Dunfermline: Pars win at The Spartans in Premier Sports Cup

ATHLETIC opened their competitive fixtures for the new season with a deserved and convincing success at The Spartans in the Premier Sports Cup.

Lewis McCann's fine early strike set James McPake's side on their way against the League Two outfit, with late goals from Kane Ritchie-Hosler, and young substitute, Taylor Sutherland, sealing their victory.

It was a job well done by Dunfermline, who controlled the match throughout, and ensured Deniz Mehmet in goal had very little to do.

They welcome Forfar Athletic on Tuesday evening to KDM Group East End Park sitting top of Group E, ahead of Livingston, who won 2-0 away to the Loons.

The visitors were without skipper, Kyle Benedictus, but Chris Kane made the bench as Chris Hamilton took the captain's armband.

And he was involved before Dunfermline broke to open the scoring, in the fourth minute, with a wonderful goal.

Hamilton appeared to be winded - and stayed down for treatment - after blocking a shot from Brogan Walls, but the Pars kept possession and moved upfield.

Once it was played to McCann by David Wotherspoon, he cut inside on his right foot before firing an superb shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Blair Carswell no chance.

It was a great start for the visitors, who fashioned further shooting opportunities from distance for Ewan Otoo, whose effort was saved by Carswell, and Ritchie-Hosler, who sent the ball narrowly wide of target.

Former Par, Blair Henderson, saw a header deflected over at the other end, with ex-Kelty Hearts man, Cammy Russell, heading over from 12 yards following the resulting corner, before Deniz Mehmet and the woodwork came to Dunfermline's aid in the 34th minute.

Ritchie-Hosler had been penalised for a foul on the right-hand side and, from the free-kick, Russell's fizzing inswinging delivery was pushed well onto the post by Mehmet, before Athletic got the ball to safety.

There was an opportunity for Hamilton as the opening period drew to a close, after Joe Chalmers clipped a corner in for Otoo to send on into his path, but he didn't make the connection he'd hoped for, spooning the ball over the top.

At the interval, Kane was sent on for his first minutes of the season, replacing Rhys Breen, but it was a player who would be an unlikely scorer that had a great opportunity to add a second early in the second half.

McCann was the creator, turning away from his marker and into the box on the right, before pulling the ball back for Chalmers.

The midfielder is yet to score for the Pars and, from around 18 yards, slashed his shot off-target, ensuring that his way for a goal goes on.

A foul on McCann brought a booking for ex-Par, Paul Watson, and a free-kick opportunity for Wotherspoon, whose right-foot effort was not too far wide of the post.

The former St Johnstone man then turned creator, releasing McCann with a perfectly-weighted ball that sent the number 11 racing into the penalty area, and he was unlucky to watch his effort across goal finish narrowly wide of the far post.

Russell hit a free-kick into the Dunfermline wall, before Wotherspoon sent a speculative effort from distance over, before the visitors sealed their win in style.

From the left, Wotherspoon played a pass infield to Ritchie-Hosler, who took a touch before curling a lovely shot into the far corner of the net from the left-edge of the penalty box.

That goal secured a winning start to Group E, but Dunfermline weren't done yet, and added a third through substitute Sutherland.

The talented youngster had only been on the field a couple of minutes when, on the turn, he sent a super finish low into the bottom corner from Kieran Ngwenya's header, sealing a well-deserved success and winning start in the group for Dunfermline.

The Spartans: Carswell, K. Watson, Booth (Denholm 67), Dishington, Hunter, Henderson, Russell, Sonkur, Walls (Ritchie 67), Whyte (Scott 84), P. Watson.

Subs not used: Inglis, Geaney, Wylie, Anderson, Meek.

Booked: Watson (59).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Ngwenya, Hamilton, Otoo (McLeod 88), Ritchie-Hosler, Chalmers, McCann (T. Sutherland 84), Breen (Kane 45), Fisher, Wotherspoon (Tod 88).

Subs not used: O'Halloran, Young, Rowe.

Goals: McCann (4), Ritchie-Hosler (82), T. Sutherland (87).

Booked: Hamilton (72).

Referee: Peter Stuart.

Attendance: 850.