Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 3 Hibernian

Time is beginning to run out as the Pars are now adrift at the bottom of the SPL after losing a game that could have gone either way. Despite taking an early lead through Andy Kirk, it was one apiece at half-time following Griffiths’ equaliser. Substitute O’Connor scored with 15 minutes to play and Griffiths scored what proved to be the winner immediately after Buchanan had given the Pars hope with an equaliser.

In the last report I hinted that Jim McIntyre should sign a Preston North End player. Sign one we did, though rather than my flippant suggestion of Barry Nicholson, Iain Turner has come in on loan to keep goal in place of Gallacher whose season has been ended in that accidental clash at Tynecastle.

After a half-decent result last week on paper (and for 95 minutes it was looking better than that) and playing another struggling side, a 4-4-2 was always likely and so it came to pass. The back four was unchanged – Dowie at right back, with Potter, Keddie and Boyle, but the midfield 4 saw Mason in at the expense of Burns (who had been injured in training) alongside Hardie, Cardle and Graham; Barrowman and Kirk started again. There were some welcome signs of long awaited recoveries on the bench – Rutkiewicz and McDougall to be precise – although they might expect to be behind Buchanan, Thomson and the returning Willis in the queue for a substitute’s appearance. Chris Smith and young Shaun Byrne made up the seven.

Hibs also went with a 4-4-2 – there was no O’Connor in the starting line-up as Pat Fenlon went with Leigh Griffiths alongside recent signing Eoin Doyle. Ivan Sproule would captain the side from the left wing, and Mark Brown would start in place of Stack between the sticks.

The Pars had the kick off attacking the Cowdenbeath end and straight away the ball was launched down the left touchline in the vague direction of Boyle’s head. Hibs soon had possession however, and Griffiths launched a solo first minute raid, running at Keddie before hitting a long range shot that gave the Pars’ keeper his first touch, Turner gathering comfortably at his left hand post.

Turner was again involved in 10 minutes with a more testing shot when Keddie had only half cleared allowing Sproule to run at Dowie before cutting back for Booth to drive in a shot that the keeper did well to beat away.

However the Pars took the lead in the fourteenth minute. An innocuous looking foul on Boyle 50 yards from goal by the touchline saw Cardle drive in a free-kick and Kirk escaped his marker to get the merest of touches, heading the ball over Brown and into the net. 1-0 Pars.

This was exactly the start the Pars wanted – to be playing from a position of strength. Both defences were guilty of getting rid of the ball, rather than anything more composed, and for once the Pars midfield was picking up plenty of second ball. It was still pretty even – Hibs had 3 corners in quick succession which Griffiths took, incurring the wrath of the fans in the North West corner. The first was drilled into the near post where Hardie’s header could have gone anywhere, but went skywards and behind; the second was similar, although this time Martin volleyed it off the corner flag, at which point Leigh decided to vary things by playing away from Hardie and hitting the ball way long.

Brown in the visitor’s goals hadn’t actually made a save yet, although that changed midway through the half when he pulled off a fine save to his left as Hardie bent a free-kick from 30-yards around the wall and on target. The Pars midfielder was certainly getting himself involved, as a bout of handbags following a tackle on Griffiths saw him and Sproule booked.

The Hibees had brought a fair number of supporters across the Forth, requiring the emergency opening on the North East stand to accommodate the overflow, and Boyle found himself in amongst them when his ran up the touchline came to an abrupt end, the left-back vaulting the hoarding rather than bounce off it. He didn’t hang about there for long though and was soon back on the pitch, where the Pars continued to look comfortable, although Cardle had to track back on the half-hour to put pressure on Doyle when for once Keddie misjudged a long ball to allow the Irishman to escape.

However, Hibs were back in it not long after – the Pars only half cleared their lines and as the defence came out the ball was played back in beyond them to Griffiths who drove the ball home from the angle. 1-1. For once the former Livi striker was a model of decorum in his celebrations, not gesturing to either set of fans.

The Pars tried to hit back – a Potter half-volleyed clearance was helped on by Barrowman who again seemed to be enjoying the presence of strike-partner, but Kirk was forced wide and could only find the side netting, but a similar move a minute later won a corner. Cardle’s deep delivery found its way back to Graham but he lashed his shot over the bar.

At the other end, the Pars defence survived a couple of half-chances – a bemused Barrowman was not awarded a foul when Stephens appeared to be climbing all over him, yet Hardie was penalised seconds later. Doyle found Wotherspoon from the kick but he couldn’t connect properly and Sproule sent a late effort just past the right hand post.

Half time: Pars 1 Hibs 1

Into the second half and Hibs went straight on the attack – Potter just got his foot in to hook the ball away as Griffiths looked to go clear inside the first 20 seconds, conceding a corner which Turner fisted clear, before Cardle got a rare chance to go for goal but after cutting inside Hart blasted over.

Hibs hit back with a couple of chances – Griffiths somehow managed to get a shot away just before the hour mark despite being closely patrolled by Keddie (although Turner gathered easily enough), and Sproule could only head weakly on target when Osborne powered his way through the inside right channel to cross.