For this both teams third match in the Premier Sports Cup, the newly sown pitch at KDM Group East End Park was looking resplendent even in the absence of any July evening sunlight. Manager Neil Lennon made three changes starting Alfons Amade, Shea Kearney and Andrew Tod at the expense of Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Lucas Fyfe.

Hamilton Academical manager John Rankin started Lee Kilday and Stephen Hendrie in a side that saw Barry Maguire and Tony Gallacher drop out and there was a quick return to East End for Aaron Comrie playing as a trialist. It was welcome back too for former Pars Kevin O’Hara and Kyle Macdonald.

Dunfermline kicked off attacking the Vertu Stand and the travelling supporters and it was the visitors’ goal that was endangered first when Kearney’s fourth minute cross was met by Chris Kane but his shot cleared the crossbar. Four minutes later Kearney beat his defender to deliver another cross from the right and this time it was Ewan Otoo who failed to test the keeper by sending the ball over.

Chances kept coming though Josh Cooper fired wide and Kane couldn’t connect with an Otoo pass into the centre of the Hamilton box. Keeper Jamie Smith held a cross as Kearney yet again completed his task from the right. Hamilton’s first shot in 29 minutes was held by Deniz Mehmet after Trialist #11 exchanged passes with Steven Bradley and with the help of a rebound got his on-target effort away.

The away side were doing a good job of keeping the Pars at bay with Comrie closing out Otoo after good interchanges between John Tod and zCharlie Gilmour. Oli Shaw was taken by surprise on 38 minutes when a ball from the right reached him at the far post and it hit off him into Mehmet’s hands. The goal that Dunfermline so dearly sought came next minute from their first corner of the evening. Cooper sent the ball to the far side of the six yard box, John Tod headed it back across the box for his brother Andrew TOD to head home at the left goalpost. 1-0

Pressure was maintained on Hamilton and in 44th minute a John Tod cross was met by Kearney and his on-target shot cannoned off Kilday for another Pars corner. This time Hamilton defended it and it would remain just a one goal lead at the break.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Hamilton Academical 0

Just 20 seconds into the second half and Macdonald was shown a yellow card for a crunching tackle on Kane. Fortunately the Pars striker was able to continue after the physio’s treatment. A Tod was up to get his head on the free kick deliver by Cooper but his effort went over the top. Next Otoo forced himself across the top of the Hamilton box to tee up Cooper and his low drive skinned the left post.

Kane went down off the ball in 56 minute and this time the physio could not fix him, he limped off and so Rory Macleod came on for him in 59th minute. At the same juncture Alfons Amade and Shea Kearney were replaced by Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Tashan Oakley-Boothe. When play resumed Hamilton enjoyed more possession but there huge disappointment expressed from the stands in 66 minutes after superb close control skills allowed John Tod to pick out Cooper midway into the opposition half but the offside flag was raised.

John Tod would be next to try and score turning and shooting into the sidenetting. The 18 year old was last man when Oli SHAW broke through in 69 minutes. John did well not to bring his man down but he could not prevent the Hamilton striker sticking the ball past Mehmet. 1-1

Exactly a minute later the Pars lead was restored after a fantastic run up the right wing by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen. He showed speed and control to get deep and fire the ball towards the six yard box and it was KILDAY, under pressure from Macleod, who deflected the ball into his own net.

Jamie Smith palmed away a Ritchie-Hosler effort and from MacLeod’s 75th minute corner there was head tennis from Benedictus to Chilokoa-Mullen before the visitors cleared. A powerful Benedictus header was accepted by Macleod and swiftly switched to Andrew Tod. He advanced but forced into shooting from 20 yards out his attempt went wide left. That proved to be the 19 year-old’s final part as Matty Todd came on for him on 85 minutes.

There were corners for both sides but no further scoring. The win takes Dunfermline on to six points with potential to reach nine if they can overcome Stirling Albion on Saturday.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), John Tod: Shea Kearney (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 59), Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 59), Ewan Otoo: Josh Cooper (Chris Hamilton 69), Chris Kane (Rory Macleod 59), Andrew Tod (Matty Todd 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran Ngwenya, Keith Bray, Alasdair Davidson, Thomas Margetts (GK)
SCORERS: A Tod (39), Kilday o.g. (70)
YELLOW CARDS: Cooper (61), Oakley-Boothe (75)

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL: Jamie Smith: Trialist #2, Kyle Macdonald, Lee Kilday (Tony Gallacher 78), Stephen Hendrie: Connor Smith (Liam Morgan 85), Steven Bradley (Stuart McKinstry 78), Trialist #11, Scott Robinson: Oli Shaw, Kevin O’Hara
SUBS NOT USED : Joshua Carson, Aaron Eadie, Michael Marks
SCORER: Shaw (69)
YELLOW CARD: Smith (45+1), Macdonald (46), Bradley (72)

REFEREE: Daniel Graves
ATTENDANCE: 2582
WEATHER: Cloudy 18 °C

NEXT MATCH (home) Premier Sports Cup v Stirling Albion, Saturday 26th July 2025, kick off 3.00pm at KDM Group East End Park