Frozen Solid

The wintry weather returned with a vengeance as 2023 began, which saw Dunfermline Athletic`s home match against Falkirk postponed on 2nd January.

It was a frustrating beginning to the New Year; a huge attendance was expected at KDM Group East End Park as top faced third in SPFL cinch League One.

The Pars are 7 points ahead of the Bairns and John McGlynn`s side knew how pivotal a win would`ve been in the title race – a victory for James McPake`s side, if nothing else, would`ve been psychologically massive: a 10 point advantage with 17 games left could`ve ended McGlynn`s automatic promotion hopes in an instant.

But, the game will now be re-scheduled for later on in the season, so the title race remains wide open and up for grabs. However it isn`t just DAFC and Falkirk who are in the mix – let`s not forget about second placed FC Edinburgh, who host Athletic this weekend at Meadowbank Stadium.

Alan Maybury`s men haven`t fallen away as of yet and have shown a great deal of consistency across the campaign. They have also shown a great deal of fight, determination and `never say die` attitude, shown fully from their match at the weekend away to Airdrieonians.

The Diamonds led 2-0 early on, but the Citizens fought back to two-each at the interval. And in a crazy second-half, which saw another 4 goals, it was Edinburgh who came out on top spectacularly, with a 5-3 victory over Rhys McCabe`s men.

This just emphasises the difficulties facing the Black & White this weekend; despite their 100% record against FCE so far this term - a 3-0 victory early on in the season before an injury-time own goal by Liam Fontaine gifted the West Fifers victory during the second quarter of the campaign – FC Edinburgh are only one point off of top spot, and a win over McPake`s men this weekend will see the sides swap places.

While the Pars have 2 games in hand and shouldn`t panic even if they do lose on Saturday, the title race is firmly off and running with the Match-Day 19 encounter for DAFC this weekend the most crucial game of the 2022-2023 League One campaign so far.

Despite the wintry weather freezing the KDM Group East End Park pitch, the good start to the term has also frozen Dunfermline Athletic solidly at the top of the division while they await their re-arranged matches being re-scheduled.