Preview Annan Athletic

Pars welcome Jim Chapman's Galabank team to East End Park for the first time ever.

Dunfermline Athletic were be the first SPL club to play Annan Athletic when the sides last met in the League Cup back in July 2011. That match played at Galabank was won by the Fifers after Andy Barrowman's opening goal was cancelled out by a David Cox equaliser and then Andy Kirk's goal six minutes into the second half proved to be enough to knock out Annan 2-1. That has been the sole competitive match between the teams and this Saturday's League Cup tie will be the League Two side's first visit to East End Park.

Annan Athletic Football Club was formed in 1942. In 1953 the club moved to its present location at Galabank Annan. They had a spell in the Carlisle and District League that lasted until the end of season 1976-77.

The committee then decided that the clubs best interests were to be achieved in Scotland rather than England and in season 1977-78 Annan Athletic were successful in gaining membership to the Southern Counties Football Association and South of Scotland League.

Two unsuccessful attempts were made to join the East of Scotland League before Annan were eventually admitted into the league in season 1987-88. Annan however mindful of their commitments to the South of Scotland League, still maintain a reserve team in the South of Scotland League.

Annan’s first season in the East of Scotland League coincided with a restructuring of the league into a premier and first division. Annan won the first diision title in their first year to gain promotion to the premier league. Season 1999-2000 saw Annan lift the East Premier League title for the second time.

Chris Jardine was the proud skipper who led out Annan at Clyde's Broadwood on 26 July 2008 as the team took the field to play in the First Round of the Alba Challenge Cup. Annan lined up Craig Summersgill, Gary Brown, Alan Inglis, Kevin Neilson, Derek Townsley, Chris Jardine (c), Ian Grainger, Mike Jack, Stephen Archibald, Stuart Hill, Lee Hoolickin. Ryan Adamson, Peter Watson and Steven Sloan were used as second half subs, unused subs were Dougie Calder (GK) and Darren Johnstone.

Annan's first league game was one week later at Cowdenbeath's Central Park and at the end of season 2008-09 they finished 7th but only six points behind Stenhousemuir in a play off place. The next season they were eighth but in 2010-11 season they finished fourth and lost out to Albion Rovers in the play off final. For the next two season sixth and eighth were the best they could do but then last season Annan finished runners up to Peterhead but lost their play off semi finals against Stirling Albion.

The Pars have only played three pre season friendlies and then had their opening Petrofac Training Cup postponed last Saturday. In contrast Annan were in competition at Tynecastle, losing out to three first half goals with sub Scott Davidson scoring a consolation four minutes from time. The Solway side had eight pre season matches in the run up to that game but had won only one - against Gretna 2008 FC in the Raydale Cup on 12th July.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Raith Rovers): Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Gregor Buchanan, Lewis Martin, Ross Drummond; Shaun Byrne, Andy Geggan (c), Josh Falkingham, Lewis Spence; Allan Smith, Michael Moffat.
SUBS: Ryan Goodfellow, Ryan Wallace, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Jonathan Page, Ryan Thomson, Ross Forbes, Ryan Williamson.  

ANNAN ATHLETIC (v Hearts):  Alex Mitchell,  Ryan McStay,  Martin McNiff,  Steven Swinglehurst,  Peter Watson,  Steven Black,  David Hopkirk,  Ian Chisholm,  Derek Carcary (Steven Sloan, 66),  Josh Todd (Scott Davidson, 83),  Matthew Flynn (Steven Logan, 55),  
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Murray, Peter Bradley, Kieran Brannan, Zak Caldwell.

Ryan Thomson and John Potter played the last time Dunfermline played Annan and in their side Peter Watson is the sole survivor from that day in July 2011 but he is suspended for this League cup tie. Alex Whittle will be available this week since his suspension is for the Scottish Challenge Cup, (now Petrofac Training Cup).

Referee will be John McKendrick