KIDS can go free at this weekend’s match with Queen of the South in exchange for a donation to Dunfermline Foodbank.

The club has organised a festive foodbank appeal to support the organisation in the run-up to Christmas, and any home or away supporter that is aged under 12 who arrives at KDM Group East End Park with a donation will receive a free ticket.

A full list of items, which includes sugar, shower gel, tinned custard and fruit, coffee, biscuits and cat and dog food, that are sought most urgently by the foodbank can be found on the club’s website, and donations can be dropped off at the club shop, the home ticket kiosk and in the away end.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Pars boss James McPake will be hoping his side can make it two wins from two against the Doonhamers this term.

They secured a 2-0 win at Palmerston in September but he is anticipating a tough test against former Par Wullie Gibson’s side, who triumphed on their last visit to East End, on the final day of the regular season last term.

Since they both dropped down from the Championship, the two clubs have had contrasting fortunes.

Dunfermline, having suffered just one defeat in 16 league games, sit top of the table with a seven-point advantage, while Queens are seventh, five points adrift of fourth-top Montrose.

However, the Dumfries club have League One’s second-best record over their last six matches, registering four wins and two defeats, with only their opponents this Saturday, who have picked up four wins and a draw in that time, faring better.

“If I’m right in what I read, then Queen of the South are the second form team in the league,” McPake said.

“In terms of form, they’re the team, other than us, that have got the most points in the last six games.

“Wullie’s turned it around down there, who I’m delighted for; another young manager that came through a sticky spell.

“They got that fantastic win at Edinburgh (a 3-0 victory on November 5) and credit to Queen of the South and their chairman. That’s what you hope when you see young managers – when you see any manager, actually, but particularly younger ones – because I can speak from that (point of view).

“Although I don’t look young, I certainly am young in terms of this game. There’s a lot of experienced managers out there, who are also very helpful, but it’s always good to see a young manager doing well. I just hope it’s not this weekend!

“It’s a brutal industry at times, and we all know it’s results-driven, but results do take time.”

Ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup win over Forfar Athletic, McPake had expressed sympathy for Gary Irvine, who left the struggling League Two side, and was replaced by Ray McKinnon, having only taken over in May last year.

However, McPake, who said Kane Ritchie-Hosler was a doubt for Saturday’s game, praised Queens for having patience with Gibson, continuing: “It’s great to see that but I also understand that you need to win games.

“I’ve felt that myself; don’t win games, pressure comes on board, social media’s about nowadays, but all I can control is Dunfermline Athletic.

“The two things I can control is the team we put on the pitch and the effort and desire that those players are going to show because, if that’s not happening, they don’t get on the pitch. Thankfully, that’s not happened this season.”