Pars 2-0 Arbroath

DEBUT boy Andy Ryan hit a double as the Pars comfortably saw off the challenge of 10-man Arbroath in the Irn-Bru Cup first round tonight.

The new arrival from Airdrieonians netted either side of Ricky Little's red card in a one-sided first half as Athletic eased their way into Thursday's second round draw.

Ryan's sublime 24th minute volley put Dunfermline in front before Little was sent off for hauling down David Hopkirk as he bore down on goal.

A second arrived for Ryan just four minutes from half-time as Athletic eased through but they also finished with 10 men when Conner Duthie was ordered off for two bookings inside a minute in stoppage time.

Pars boss Allan Johnston made six changes from the side that thrashed Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

Ryan, who signed this morning, was registered in time to featureup front while Duthie, Aaron Splaine, Michael Paton, Scott Lochhead and Fraser Aird were all handed starting slots.

Declan McManus returned to the bench after serving the last of his two-game league ban while Callum Smith, Joe Cardle, Nat Wedderburn and Dean Shiels were all listed as substitues.

Lewis Martin and Lee Ashcroft were both suspended following last season's competition while Jean-Yves M'Voto was not included in the squad.

For the Lichties, there was an East End return for goalkeeper David Hutton - who left at the end of last season - while manager Dick Campbell and twin brother Ian were back having both served the Pars in playing and coaching capacities in the past.

Falkirk boss Peter Houston was in attendance on a spying match ahead of this weekend's clash between Athletic and their bitter rivals but what he will have taken from this is hard to tell, as the Pars side will likely be very different.

It was a low-key start to proceedings - although the hosts dominated possession - and Hopkirk tried his luck from range after some good passing in seven minutes, but his effort was always rising over.

Ryan was keen to make an impression on his Pars bow and some good work at the left edge of the area almost produced a goal in the 10th minute.

His cut-back looking for Aird should've have been cleared by Colin Hamilton but instead found its target, and the winger moved the ball onto his left foot to shoot not too far over Hutton's bar.

An even better chance soon fell for the hosts and Paton was the creator, freeing Hopkirk with a slide-rule pass but the striker's low effort towards the far corner was turned behind by the Lichties keeper.

But Dunfermline didn't have to wait long to score and, when it arrived, it was a spectacular moment for the debut boy.

Paton's clipped ball into the box was headed up into the air by O'Brien and, after waiting for it to drop, Ryan smashed home a stunning 18-yard volley that gave Hutton no chance.

Things got worse for the visitors just after half hour mark when they were reduced to 10 men.

A long ball over the top resulted in a foot race between Hopkirk and Ricky Little, which was won by the Pars forward, leading to the Lichties defender clumsily bringing him down.

Referee Euan Anderson hesitated momentarily before awarding the free-kick, which Splaine sent over, and consequently had no choice but send Little packing.

And, with four minutes to half-time, the game was effectively ended as a contest with the simplest of goals.

Mark Whatley conceded a corner on the Pars left and, from Aird's delivery, Ryan was there unmarked to head past a powerless Hutton from six yards.

Johnston gave McManus some game time eight minutes into the second period in place of Hopkirk but Ryan had a sniff of a hat-trick moments later, heading Ryan Williamson's cross to the far post over the top.

Both teams then traded chances; Ryan McCord lobbed over the advancing Sean Murdoch but just wide after latching on to a long ball, while at the other end, good work from Lochhead saw him lay off to McManus, whose fierce strike from the edge of the area was gathered by Hutton.

Ryan was then given a standing ovation in 63 minutes as Smith replaced him and a goal almost fell the way of Aird, whose shot from the edge of the area was spilled behind by Hutton.

That came almost immediately after Steven Doris won a long free-kick in the air and, latching on to his own header, sent a left-foot volley just wide of the post.

Arbroath sub Bryan Prunty then tried a spectacular bicycle kick from the left-edge of the area but couldn't generate enough power to worry Murdoch.

Aird then attempted to catch Hutton out at his near post with a cheeky near-post effort but the keeper saved as the game petered out in the latter stages of the second half.

A rash challenge by Splaine at the edge of the box allowed Gavin Swankie a set-piece chance with 12 minutes to go, which he put over, while Paton only just cleared Hutton's bar with a free-kick of his own.

Hamilton headed over from Whatley's free-kick in added time but Pars ended with 10 men when Duthie, booked for fouling Prunty, stopped an attempt to take a free-kick and was shown a second yellow.

But Dunfermline had done enough and ease into Thursday's second round draw.

Pars: Murdoch, Williamson, Talbot, Morris, Duthie, Hopkirk, Splaine, Paton, Lochhead, Ryan, Aird.

Subs: McManus, Wedderburn, Shiels, Cardle, Higginbotham, Smith, Gill.

Arbroath: Hutton, Whatley, Hamilton, Little, O'Brien, Yule, Linn, McCord, Doris, Swankie, Denholm.

Prunty, Kane, Kader, Gold, Henry, Skelly, Gomes.