Dunfermline’s Hampden defeat ‘frustrating’ for boss James McPake

PARS boss James McPake was left frustrated yet again after a poor first half showing proved their undoing at the national stadium.

Dunfermline were subjected to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Queens Park but, having brought the tie back to one each, looked likely to take away at least a point from the game.

However a well taken goal by substitute Jack Turner saw the West Fifers return home pointless much to the disappointment of McPake and his players.

“I felt in that second half we created enough chances to win the game,” he said. “Probably for once, we were really unfortunate with the chances.

“We have being guilty and not being on the end of them. I think today we were, we were there or thereabouts. For whatever reason, it just wouldn't fall for us in the second half.

Dunfermline Athletic players pay their respects ahead of Remembrance Sunday. (Image: Craig Brown) “In the first half, I feel very lucky to get in 1-0 at half-time that's completely down to our goalkeeper. Too many of those players were nowhere near it in the first half.

“That's not me trying to throw them under the bus. I take the blame for that because I picked them. But I think you've seen with the changes, we were a completely different team.”

At half time, McPake introduced Matty Todd, Chris Hamilton and Joe Chalmers into the action and gave credit to them and their teammates for the second half showing.

“People say it's easy to perform when you're 1-0 down. It's certainly not when you make three changes and you have a bit of a go, more than a bit of a go, at half-time. Not at them all,” he said.

“In the second half, we should have been well out of sight. We weren't and we got caught with a sucker punch but credit to the lads, they kept going. They kept at Queen's Park but ultimately, we were coming away with nothing again.”

Ewan Otoo in action against Queen's Park. (Image: Craig Brown) Dunfermline had come into the game on the back of a home defeat by Partick Thistle which left them still sitting second bottom of the standings, four points above Airdrieonians, and one behind eighth-placed Greenock Morton, who were thrashed 6-0 by leaders Falkirk.

The game started fairly evenly and saw both sides enjoy possession in the first ten minutes or so without too many issues for their opponents.

On 18 minutes, Dunfermline nearly went a goal down when Zac Rudden got onto the end of a long ball. He took it wider than he would have liked and squeezed in a shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

Ryan Duncan tried his luck for the Spiders on 25 minutes with a free kick from just outside the box which was curled over. Within a minute, Dunfermline went up the other end and Ewan Otto fired in a long range effort which also went over.

Pars keeper Oluwayemi fends off Queen's Park's Rocco Hickey-Fugacchia. (Image: Craig Brown) It was one nil just on the half hour mark when Zac Rudden got the ball in the box and pulled it back to Ryan Duncan who netted from close range.

There was more danger again for Dunfermline minutes later when Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia did well in the box to get the ball through the Pars defence. Oluwayemi pulled off a reflex save and parried the ball away.

Duncan then caused more trouble for the Athletic defence when he back heeled an effort to Hickey-Fugaccia who looked clear on goal. Tommy Fogarty reacted quickly and managed to react and block the danger.

Dunfermline won their first corner of the game on 42 minutes. The set piece was cleared but came back in the box and found Lewis Mccann but he couldn’t connect and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Dapo Mebude attempts to fire in an effort. (Image: Craig Brown) James McPake made three substitutions at half time with Chris Hamilton, Matty Todd and Joe Chalmers coming on for Craig Clay, David Wotherspoon and Tommy Fogarty.

Within minutes, they were making an impact and Todd almost made an immediate mark when he whipped in a long range shot which went over. This was followed by an impressive driving shot from the edge of the box from Hamilton which had to be tipped over by Calum Ferrie.

There were shouts from the Pars contingent on 54 minutes when the ball looked like it had struck a Queens defender in the box but referee Graham Grainger waved play on.

On 58 minutes, Todd tried his luck with another long range effort which went wide much to the frustration of Ritchie-Hosler who was free out wide.

Matty Todd brought Dunfermline level with a goal soon after coming off the bench. (Image: Craig Brown) Pars were level just after the hour mark through Todd.

The substitute put the ball through to McCann who then pulled the ball back to Todd who fired in from close range.

Dapo Mebude had a chance very soon after the restart when he got the ball just inside the box but the fired way over and into the stand of the national stadium.

Aaron Comrie wasn’t far off getting on the score sheet on 67 minutes when he got himself on the end of a Joe Chalmers free kick. He slid in at the far post but the ball crept away from the goal and wide for a goal kick.

Kyle Benedictus attempts to draw level with a headed effort. (Image: Craig Brown) Substitute Jack Turner put the home side ahead against the run of play just minutes after coming onto the park.

He picked up the ball just inside the box and fired the ball in past Oluwayemi.

A series of corner for Dunfermline gave some promise and the closest was in the 76th minute when the bacll came out to Kane-Ritchie Hosler. He shot from just inside the area however his effort went straight into the arms of the Spider’s keeper.

There was more hope minutes later when Todd ran onto a ball into the box but his cross was also claimed without any real danger.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler on the ball. (Image: Craig Brown) On 80 minutes, Todd floated in a ball to the far post which found Kyle Benedictus but he couldn’t squeeze his header past the post.

There was a goalmouth scramble with minutes to go when Dunfermline desperately tried to find the net but were thwarted by Ferrie who saved then claimed the ball.

Turner looked like he was going to bag his second of the match in the last minute when he drove through from the middle of the park with just the keeper to beat.

Ewan Otoo made it back and he and the Pars keeper combined to get the ball away much to the anger of the home support who were calling for a spot kick.

Chalmers then got the ball to Keiran Ngwenga had a shot which went out for a corner.

Celebrations as Matty Todd finds the net. (Image: Craig Brown) More drama at the other end followed when Turner and Longridge looked capable of passing the ball past the Pars defence but the ball was cleared.

Dunfermline had another chance right at the death when the ball fell to Todd but he couldn’t manage to take get a shot in.

Queen's Park

Ferrie, Welsh, Thomson (Longridge 64), Tizzard, Rudden (Scott 86), Duncan (Turner 64), Murray, Drozd (McLeish 86), Kerr, Hickey-Fugaccia (Hinds 72), Fieldson.

Subs: Wills, Mauchin, Thompson, T Scott.

Goals: Duncan (30), Turner (70)

Dunfermline Athletic

Oluwayemi, Comrie, Ngwenya, Benedictus, Otoo, Ritchie-Hosler, McCann, Fogarty (Chalmers 45), Wotherspoon (Todd 45), Clay (Hamilton 45), Awokoya-Medube Sutherland 74).

Subs: Mehmet, Wighton, Fisher, Young, Cooper.

Booked: Otoo,

Goals: Todd (61)

Referee: Graham Grainger