Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0
Saturday, 20th Aug 2022cinch League One: same again starting eleven
The first ever competitive match against Kelty Hearts was the Pars fourth league match of the season and it was a case of top of the table versus bottom. Form is said to go through the window when local derbies come along so there could be hope for John Potter’s Kelty.
For just the second time this season James McPake named an unchanged starting eleven with new signing Sam Fisher on the bench where Andrew Tod also returned.
The home side showed four changes from the side that started against Clyde the previous Saturday - Ross Philp, Robbie McNab, Alfredo Agyeman and Kyle Doherty making room for Kallum Higginbotham, Steven Bell, Scott McGill and Darren Lyon. Higginbotham and Bell were joined by two other former Pars - Joe Cardle and Lewis Martin - in a Kelty side that contained five players over the age of 30.
There was a great following of Pars fans filling the north end of the ground to greet the team on to the pitch. It was Dunfermline who kicked off this new Fife derby attacking the goal at the Bath Street end.
It was the eighth minute before either keeper had anything to save. The first effort came after Kelty captain Michael Tidser picked out Cardle inside the box on the left side but Deniz Mehmet dropped to his left to hold the low on-target shot. Dunfermline’s first danger came from a Joe Chalmers free kick four minutes later but in his attempt to get on to the cross Kyle Benedictus actually headed the ball away from goal.
Matty Todd pushed play forward and Kevin O’Hara delivered a useful cross from the left but it was Kelty that created the next good chance with McGill latching on to a long ball from Bell. The striker’s 18th minute shot was blocked and then Cardle returned the ball only for it to be stolen away from McGill by Breen.
The first real hope for the away fans came midway into the first half from a corner won by Craig Wighton on the right. When Chalmers crossed Breen met the ball with a forceful header but still not enough to beat the former Arbroath keeper, Darren Jamieson.
In 26 minutes Josh Edwards got away from Lyon and drove the ball into the Kelty box but again held by Jamieson after a deflection off Bell. Play quickly switched to the away end and Lyon got deep into the left side of the Dunfermline box and despite the efforts of Chalmers did get in a shot that Breen stopped before it could reach his keeper.
Edwards came up with a great 37th minute cross that bounced through the six yard box with no takers. Then next minute a high ball into the Kelty box dropped for Todd but he did not make a good connection and ball went wide left. Jordan Forster collected a yellow card for a foul on Chalmers but when the Pars no.8 took the setplay the defence headed clear. Matty Todd was next to see yellow for his challenge on Cammy Logan but the Kelty free kick was equally ineffective.
The sides would go in at the interval all square. There had only been three shots on target and one corner. Dunfermline had edged it on possession with 58% but it is goals that matter.
Half time: Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0
The second half was only 30 seconds old when a Wighton pass found Lewis McCann on the left side of the Kelty box and he came very close with an attempt that rose all the way as it cleared the bar near the left goalpost. Next O’Hara dispossessed Logan on the left and Chalmers got in a cross that went behind for just the second corner of the match.
That changed nothing but James McPake decided to make changes just five minutes into the second half. Kyle Macdonald, Nikolay Todorov and Chris Mochrie replaced Joe Chalmers, Craig Wighton and Lewis McCann.
The home fans enjoyed their team’s possession around the hour mark that ended with a Lyon shot wide left. Buoyed by the introduction of Alfredo Agyeman as a sub for Joe Cardle, the Ghana born Italian made Mehmet save his 62nd minute shot.
Dunfermline responded with a dangerous Macdonald cross but the Kelty defence stood firm. An O’Hara cross from the right was defended out but the ball sat up for Chris Hamilton who smashed a drive from 18 yards narrowly over the top.
Next Todd produced a cracking shot from 25 yards out that Jamieson did well to keep out and as the ball broke Macdonald centred. Todorov did really well to direct his headed at the back post on target but Jamieson matched that with his good hands.
Kelty won their first corner in 73 minutes but when Higginbotham delivered from the left Forster was blown up for climb to get to the cross. Macdonald created another opportunity to get in a dangerous ball into the Kelty box. Forster’s header fell to Todd on the left but his strike went wide right.
In 78 minutes a clever Mochrie delivery in from the left was met by Breen but his effort was held by Jamieson. Next the keeper did tremendously well to fist away yet another Macdonald cross. Play stopped for a clash of heads between Breen and Barjonas and Robbie McNab came on as an 85th minute sub.
From a long Edwards throw in Macdonald directed an added time header wide. Macdonald nearly got to another chance right in front of goal but again the defence held out. Todorov had a third minute of added time deflected over the bar and a shot from another Macdonald delivery but sent his effort wide right.
It would end goalless, Pars stay joint top on 10 points though on goal difference Airdrieonians are plus 8 and Dunfermline +5. Kelty Hearts picked up their first league point of the season.
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas O’Ware, Dougie Hill, Brodie Strang, Kyle Docherty, Finn Robson, Liam Campbell (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Forster (39)
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton: Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Chris Mochrie 50): Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 50), Craig Wighton (Kyle Macdonald 50)
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Todd (42)
REFEREE: Graham Grainger
WEATHER: Sunny 17°C
ATTENDANCE 2161
NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (home) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 27th August 2022, kick off 3.00pm at the KDM Group East End Park
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Match Photos To Follow.
Preview Kelty Hearts
Saturday, 20th Aug 2022cinch League One: (away) v Kelty Hearts Saturday 20th August 2022, kick off 3.00pm at New Central Park
Having met several times in friendlies, on Saturday at New Central Park, Dunfermline Athletic will meet Kelty Hearts in a competitive match for the first time.
The new Fife derby comes about after Kelty Hearts remarkable rise through the pyramid system. The club has progressed from junior football, the East Superleague, a play off to enter the Lowland league, a play off as Lowland league champions against Brechin City and promotion from Scottish League Two as champions in their first season in the SPFL.
There are many at Kelty who are well known to those who have followed Dunfermline in recent years. Their manager is former Pars player, coach and manager, John Potter and Andy Barrowman is Sporting Director. The playing squad contains players who have played for Dunfermline - Joe Cardle, Kallum Higginbotham, Lewis Martin and Steven Bell.
Last Six Matches
Dunfermline are unbeaten in this league season and have won four of their last six matches. Kelty have failed to take any points from their opening three league games and have not scored a goal at home this season.
DUNFERMLINE
Montrose (H) W 1-0
FC Edinburgh (A) W 3-0
Alloa Athletic (H) W 1-0
Alloa Athletic (H) D 1-1
Ross County (A) L 0-1
Buckie Thistle (H) W 5-0
KELTY HEARTS
Clyde (A) L 0-3
Alloa Athletic (A) L 1-3
FC Edinburgh (H) L 0-2
Livingston (A) L 0-2
Cove Rangers (A) W 3-2
Albion Rovers (H) L 0-2
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 9
Goal Difference: +5
League Record: P3 W3 D0 L0 GF5 GA0
Last Six Match Form: WLDWWW
KELTY HEARTS
League Position: 10th
League Points: 0
Goal Difference: -7
League Record: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF1 GA8
Last Six Match Form: LWLLLL
Above: passion overflows at Kelty Hearts Tournament 16/07/16
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Montrose): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton: Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Kyle Macdonald 68): Kevin O’Hara (Nikolay Todorov 72), Lewis McCann, Craig Wighton (Chris Mochrie 58).
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Young, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK)
Kelty Hearts (v Clyde): Darren Jamieson, Cammy Logan, Jordan Forster, Lewis Martin, Ross Philp: Robbie McNab (Scott McGill 55), Michael Tidser, Jamie Barjonas, Alfredo Agyeman (Darren Lyon 71), Kyle Doherty (Nathan Austin 55), Joe Cardle
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Reilly, Dougie Hill, Brodie Strang, Scott Cameron, Finn Robson, Liam Campbell (GK).
Referee will be Graham Grainger.
Other League One Fixtures
Airdrieonians v Alloa Athletic
FC Edinburgh v Falkirk
Montrose v Clyde
Peterhead v Queen of the South
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