Dunfermline Athletic

23-12-1
1st in Scottish League One

Dundee United fight back to beat Dunfermline and keep alive Premiership dream

Sam Stanton scored the winner as Dundee United came from behind to secure a 2-1 Ladbrokes Premiership play-off victory over Dunfermline.United's promotion hopes were hanging by a thread at half-time after Declan McManus and Nicky Clark failed to convert great chances to add to the former's opening goal of the tie.But United came to life after Scott McDonald's 57th-minute equaliser and Stanton waltzed through the visiting defence to book a place in the semi-finals against Livingston.The visitors had more verve about them from the start, even off the pitch, where their fans were making more noise than a strangely subdued home support in the 7,994 crowd.Dunfermline were rewarded for their positivity in the 14th minute when Fraser Aird turned Anthony Ralston and fired the ball towards the near post where McManus knocked home from a yard out.Ralston was better going forward moments later but McDonald turned the ball just wide from a similar move.United survived a series of balls into their box as the visitors consistently got round the outside of the home defence and the hosts had a massive let-off with 10 minutes left of the half when McManus failed to beat Deniz Mehmet after being played clean through.United had another escape in the final second of the half when Clark headed Aird's cross against the bar from six yards, the striker congratulating Mehmet for getting a touch.Mehmet saved from McManus in the opening moment of the second half and United continued to offer little until forcing a 57th-minute corner. Lee Robinson looked set to catch Thomas Mikkelsen's header following a Billy King delivery but McDonald got a foot to the ball to force it home from underneath the goalkeeper's eyes.The equaliser came at a cost as Mehmet had to be replaced by Harry Lewis after injuring himself while celebrating.The substitute introduced himself with an excellent save from a McManus header as the game opened up and the 20-year-old Southampton loan player made another couple of saves in quick succession.The home team and fans had been lifted by their goal though and they cut the Pars open with a sharp passing move that culminated in Stanton bursting past several players and poking the ball underneath Robinson in the 70th minute.United defended their lead without major concern and now host Livingston on Monday.

5Y
PA Sport

Ten-man Dunfermline hold on for draw against Dundee United

Ten-man Dunfermline held on to frustrate Dundee United in a goalless draw in the first Scottish Premiership play-off.Neither side was able to gain an upper-hand on a night when the goalkeepers reigned supreme at East End Park.After being forced onto the back foot for much of the game, the visitors dominated the last half hour after Lee Ashcroft was shown a straight red card, but United were unable to make their man advantage count ahead of the second leg on Friday.Deniz Mehmet and Lee Robinson pulled off several stunning saves between them to frustrate the forwards, while Dunfermline also hit the bar in the first-half.It was an open start between two in-form teams, but it was hosts Dunfermline who were on the front foot in the early stages but struggled to make an impression in the final third.The only real chance of a turgid first period came when Declan McManus - an early substitute after injury to Andy Ryan - looped a header against the bar after another fine ball from Fraser Aird, but the Tangerines escaped and made it to the half-time break still level in what was a scrappy half of football.The hosts continued on the front foot after the break and should have taken the lead when Clark failed to connect properly with a free header from six yards out, heading straight at the keeper when he really should have scored.The lively Aird looked to have finally broken the deadlock after 54 minutes but after cutting in and curling towards the far corner, he saw his dipping effort brilliantly tipped over Mehmet.The turning point in the game came moments later as Ashcroft was given his marching orders for bringing down Scott McDonald when the forward was through on goal, and from there, the Tangerines gained the upper-hand and would have been ahead but for a sublime save from Robinson.Scott Fraser had fired wide minutes before a well-worked move down the right saw the ball come out to McDonald, and he thought he had opened the scoring only for the goalkeeper to pull off a spectacular save low to his right.Not to be outdone, Mehmet was called back into action as Clark glanced a header from close-range that again looked to be heading towards the back of the net only for the keeper to once again claw it out.Bilel Mohsni headed over before seeing a volley saved and Anthony Ralston had an effort cleared off the line as the Pars held on to take the tie into Friday's fixtures at 0-0.

5Y
PA Sport

Nicky Clark hat-trick leads Dunfermline to victory over Brechin

Nicky Clark scored a hat-trick as Dunfermline moved to within one point of the Scottish Championship play-off places with a 3-0 win at bottom side Brechin.Clark opened the scoring after eight minutes and grabbed a second just a minute later.The first was a fine finish into the far corner of the goal and he doubled the Pars' advantage when he then curled in his second shortly after.Clark completed his hat-trick after 54 minutes when he ran on to a ball over the top of the home defence and finished low across the keeper.

5Y
PA Sport

Dunfermline settle for draw against Livingston

Dunfermline failed to break down 10-man Livingston and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.Dunfermline forward Declan McManus dragged an early effort wide while, at the other end, Nicky Cadden curled a shot straight at Lee Robinson from 25 yards.Pars striker Nicky Clark tried his luck after 18 minutes but was off target and McManus saw a close-range shot saved by Neil Alexander at the start of the second half.Livingston midfielder Jordan Thompson, on loan from Rangers, was then sent off in the 69th minute for a foul on Andy Ryan.James Craigen tested Alexander in the closing stages but Dunfermline still moved into the Ladbrokes Championship play-off places despite failing to find a winner against second-placed Livi.

5Y
PA Sport

St Mirren go 11 points clear in Championship after edging out Dunfermline

St Mirren stretched their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship to 11 points following a hard-fought 2-1 win at third-placed Dunfermline.Cammy Smith opened the scoring for the Buddies after 13 minutes when he found the bottom corner for his 11th goal of the season following brilliant build-up play by Lewis Morgan.Former Rangers midfielder Nicky Clark levelled for Dunfermline four minutes after the restart with a close-range header after Jean Yves Mvoto knocked down Michael Paton's long free-kick.However, centre-back Jack Baird won the match for St Mirren with a powerful header from Kyle Magennis' far-post cross after 64 minutes and extended their unbeaten league streak to eight games.

5Y
PA Sport

Dunfermline ease to derby victory

Goals in each half from Nicky Clark and Declan McManus eased Dunfermline to a 2-0 Ladbrokes Championship victory over Falkirk.Clark's 16th-minute strike was fumbled over the line by Robbie Mutch and debutant Lee Robinson made a good stop from Louis Longridge to preserve the hosts' lead just before the break.McManus fired home within five minutes of the restart after good skill from Joe Cardle, who later hit a post as Dunfermline enjoyed a derby triumph in front of 7,140 fans at East End Park.Falkirk had three new signings in their team - former Partick Thistle midfielder Sean Welsh, Tommy Robson, who signed from Sunderland on a six-month deal and Andrew Nelson, on loan from the Black Cats - but drew a blank for the sixth time in seven matches after Reghan Tumilty hit the woodwork late on.

5Y
PA Sport

Dunfermline Athletic

SOCCER

Rangers strike six times in a runaway win against Dunfermline

Rangers roared into the Betfred Cup quarterfinals with thumping 6-0 win over Dunfermline at Ibrox.

6Y
PA Sport

Dundee United up to third after Thomas Mikkelsen's winner

Thomas Mikkelsen's first-half goal lifted Dundee United to a 1-0 victory over Dunfermline and into third place in the Scottish Championship.Simon Murray had the first real opportunity, sending his shot into the side netting, but he was the provider as the Tangerines went ahead on the half hour, sending in a low ball from the right that Mikkelsen put away from close range.Murray had an excellent opportunity to swell the home side's lead just before half-time when the ball dropped to him off a deflection but he could only find Sean Murdoch's hands.Tony Andreu lashed against the post from distance as United pressed for a second after the interval while Blair Spittal shrugged off a couple of challenges and forced a fine diving save from Murdoch, who did well to deny substitute Nick van der Velden in added time.

6Y
PA Sport

Dunfermline inflict first home league defeat on Morton in 12 months

Dunfermline ended Morton's long unbeaten home run in the Ladbrokes Championship with a 1-0 success. The only goal came in the 16th minute when Kallum Higginbotham's corner caused problems for home keeper Derek Gaston, Nicky Clark stabbed the ball across goal and Nat Wedderburn provided the finish.Visiting keeper Sean Murdoch kept out namesake Andy's half-volley and denied Mark Russell one on one, before saving again from Gary Oliver after a well-worked free-kick.Paul McMullan wasted a good Dunfermline chance and Callum Morris had a goal disallowed for a foul on Thomas O'Ware, while Gaston brilliantly thwarted Michael Moffat.That almost allowed Ross Forbes to sneak a late equaliser but his inswinging free-kick went just wide and Morton tasted defeat at Cappielow Park, almost a year to the day after their last such result against Raith Rovers.

6Y
PA Sport

Dunfermline Athletic

SOCCER

Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 1

Dunfermline and Queen of the South both missed a chance to make up significant ground on the Ladbrokes Championship play-off places as the teams played out a 1-1 draw at East End Park.Michael Moffat put the home side ahead with a left-footed effort after 17 minutes, but the lead lasted only 11 minutes before Joe Thomson equalised.Queen of the South came close to going in ahead at the break, but Sean Murdoch saved well from Stephen Dobbie shortly before the interval.Nicky Clark hit a post for the Pars in the second half and substitute Joe Cardle went close, but neither side could find a winner.The result leaves Queen of the South seven points adrift of fourth-placed Morton, with Dunfermline another four points further back in sixth.

6Y
PA Sport

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Team	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Dunfermline Athletic	36	23	12	1	+42	81
Falkirk	36	19	10	7	+31	67
Airdrieonians	36	17	9	10	+31	60
Alloa Athletic	36	17	6	13	+9	57
Queen of the South	36	16	6	14	0	54
Edinburgh City	36	15	6	15	+5	51
Montrose	36	13	9	14	-5	48
Kelty Hearts	36	10	10	16	-15	40
Clyde	36	5	9	22	-33	24
Peterhead	36	3	7	26	-65	16

Craig WightonF #9

Matthew ToddM #26

Nikolay TodorovF #10

Goal Difference

42

1st

Goals Scored

63

3rd

Assists

43

3rd

Goals Conceded

21

1st