The first Saturday in July saw Dunfermline travel to play their League One neighbours in their penultimate pre-season friendly. With both Kyle Benedictus and Dunfermline, Tashan Oakley-Boothe captained the Pars team. New signing Alfons Amade started and there was the unusual presence of twin brothers on opposing benches â€" Pars keeper Thomas Margetts and Archie on Kelty’s.

Keith Bray kicked off with the visitors attacking the goal at the south end of the ground. Apart from one Taylor Sutherland shot that was closed out there was nothing noteworthy until 12th minute when a Josh Cooper corner from the right was met by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and then the Trialist but both headed efforts were cleared by the home defence.

Dunfermline looked the more likely to break the deadlock with surging runs first by Cooper laid off to Sutherland and then by Sutherland laid off to Otoo but the final ball let the moves down. It was an individual disaster for former Craig Clay that provided Dunfermline with the softest of goals in 18th minute. The former Pars player completely misplaced his pass back to his keeper laying the way wide open for COOPER to accept the gift and stick it away in the open goal.

Kelty’s first attempt on Deniz Mehmet’s goal came midway through the first half, Craig Johnston striking his 20 yard strike narrowly over the crossbar. The game was lacking goalmouth action and there were 36 minutes on the clock when an Arnott cross picked out Innes Murray only for his on target shot to be turned away by Mehmet for a corner.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler forced another Dunfermline corner and it looked like the half would fizzle out in true pre-season. Kelty however won possession on the edge of the visitors’ box and Lewis MOORE evaded challenges to find the net with a low shot to the bottom right.

Half time: Kelty Hearts 1 Dunfermline 1

Connor Young and Sam Fisher came on for the start of the second half with Keith Bray and Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen withdrawn. Josh Cooper dropped back to perform Bray’s no.10 role with Young upfront. In sixth minute of the half Ritchie-Hosler produced an excellent cross from the right and Cooper met it with header that he unluckily powered outside the near post.

On 53 minutes the Trialist Kelty keeper saved his defence’s blushes to touch away a Sutherland effort but the yellow kitted keeper could do nothing a minute later to stop YOUNG’s cool finish to the base of the right upright. It came after Tod and Otoo combined for the latter to lay the ball on a plate for the young striker’s first Dunfermline goal. 1-2

On 58 minutes all the outfield subs that did not come on for the second half replaced the outfield players who had started. Immediately slackness in the Kelty defence allowed Young another great chance to score but his attempt was off target.

A fine through ball from Freddie Rowe sent Jake Sutherland chasing in on goal. Mercer shadowed him but Jake managed to touch the ball back for Young to draw a good diving save out of the keeper from the edge of the box. Teed up from Rowe’s resilient run, Lucas FYFE hit the crossbar from 25 yards out. He was to do even better with virtually the last kick of the game, dispatching a fine shot from the right side of the box into the top corner. 1-3

The Championship side dominated the second half and possibly should have bagged a few more goals. More useful game time for Neil Lennon’s charges and on to Methil on Tuesday.

KELTY HEARTS: Jay Kennedy: Murray Thomas (Kai Kirkpatrick 85), Scott Mercer (Corrie Fellows 74), Craig Clay, Brody Paterson, Alex Ferguson, Lewis Moore (Robert Cole 67), Aaron Arnott, Innes Murray, Luke McCarvel, Craig Johnston (c) (James Graham 74)
SUBS NOT USED: Grant Leitch, Clark Bexfield, Adam Winiarski, Archie Margetts, Cole Miller (GK)
SCORER: Moore (45)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Sam Fisher HT), Trialist (Kyle Benedictus 58), John Tod (Kieran Ngwenya 58): Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Ewan McLeod 58), Alfons Amade (Chris Hamilton 58), Tashan Oakley-Boothe (c) (Matthew Todd 58), Ewan Otoo (Freddie Rowe 58): Keith Bray (Connor Young HT), Taylor Sutherland (Jake Sutherland 58), Josh Cooper (Lucas Fyfe 58)
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Margetts (GK)
SCORERS: Cooper (18), Young (59), Fyfe (90)
YELLOW CARDS: Alfons (44), Hamilton (73)

REFEREE: Jordan Curran
ATTENDANCE: 1272
WEATHER: Fine 18 °C

NEXT MATCH (away) Pre-Season Friendly v East Fife, Tuesday 8th July 2025 at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, kick off 7.30pm