute volleys high and wide.
In 89 minutes, a Hopkirk cross is met by Barrowman’s glancing header, but Reidford pulls off a great save in the Stirling goal.
Dunfermline are piling the pressure on now in search of a winner, with both players and fans becoming increasingly desperate.
A long ball into the Stirling box is headed down by Barrowman, but is hit well wide by Moffat.
As we reach injury time, there’s one last chance for the Pars. The ball drops on the edge of the box and Geggan hammers the ball goalwards, but it’s well over.
A fair result really, but of little use to either team. Albion halt their run of seven straight defeats, while the Pars are looking like the play offs are a distance too far.
Robertson impressed me for Stirling. He seemed to have more time on the ball than anyone else and seemed very comfortable on the ball. Geggan did a good job in the middle of the park for Dunfermline.
Full Time: Dunfermline Athletic 1 Stirling Albion 1
Admission: £15
Dunfermline Athletic: 1 Scully,2 Millen, 3 Urquhart, 4 Martin, 5 McAusland, 6 Spence (Whittle 71), 7 George (Falkingham 34), 8 Geggan, 9 Allan (Barrowman 65), 10 Moffat, 11 Hopkirk. Subs: 20 Goodfellow 12 Buchanan, 14 Barrowman, 15 Falkingham, 16 Byrne, 17 Whittle, 18 El Bakhtaoui.
Stirling Albion: 1 Reidford, 2 McGeachie, 3 McKinlay, 4 Robertson, 5 Cummins, 6 C Smith, 7 Johnston, 8 Comrie, 9 Coult (Shepherd 80), 10 G Smith (Hamilton 76), 11 Cunningham. Subs: 17 Paterson, 12 Hamilton, 14 Shepherd, 15 Paton, 16 Weir, 18 Herron, 19 Davidson.
Referee: George Salmond
Programme: £3
Wandywatson Football 