The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars bounce back in impressive style
Dunfermline: Ashcroft personifies will to make up for disappointment at Ibrox with big win over Inverness CT
DUNFERMLINE 5 INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE 1
The result itself was enough to bring on sore heads but Lee Ashcroft had more reason than the rest of his team-mates to suffer after Dunfermline’s Betfred Cup hammering from Rangers.
But the big defender eased the pain with a goal in an impressive victory over Inverness Caley Thistle that went a long way to healing the scars of Ibrox.
Ashcroft was left requiring five stitches in a gash just above his left eye following a clash of heads with Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso during the Pars’ 6-0 thrashing at Ibrox.
It meant the 23-year-old had to be wrapped in bandages to play in the visit of the Highlanders.
And the former Kilmarnock stopper shrugged off the injury to head in the Fifers’ second, right off the wound, as they provided manager Allan Johnston with the perfect response to their horror show against the Gers.
“We were all disappointed with the way Wednesday went,” said Ashcroft. “We know we should have given a better account of ourselves than that.
“Rangers were mega-favourites but we went there thinking we had a slight chance. But they started very well and got on the front foot, and from there things went downhill for us.
“But we know we’re better than that and I think Saturday was a big game for us, to bounce back and show that we are better than that.
“That was a great response from the boys. That’s the Rangers game behind us and we can start pushing up that league.”
Callum Smith gave Dunfermline the lead inside 80 seconds as he nodded on a long pass, beat goalkeeper Mark Ridgers to the ball, tamed the ricochet and slipped his shot into the unguarded net.
Then it was Ashcroft’s turn as he rose to nod in Kallum Higginbotham’s corner in the 14th minute.
“That was magic, it felt great,” he said. “It was the first header right off the spot as well.
“During the game, the adrenaline is flowing and you don’t really feel things like that.
“It’s not until after you maybe get a wee bit of a sore head. But it’s been absolutely fine.
“It didn’t even feel as if it was a proper head clash on Wednesday. I was running about and I thought it was sweat running down my face but I put my hand up and saw blood everywhere.
“They didn’t have time to stitch it up, so I just had it bandaged during the rest of the game and then the Rangers doctor did it after the game.
“I had it strapped up in training and they were telling me not to header it, but I’m a bit daft that way and I wanted to try it.
“It was a wee bit uncomfortable but I handled it fine.”
Iain Vigurs pulled one back for Inverness in the 18th minute when his in-swinging free-kick from the right evaded everyone and found the net.
Joe Cardle cut inside to curl in a brilliant third for Dunfermline four minutes from the break, and David Hopkirk flashed in a fourth from 20 yards in the 67th minute.
Cardle’s mazy run and low finish in the 90th minute capped a fine display by the East End Park men, who have aspirations of challenging for promotion this term.
“Inverness were one of the favourites for the league,” said Ashcroft. “For them to come here and for us to have played as well as we did then it can only give us confidence for the games coming up.”
Saturday was a big game for us, to bounce back and show that we are better than that. LEE ASHCROFT