Both sides were in need of a win in this the fourth fixture of the Championship campaign. Ross County were the visitors to KDM Group East End Park for the first time since February 2019 and having been prefixed ‘Struggling’ Ross County they had lost their lost their manager Don Cowie since the defeat to Partick Thistle the previous Saturday. Interim boss John Robertson only made one change to the starting eleven however bringing in 25 year old Yorkshireman, Kieran Phillips for the absent Jamie Lindsay. On the Staggies bench were two former Pars strikers â€" Jordan White and Nicky Clark.

In contrast Neil Lennon made five changes from the team that lost the Fife Derby last time out. In came Shea Kearney, Alfons Amade, Jefferson CÃ ¡ceres, Josh Cooper and new signing striker, Zak Rudden. That meant Ewan Otoo, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Connor Young and Tashan Oakley-Boothe dropped to the bench and Andrew Tod was out after his concussion injury at Stark’s Park.

Dean Cornelius kicked off for County attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end but first threat came from a fourth minute cross sent in by Robbie Fraser deep down the right but just too far ahead of Rudden for an opener. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen was up in the visitors’ box to get in an eighth minute cross but the defence snuffed that out.

Ross County picked out Alex Iacovitti for a ninth minute header that Mason Munn held with ease but the offside flag had already been raised. Despite audible shouts from Neil Lennon, neither side would get near enough to the goalkeeper to shoot. An Amade foul on Ross Docherty handed County a free kick 30 yards out but Ronan Hale belted the 22nd minute attempt into the Pars three man wall.

Then when play switched to the other end Cooper fired a shot on target that Ross Laidlaw palmed away but the Pars would force a corner on the right that would produce the first goal of the game. Cooper’s cross was headed on target by Gilmour, beaten away by Laidlaw but CHILOKOA-MULLEN was on hand to head the ball into the left side of the County goal. 1-0

Dunfermline continued to look the more dangerous. Chilokoa-Mullen made a break to set up Cooper but his cross was cut out and then Fraser blasted a shot over the bar from 25 yards out. Things were looking good for the Fifers but after controlling a ball from Declan Gallagher, Ronan HALE’s snapshot from 25 yards out found the Pars net and the match was back to all square in 36 minutes. 1-1

Cooper made a good run in an effort to get back ahead quickly but the defence halted him while at the other end a Randall shot was deflected into the hands of Munn. The visitors had made it a physical first 45 but after giving nine fouls against Dunfermline and just two against Ross County, referee Neil Walsh went off at the interval to a chorus of boos.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Ross County 1

The Staggies started the second half on the front foot having two James Scott shots deflected behind and heading wide from a resultant corner. The Pars first threat came from a CÃ ¡ceres cross that travelled all the way through the opposition box. Then in 58th minute a Fraser throw in on the left was headed on by CÃ ¡ceres for Cooper to collect and his ball in from the right was met by the advancing RUDDEN to direct into the bottom right of the goal. 2-1

Dunfermline got up a good head of steam encouraged by their home support and the introduction of Chris Kane for Josh Cooper. The 63rd minute sub was unlucky with his first involvement flicking on a Gilmour pass and then an impressive move up the left was finished with a Fraser cross that just evaded Rudden in front of goal and fell further right to Kearney whose attempt went high. Zak Rudden left to a standing ovation for his Dunfermline debut making room for Connor Young in 74 minutes.

The Pars successfully defended a free kick after Kyle Benedictus picked up an 80th minute yellow card. The Highlanders made serious attempts to find a late equaliser with sub Jay Henderson crashing the ball into the sidenetting and Docherty whacking a good chance wide. Just when it looked like the Fifers might hold out for the three points, sub Gary Mackay-Stevens won the ball on the left and set up HALE who struck a low shot from the left corner of the penalty box and ball nestled in the far side of Munn’s net. 2-2

Dunfermline were made to suffer for not extending their lead when they were clearly on top. When County hit back in 89th minute it felt like a defeat. The point meant the Pars went to fifth in the league and Ross County remained joint bottom on two points.

DUNFERMLINE: Mason Munn: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), John Tod: Shea Kearney, Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade (Chris Hamilton 83), Robbie Fraser: Jefferson CÃ ¡ceres (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 83): Zak Rudden (Connor Young 74), Josh Cooper (Chris Kane 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Ewan Otoo, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Sam Fisher, Keith Bray, Billy Terrell (GK)
SCORERS: Chilokoa-Mullen (23), Rudden (58)
YELLOW CARD: Gilmour (13), Benedictus (80), Hamilton (90+4)

ROSS COUNTY: Ross Laidlaw: Akil Wright, Declan Gallagher, Alex Iacovitti: Connor Randall (c), Dean Cornelius (Arron Lyall 67), Ross Docherty, Len O’Sullivan (Gary Mackay-Steven 86): James Scott (Jay Henderson 67), Kieran Phillips (Jordan White 29), Ronan Hale
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Crompton, Dylan Smith, Nicky Clark, Adam Emslie, Bradley Foster (GK).
SCORER: Hale (36, 89)
YELLOW CARDS: Gallagher (13), Wright (90+4)

REFEREE: Nick Walsh
ATTENDANCE: 4878 (inc 170 away fans)
WEATHER: Changeable 16 °C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (away) v Arbroath, Saturday 13th September 2025, 3.00pm kick off at Gayfield Park.