Dunfermline Athletic

Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 30th Nov 2013

Ross Millen in for Ryan Williamson; Andy Geggan (13) 0-1; Michael Donald (58) 1-1;

Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 1

MATCH PICTURES
The Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup did not pair Dunfermline with fresh opponents, rather it was the side sitting just below them in League One.  The first game between the sides ended up with an impressive 5-1 win after Michael Moffatt had put the Somerset Park side into an early lead.

For the cup tie Jim Jefferies was able to bring back Ross Millen and Ryan Williamson dropped back on to the bench.  Stephen Husband was injured so Chris Kane found himself on the bench. Ayr United manager Mark Roberts brought in Brian Gilmour for Kyle McAusland.

After a minutes silence respecting the victims of the horrific helicopter accident in Glasgow the previous night, the tie got underway with Dunfermline in turquoise attacking the goal at the home end. First shot in fourth minute came from Millen on the end of a Ryan Wallace lay off but from 28 yards he sent the ball wildly over the bar.

Ryan Wallace v Ayr United

The visitors forced the first corner of the day but Millen`s delivery from the left was easily cleared. Then in seven minutes Ayr got their first opportunity. Kevin Kyle controlled the ball and drilled a powerful shot from 25 yards that Scully parried out. Wallace squeezed in a shot at the other end but Alan Lithgow blocked that. 

In 12 minutes the ball was cleared off the Pars line twice. It was Michael Donald who started the move in his own half and when the ball was swung over to Adam Hunter on the right a shot came in that was defended only as far as Anthony Marenghi and his effort from the edge of the box was cleared by Morris.

Celebrating Andy Geggan goal v Ayr United

The corner was defended but obviously all this woke the Fifers up because when Millen crossed the next time from the right, Andy GEGGAN got the deft touch eight yards out to send the ball into the left side of the net. His sixth of the season made it 1-0 to the Pars.

There was then a fright for the home side when their keeper took a swish at a pass back but Ryan Thomson failed to capitalise on the chance.  At the midpoint of the first half Kyle broke through again and Scully`s save saw the ball squirm under him and travel just wide of the right upright. From the resultant corner Lithgow headed narrowly wide.

Kevin Kyle is denied by Ryan Scully

Dunfermline won a corner in 26 minutes when Thomson`s header on a Wallace cross was deflected behind. Three minutes later Gilmour played Robbie Crawford into the Pars box but Scully saved although he took out Alex Whittle in the process.  The Pars had eased up a bit until there was a good shot from Shaun Byrne. His left footed effort from 28 yards out was just inches over the top.

Byrne continued to cause Ayr problems, Scott McLaughlin bringing him down to award the Pars a free kick and then very quickly after that Byrne supplying the touch that almost got Thomson in on goal. Scully then held a Marenghi free kick from 30 yards and in 42 minutes Moffat got much closer beating Scully but sending the ball trundling wide right of target.

Ryan Scully saves another

There was an uncomfortable end to the first half for the Pars defence with Scully again being severely tested. In the circumstances the half time whistle was very welcome. Everyone had been wary of Ayr`s top goalscorer Moffatt but it had been a first 45 minutes where Kevin Kyle had proved himself to be a considerable handful for the visitors` defence.

Half Time: Ayr United 0 Dunfermline 1

Ayr United v Dunfermline

Ryan Thomson drove an early effort narrowly wide of the right goalpost and pressure was maintained with the first corner of the second half. Allan Smith was off target with a shot from 25 yards and Whittle sent over a good ball from the left but Ayr survived.

In 56 minutes Josh Falkingham escaped around the two defenders drawn out to him at the right corner flag but his fine cutback to Wallace was despatched out of the ground!  Ayr could have been two behind but they then scored an equaliser. A long ball from the left successfully sought out the head of Kevin Kyle and it was DONALD who accepted the nod down to power his shot in from 18 yards past Scully. 1-1

Michael Donald strikes

The match got tougher with Morris getting away with stopping a Marenghi break in the centre cirlce and then the same player covering back to challenge Geggan and concede a corner. Morris got in a shot as the ball got jammed in the Ayr box and next Byrne punctuated his driving run with a fine effort that was just wide left.

Falkingham also crashed in two attempts from outside the box but still the Pars couldn`t find the net.  Play did flow from end to end and Morris did really well to cover back and snuff out Moffatt on 74 minutes. Geggan swept the ball from left to right where Millen sent Falkingham powering into the box but his final ball was booted clear.

In 78 minutes Craig Dargo who had replaced Allan Smith slipped the ball through for Falkingham to break. Josh played a one two off Thomson before laying the chance off for Wallace but again his shooting sights were set too high.  A fantastic move with a deeply disappointing finish.

Shaun Byrne bursts on to another opportunity

Byrne fed Whittle another great chance with six minutes remaining but from closer in he too sent the ball out of the ground. Dunfermline pushed to try for the winner with Wallace working hard in search of an opening. Byrne looked as though he might have found it but he tried to beat too many challenges and the winning chance was gone. Ayr replied as the clock ran down but their efforts were weak when they got in front of goal.

In the end it will take a replay to see which of these clubs go through and that will be at East End Park on Wednesday 4th December.

1-1 Full Time

MATCH PICTURES

NEXT MATCH: Scottish Cup (home) v Ayr United
Wednesday 4th December 2013, kick off 7.45pm

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BREAKDOWN RECOVERY

William Hill Scottish Cup

AYR UNITED: David Hutton; Adam Hunter, Alan Lithgow, Scott McLaughlin (c), Gordon Pope; Anthony Marenghi, Robbie Crawford (Alan Forrest 64), Brian Gilmour, Michael Donald; Kevin Kyle, Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Willie Muir (GK), Craig Malcolm, Craig McCracken, Michael McGowan
SCORERS: Donald (58)
YELLOW CARD: Kyle (41)

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully, Ross Millen, Kerr Young, Callum Morris, Alex Whittle; Shaun Byrne, Andy Geggan, Josh Falkingham (c), Allan Smith (Craig Dargo 71), Ryan Thomson, Ryan Wallace.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Ryan Ferguson, Jordan Moore, Ryan Williamson, Chris Kane, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).
SCORERS: Geggan (13)
YELLOW CARD: Wallace (41)

REFEREE: Stephen Finnie
WEATHER: Fine 7C
ATTENDANCE 1391

NEXT MATCH: Scottish Cup Replay (home) v Ayr United
Wednesday 4th December 2013, kick off 7.45pm

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