Second half goals from Kai Fotheringham and Josh McPake saw Saints come from behind to defeat Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 at McDiarmid Park this evening.
Saints started brightly and created numerous chances to take the lead in the first 20 minutes however, they couldn’t find a way past visiting keeper Mason Munn who made a string of strong saves throughout the match.
Dunfermline weathered the early storm being finding their feet in the match. The East End Park side would finish the first half strongly as they took the lead on 43 minutes when Rory MacLeod got on the end of a Jefferson Cáceres cross before despatching a fine effort past Toby Steward.
Saints regrouped at half time and they were back on level terms on 51 minutes when Fotheringham scored his first goal for Saints, slotting home from close range after Adama Sidibeh’s header had been parried by Munn.
Saints then completed the comeback on 83 minutes after Munn had misjudged a Jamie Gullan cross and McPake slotted home from a tight angle.
However, Dunfermline pushed for an equaliser and Steward produced a brilliant triple save deep into added on time to deny both Andrew Tod and Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen to ensure that Saints wrapped up the 3 points.
Saints are back in action on Tuesday evening as they travel to take on Airdrieonians at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
It was Friday night under the lights at McDiarmid Park this evening as Saints welcomed Dunfermline Athletic for a William Hill Championship match which was live on BBC Scotland. Saints defeated Raith Rovers 2-0 last weekend and Simo Valakari decided to go with the same team which started in Kirkcaldy last Saturday. Dunfermline Athletic defeated Arbroath 5-0 at Gayfield Park last weekend and manager Neil Lennon made two changes to his starting eleven as Jon Tod and Andrew Tod both dropped to the bench to be replaced by Ewan Otoo and Rory MacLeod.
Jefferson Cáceres got the match underway for the visitors however, it was Saints who would create the early chances. A neat passing move on 2 minutes saw Kai Fotheringham play the ball to Josh McPake who burst into the box before seeing his cutback hit the chest of Jason Holt before going wide of the target.
Saints kept up the pressure and a minute later McPake won the ball from Pars captain Kyle Benedictus before seeing his strike turned behind for a corner by Mason Munn.
It was one-way traffic in the opening exchanges and shortly after Saints were appealing for a penalty after Holt went down under the challenge from Benedictus however, referee Matthew MacDermid was unmoved.
The pressure on the visitors goal continued and on 13 minutes a deep cross from McPake was met by Jack Baird at the back post however, Munn made a good save to deny the Saints defender. Then shortly after Munn was called into action again as the on-loan Rangers keeper made another good save, this time to keep out a McPake strike.
PHOTO: Jason Holt goes down in the box, but no penalty was given
On 16 minutes a Jonathan Svedberg corner from the left was met by Cheick Diabate however, the defender glanced his header wide of the far post.
Dunfermline created their first chance of the match 3 minutes later as Zak Rudden got on the end of a Cáceres cross however, his header was straight at Toby Steward who comfortably held the ball.
The match then settled down as Dunfermline started to come into the game. The Pars got a sight of goal on 37 minutes when Alfons Amade saw his effort turned behind for a corner by Diabate.
With 4 minutes of the first half remaining good work by McPake saw the winger win the ball from Amade before playing in Kai Fotheringham however, Ewan Otoo was able to get back to turn the midfielder’s strike behind for a corner. Svedberg took the corner from the right and his delivery was met by Sidibeh however, Munn got down well to turn the header from the forward around the post for another corner.
PHOTO: Mason Munn saves Jack Baird’s header
Then on 43 minutes The Pars took the lead. MacLeod played the ball out wide to Cáceres and the winger sent a deep cross into the box as MacLeod fired his strike high into the roof of the net to send the visitors into the break a goal up.
Simo Valakari made a change at half time as Jannik Wanner came on to replace Jonathan Svedberg and he would make an almost instant impact as Saints equalised on 51 minutes. The on-loan Livingston winger sent over a corner from the left which was met by Sidibeh at the near post as he flicked his header goal-bound which Munn could only parry and Fotheringham was alert as he reacted quickest to knock home the ball from close range for his first goal for the club.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham scores for Saints to make it 1-1
McPake came close to giving Saints the lead on 54 minutes as he unleashed a strike from 20 yards however, the in-form winger was denied by a good save from Munn.
Saints made a double change just after the hour mark as Jamie Gullan and Uche Ikpeazu came on to replace Kai Fotheringham and Adama Sidibeh. That was followed by another change on 74 minutes as Matty Foulds made way for Morgan Boyes.
Simo Valakari’s continued to push forward and cause problems for the Dunfermline defence and with 7 minutes remaining they took the lead. Gullan sent over a high cross from the right into the Pars box which Munn chose to leave and McPake sneaked in at the back post to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.
PHOTO: Josh McPake celebrates his goal
Saints then made their final change of the game with 2 minutes remaining as Sven Sprangler came on to replace Josh McPake.
4 minutes was added on at the end and deep into added on time the visitors were fortunate to be awarded a free kick just outside the box when Holt appeared to win the ball when he challenged Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen however, Matthew MacDermid thought differently as he booked the Saints captain and gave the visitors a free kick in an inviting position. Andrew Tod took the free kick and his effort struck the far post after Steward was able to get a slight touch on the ball. The pressure on the Saints goal continued as Tod gathered the loose ball before unleashing a strike which Steward brilliantly tipped over for a corner. The Saints number one then produced another brilliant save from the corner as he got a strong hand to a goal-bound header from Chilokoa-Mullen to ensure that Saints survived the late scare and secured another important 3 points.
PHOTO: Toby Steward is mobbed by his team mates after his last minute save denied Dunfermline an equaliser
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Holt, Svedberg (Wanner 45’), Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 61’), Foulds (Boyes 74’), Baird, Fotheringham (Gullan 61’), McPake (Sprangler 88’), Forrester, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Tumilty, Griffith, Franczak
Booked: Holt
Scorers: Fotheringham (51’), McPake (83’)
Dunfermline Athletic: Munn, Chilokoa-Mullen, Benedictus, Otoo, Gilmour, Rudden (A. Tod 34’), Kearney, Cáceres (Kane 88’), Amade (Ritchie-Hosler 70’), MacLeod (Oakley-Boothe 70’), Fraser (Cooper 88’)
Unused Substitutes: Terrell (GK), Hamilton, Abdulai, J. Tod
Booked: MacLeod
Scorer: MacLeod (43’)
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Attendance: 6,232
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Toby Steward celebrates with the fans at full time
