The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars keeper left bemused by disputed second goal
DUNFERMLINE: Second-half controversy finishes off Fifers’ comeback hopes at Firhill
PARTICK THISTLE 2 DUNFERMLINE 0
Livid Lee Robinson hit out at the officials after their disputed decision to award Thistle a second goal killed off Dunfermline’s comeback hopes at Firhill on Saturday.
The Pars were already trailing to an early Blair Spittal strike when the moment of second half controversy occurred.
Miles Storey’s back-heeled effort trundled towards goal and was clawed away by Robinson – but not before the ball had crossed the line according to referee Kevin Clancy and his assistant.
Robinson was left bemused by the decision to award the goal that contributed to his side’s third defeat in four – a result that forces the Pars to look over their shoulder anxiously on a day that the teams below them all made up ground.
“The linesman is 40 yards away and I don’t know how he’s made the decision,” said the keeper. “Why would you give it if you weren’t sure?
“At this level it’s people’s jobs at stake. We’re not getting thousands of pounds a week and I just think they need to be sure.
“This could lead to people losing their job. I don’t know why he’s decided to give it. It was never in. The way the ball came out shows that it didn’t go in. They have to be sure to give the goal.”
There is, though, an argument that the decision to award Storey’s goal didn’t have a material impact on the match. Thistle looked dominant from the start and led when Spittal smashed in an emphatic half-volley from the edge of the box.
Their lead could have been greater were it not for a couple of good saves from Robinson to deny both Storey and Kris Doolan.
The visitors’ best period of the match arrived prior to half-time when both Robbie Muirhead and Daniel Devine were denied by the crossbar, and then Faissal El Bakhtaoui by a top Jamie Sneddon save.
But they were then made to pay for those spurned chances when Storey doubled his side’s lead and his own tally for the season.
He said: “Their keeper made a couple of good saves but we should be taking our chances better. We were confident coming into the match but the first 20 minutes killed us.
“I’ve never seen so many good players in one team. I’ve played around this league for a few years and we’ve got such a good squad with so many talented players so we shouldn’t be anywhere near where we are.”