Dunfermline hang on for victory as Arbroath stage fightback

Half-time talk among Pars fans on the terracing at Arbroath on Saturday generally focused on how many more goals they could expect to see in the second half.

In the end, it turned out to be two, but probably not for the team they were expecting after watching Dunfermline build up a three-goal lead with an impressive first half display.

Based on the first 45 minutes, the outcome of this match looked a foregone conclusion at the interval. But a rejuvenated Arbroath, and a strangely out-of-sorts Dunfermline, emerged for the second half, and there was relief among the travelling support when the full-time whistle was blown.

Pars boss James McPake, like the supporters, didn't seem to know quite what to make of it all, but going by the reception the players received at the end, everyone was delighted to have picked up another three points.

Paul Allan came on as a substitute after just a few minutes, and made his mark on the game with an excellent goal from a free kick. (Image: Craig Brown)

Speaking after the match, the manager said: "Credit to them, we didn’t do the basics properly in the second half. But it’s three points.

"It’s the first time I’ve won here as a manager in the league, so that’s the positive I’m taking. I’ve been up here a few times and had a lot of draws, but it’s a tough place to come.

“It was a fantastic first half performance. It’s three points, we’ll draw a line under it. I’m emotional, I’m angry but when the dust settles, it’s three points. 

“They’re fighting for their lives and you saw that at the end, you see in the second half they wanted it more than us.  They were very unfortunate not to go away with something.”

Paul Allan is congratulated by this team mates after netting the Pars' second goal of the afternoon. (Image: Craig Brown.)

McPake said he'd be watching the video of the match to analyse the differences between the two halves.

Watching the first half would make pleasant viewing, although it didn't start too well with Chris Hamilton departing after just a few minutes having suffered a heavy head knock which left him dazed.

Paul Allan, who later was also substituted after suffering a tight hamstring, came on and played a significant role in the Pars' victory.

Both sides had chances before Ewan Otoo opened the scoring in 24 minutes, firing low into the corner past Arbroath keeper Derek Gaston after the home defence failed to clear a long throw from Josh Edwards.

A Chris Kane effort clipped the crossbar before Dunfermline doubled their lead just after the half hour. Allan lined up a free kick about 20 yards out and curled the ball beautifully over the defensive wall into the corner of the net.

Chris Kane, partially hidden by the post, knocks the ball home for the third goal. (Image: Craig Brown.)

It was three just before half time and it came from another Allan free kick. This time he sent a cross into the box from about 30 yards out, with Malachi Fagan-Walcott's header hitting the bar. Kane was quickest to react and poked the loose ball over the goal line.

All seemed to be going well, but eight minutes into the second half, Arbroath grabbed an unlikely lifeline.

A corner from Michael McKenna was swung into the Pars six yard area. No one dealt with it, and the ball fell to the unmarked Scott Stewart at the back post, so be knocked it into the back of the net.

If Pars fans thought that was to be a mere consolation and that the loss of a goal would spark their team back into life, then those thoughts quickly evaporated.

After the Dunfermline defence again failed to deal with a corner, Stewart doubled his tally for the afternoon by somehow squeezing the ball in at the post.

Chris Kane celebrates his goal with Sam Fisher. (Image: Craig Brown.)

That left the Pars with around half-an-hour to hang in to their lead, and hanging on was pretty much what they did as Arbroath searched for an equaliser.

While Dunfermline made the occasional foray into the opposition half, it took a number of blocks and clearances, notably a header and penalty box challenge from Allan's replacement Joe Chalmers, to repel the Arbroath attack.

It was all fine in the end, though, as the Pars held on to their narrow advantage, with the victory taking them up into the play-off promotion places.