cinch Championship: Breen and Todorov start in place of Connolly and Wighton. Kevin O’Hara (8) 0-1: Kevin O’Hara (12) 0-2: Thomas O’Brien (15) 1-2: Joel Nouble (37) 2-2: Bobby Linn (77) 3-2: Michael McKenna (85 pen) 4-2

Dunfermline travelled to Gayfield Park to play an Arbroath side sitting third in the league following their impressive win in Inverness in midweek. Predictably the home side were unchanged but Peter Grant made two changes, Craig Wighton was on the bench and Nikolay Todorov came in for him and Rhys Breen came in for the ill Mark Connolly. For 21 year old Rhys it was his first Dunfermline start.

The sun came out as the teams warmed up and there was a glint on the North Sea looking over towards the Kingdom. Notably the wind was a much reduced factor and the pitch looked in good condition. The scene was set for what would hopefully be the Fifers first league win of the season.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Walter Smith before the teams changed ends and Arbroath kicked off attacking the goal in front of their own fans at the Pleasureland end. First shot came in third minute, a speculative effort from Dom Thomas from distance that cleared Derek Gaston’s crossbar.

The Lichties first chance was created by Joel Nouble three minutes later but Vytas GaÃ… ¡puitis made the block at the near post. Luke Donnolly drove an effort across goal from the left before play switched to the other end. Thomas fired a 25 yard free kick from the left into the opposition box, GaÃ… ¡puitis attacked the ball but could not get a foot to it but Kevin O’HARA was on hand to crash the ball home from outside the right goalpost. 0-1

Just five minutes later a clearance up the park from Owain FÃ ´n Williams was headed down by Thomas O’Brien, under challenge from Todorov, and O’HARA evaded the offside trap to lock on to it, making ground before smashing the ball past the advancing keeper for his seventh goal of the season. 0-2

Arbroath came at Dunfermline and were soon to get their reply. FÃ ´n Williams made a good save in turning a powerfully struck Michael McKenna effort over his crossbar but from the resultant corner Arbroath scored. From the right McKenna sent the ball deep where skipper Thomas O’BRIEN was able to chest it down drilled the ball home through FÃ ´n Williams from the far side of the box. 1-2

After all the events of the first quarter of an hour things calmed down a bit. O’Hara was given a couple of more through balls to chase to no avail and Arbroath wasted a 28th minute corner opportunity. Anton Dowds had an effort blocked before Josh Edwards turned on turbo to catch and cross from the left byeline. His efforts could only earn a throw in but from that he was the one who sent a good right footed cross in for Todorov but he could not get enough on it to convert.

Then in 33 minutes Todorov broke but failed to see O’Hara speeding over his right shoulder and the chance was gone. Two minutes later a long throw from Edwards picked out Todorov in the box and his chest down was perfect for Ryan Dow but Gaston stopped the shot at the near post.

Arbroath got right back into the game when McKenna’s 37th minute free kick from the left was headed home at the back post by Joel NOUBLE. 2-2

A 43rd minute corner appeared to have been wasted after Allan’s short one to Dan Pybus only ended up with the home side clearing. However Edwards gathered and in a surging run took the ball towards the right corner flag before cutting in and earning a corner. Unfortunately Gaston held Thomas’s delivery.

Four goals in the first half but disappointing that Arbroath were allowed to get back on level terms. The stats showed that the home side had vastly more possession but with goals that matter there was everything to go for in the second half.

Half time: Arbroath 2 Dunfermline 2

The sun still kissed the stadium and the standing home fans had relocated to the north east stand as Pybus forced a 47th minute corner but it turned into a chance for the Red Lichties. Thomas took a short one to Allan but Nouble robbed him of possession and sent Scott Stewart away down the right channel. Aaron Comrie had to put in a sprint to deflect the Arbroath player’s shot away for a corner. It turned into two corners but the second was sent directly behind.

O’Brien’s 51st minute free kick was blocked and next Colin Hamilton headed over the top from an Arbroath corner from the right. Iain Wilson became the first substitute used when he replaced Dan Pybus in 66 minutes. The home side followed suit with Bobby Linn and Dale Hilson coming on for Luke Donnelly and Anton Dowds.

Arbroath were guilty of over hitting balls and sending them either out for a bye kick or to FÃ ´n Williams. Dunfermline were finding it hard to find any way through the home defence and Chris Hamilton stopped a rapid Edwards run down the left. Thomas managed a shot from the edge of the box with fifteen minutes remaining but then Bobby LINN scored a typical Linn goal. From the edge of the centre circle O’Brien launched the ball from his own half deep down the left wing. Nouble attempted to control it but the ball travelled to the 36 year old Arbroath favourite who with a sweeping a shot from 25 yards out curled it in at the far post, 3-2.

Last throw of the dice was sending on Lewis McCann and taking off Paul Allan but in 85 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty of the soft sort. Linn ran into Dow on the edge of the box and referee Peter Stuart pointed to the spot. Michael McKENNA converted in off the left upright. 4-2.

O’Hara and then McCann had attempts that were blocked. Linn had Fon Williams make a good save to deny him from a free kick taken from 30 yards out.

No way back for the Pars, they leave Gayfield with no points and holding up the league table. The victory came from a cracking Linn goal and a debatable penalty.

Ninth placed Morton picked up a point thanks to a Gozie Ugwu equalising goal in the seventh minute of time added on in their match against Hamilton Academical. The Greenock side visit East End Park in the next fixture.