O’Hara in a good place once again

KEVIN O’HARA paid the penalty in Dunfermline’s recent Betfred Cup defeat to St Johnstone but kept his head to clinch a crucial league victory over Arbroath.

The former Falkirk striker was the villain with his miss against Saints in the spot-kicks’ decider but was the Boxing Day hero with the winner in the first minute of injury-time.

‘It’s that never-say-die attitude towards the end and it’s a great header from Kevin O’Hara,’ said Pars manager Stevie Crawford. ‘I’m delighted for him because he had a penalty saved in the St Johnstone game.

‘It’s great for Kevin because that will be a valuable three points and he’s the one who has come away with the winner.

‘It’s a big win. The goal will help pick him up but he never showed any weakness and it’s that mentality that allows him to score. He has shown his professionalism.’

Arbroath would have been delighted with the way they coped with poor conditions to threaten repeatedly.

Colin Hamilton pinged a 30-yard drive off the inside of Owain Fon Williams’ left-hand post after just six minutes and the Pars goalkeeper had to dive to his left to prevent a Luke Donnelly curler from sneaking in at the same side in the 26th minute.

However, Dunfermline will also have felt they should have been ahead. Declan McManus should have directed his volley past Derek Gaston instead of straight at the Arbroath keeper, who repelled Dom Thomas’ follow-up with his feet.

But the Pars snatched victory at the death. Arbroath allowed a throw-in to bounce and Thomas scampered cleared before crossing for the supporting Josh Edwards and his centre was headed high into the net by O’Hara.

‘That’s the first third of the fixtures and we’ve got 18 points,’ added Crawford. ‘So, we’re in a good place at the moment.’