Pars boss James McPake on Deniz Mehmet and Ayr draw

IN the immediate aftermath of a six-goal draw that concluded Athletic's season at Ayr United, the football itself was little more than an afterthought.

Uppermost in everybody's mind was the wellbeing of Pars goalkeeper, Deniz Mehmet, who was taken off on a stretcher late-on, and into a waiting ambulance, after he received medical assistance during a lengthy stoppage in play.

Manager, James McPake, said that his star had been feeling dizzy, perhaps due to having taken a head knock when punching a ball during the first half, but was more alert after the final whistle had gone.

For everyone inside Somerset Park - who gave Mehmet a huge round of applause when he left the field - it was a deeply concerning incident.

Thankfully, Mehmet was released from hospital that evening after the game to be able to recuperate at home, after which he gave thanks to Dunfermline's physios and Ayr's medical teams, match referee, Willie Collum, and those offering their well-wishes.

READ MORE: Pars keeper Deniz Mehmet is grateful for support and praises medical teams

"It isn't nice and it's not nice for either team, when you see one of the players like that, or the fans," McPake said post-match.

"It's just a bit of a low moment really in the game, and just all of our thoughts are with Deniz.

"I think even the result now and the performance just goes away. All we're caring about at the minute is big Den."

James McPake's main thoughts after the game were for his goalkeeper, Deniz Mehmet. (Image: Craig Brown.)

It almost felt churlish to discuss the football match that had taken place at time-up, but the end result did see the spoils shared in what had been an entertaining final day contest.

Both teams went into it safe from the fear of being dragged down to second bottom and a relegation play-off - a spot filled by Inverness Caledonian Thistle - and out of contention to finish in the promotion play-off places.

Victory for either team, if Greenock Morton lost, as they did at Inverness, would open up the chance of a fifth-placed finish, and both had it in their grasp throughout the game.

Scott Brown's side took the lead in the 21st minute when Mark McKenzie raced on to a pass in behind Dunfermline's defence and rounded Mehmet, who came off his line to try and gather, before passing into the net.

McPake's side, which had shown five changes from the previous week, responded and were unlucky not to be level shortly afterwards.

Josh Edwards, who has been linked with several clubs south of the border, gathered Sam Fisher's cross-field pass well and raced forward, twisting into the box before sending the ball towards the far post.

Blackpool loanee, Brad Holmes, touched it into the net but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, denying the 21-year-old his first Pars goal on an unlucky 13th appearance.

Brad Holmes was denied a first Pars goal by an offside flag. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"For me it was a really tight call when Brad slides in," McPake said.

"I can’t for the life of me work out how he can be offside when he is coming from behind, but, look, I will need to watch it back."

There was no denying another of Dunfermline's recruits borrowed from elsewhere, Chris Kane, when he levelled matters 10 minutes before half-time.

The St Johnstone forward, whose contract in Perth is up in the summer, used all his experience to sense an opportunity when Frankie Musonda attempted to find his team-mate, Sean McGinty, with a back pass.

However, he played it between McGinty and his keeper, Josh Clarke, and the ever-alert Kane latched on to it and coolly finished first time from just inside the penalty area.

Chris Kane scores the first of his brace to level the game. (Image: Craig Brown.)

That sparked a fine turnaround from the visitors, who netted twice more before the half was out.

Kane added his second of the game, and his fifth in Pars colours, when he delicately headed home Owen Moffat's cross, before Edwards took his tally for the season to four when his first-time strike found the net after corner was cleared into his path 12 yards out.

Josh Edwards celebrates after scoring Dunfermline's third goal. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Dunfermline were suddenly in control but Ayr, to their credit, tried to find a way back into the contest, with Logan Chalmers' stunning drive that crashed off the underside of the bar the pick of their attempts.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler, on during the first half for the injured Michael O'Halloran, found the net with a lovely strike, only for the Pars to again be denied by an offside flag, and the Honest Men took advantage by netting twice in five minutes to level.

Lucas McRoberts, on moments earlier as a substitute, netted from Scott Tomlinson's centre from close range, before Anton Dowds took a touch from Francis Amartey's pass into the area to slot beyond Mehmet.

The Pars, for whom Miles Welch-Hayes headed narrowly wide before Ayr's equaliser, saw Joe Chalmers and Ritchie-Hosler have decent efforts, and thought they should've had a spot-kick when substitute Taylor Sutherland appeared to be bundled over inside the box.

"Yes in my opinion," was McPake's response when asked if Sutherland should have been awarded a penalty.

"He is too quick, he gets across and knowing Taylor there is no way that he’s going to go down unless there was a foul on him. I went straight into the medical room, so I haven’t seen it back, but for me it was a penalty all day long.

Taylor Sutherland had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Willie Collum. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"I’m just disappointed that we didn’t get the win when we were two goals in front. That’s twice down here this season (Pars drew 2-2 at Ayr in December after being 2-0 up) that’s happened but as I say it’s been solid enough in terms of our performance and there was some good stuff in it.

"The goals we lost, we are disappointed with, but we will just move on to next season."