Match Report

Wednesday, 16th February, 2011

by Ed Hodge

Dunfermline 1 - 1 Falkirk: Andy Kirk brings Dunfermline salvation

at East End Park

Steven Pressley, the Falkirk manager, saw his uncontrollable joy quickly turn to despair last night after Andy Kirk's 18th goal of the season earned Dunfermline a precious point in a frenetic derby.

Pressley celebrated wildly on the pitch and repeatedly punched the air in front of the Dunfermline fans after Tam Scobbie looked to have won the points 11 minutes from the end. However, Kirk popped up to claim a late leveller and douse Pressley's delight.

In an engrossing tussle which ebbed and flowed, the equaliser moved the Pars to within a point of First Division leaders Raith Rovers. Falkirk, meanwhile, trail Raith by six points having played a game less than their title rivals.

It was the night after St Valentine's, but there was no love lost between the fierce adversaries at East End Park - their first First Division meeting at the venue since January 2000.

Tam McManus was still not fit to return after injury for Falkirk, instead taking his place in the stand beside the Bairns' former assistant Brian Rice, but Mark Sewart and Brian McLean were restored. Cheered on by a boisterous 1,500-strong away support, the visitors were the dynamic first-half force. With their passing play a credit on a tricky surface further softened by sweeping rain, Dunfermline were fortunate to survive.

Early on, winger Jack Compton showed excellent fleet of foot on the right to cut inside but drive into Chris Smith's side-netting. Then, from a Compton corner, Scobbie's headed knock-down fell to McLean who looked on in disbelief as his 16-yard strike smacked the far post Compton's early substitution to injury looked a damaging blow for the visitors, but Ryan Flynn was soon next to threaten when he drilled into Smith's arms.

It was a pulsating start and showed no signs of letting up as Dunfermline replied with a 17th-minute Liam Buchanan header over from Joe Cardle's corner. Yet Falkirk continued to hold the upper hand and created another chance when Flynn played in Stewart only for the striker to skew wide. Kirk finally had a sight of goal on 37 minutes but Robert Olejnik comfortably held his effort.

But the Austrian keeper had a moment of panic seconds later when he failed to catch Kevin Rutkiewicz's deflected drive and Flynn hacked clear. Flynn was growing in influence, illustrating why Pressley holds the ex-Liverpool youth in such esteem, and his clipped cross to the back post was just inches too high for Stewart on half-time.

Dunfermline were handed a glorious opportunity just two minutes after the re-start when a long ball eluded McLean and Buchanan's lob beat Olejnik but landed on the top of the net.