Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dismal Terrors Pars hand title
KANE Ritchie-Hosler inspired Dunfermline Athletic to a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Dundee United as a thrilling Championship title race took another twist.
The waspish wide-man teed up the opener for Matty Todd before bagging a brace to condemn the sorry Tangerines to a third defeat in their last seven league games.
A late own goal by Kyle Benedictus offered no solace for the Terrors and cut no ice with the angry Arabs, who made their feelings known at full-time.
Dunfermline can now target a late push for the play-offs after edging further away from the drop zone and, in the process, have opened the door for their local rivals Raith Rovers to grab the initiative in the race for promotion.
Rovers travel to Queen’s Park today knowing a win will take them two points clear of United with just 21 left to play for.
United made two changes to the side that demolished Arbroath 4-0 at Tannadice on Saturday, with Jordan Tillson and Alex Greive replacing Kai Fotheringham and Glenn Middleton.
Dunfermline, meanwhile, named the same side that succumbed to a 2-0 derby defeat against Raith.
Todd, who was making his 100th appearance for the Pars, celebrated the milestone in style as he broke the deadlock after 11 minutes.
Ritchie-Hosler was the creator, dashing into the box before picking out the attacking midfielder with a fine low cross. Todd’s finish was clinical and composed.
While United were seeing plenty of the ball, they were toothless in the early knockings.
Conversely, Alex Jakubiak rippled the side-netting with a speculative drive as the hosts illustrated more threat in the final third when they were in possession.
United’s mounting frustration was underlined on the half-hour as
Craig Sibbald fired a hopeful effort wildly off target from 30 yards.
Dunfermline deservedly doubled their advantage as half-time approached, with a Kevin Holt tackle ricocheting into the path of the excellent Ritchie-Hosler, who slammed a clinical shot past Jack Walton from the edge of the box.
Sibbald, perhaps the only recipient of pass marks in Tangerine in the opening 45, saw an effort from 20 yards creep narrowly wide
after taking a deflection – as close as United would come in the half.
Middleton replaced Tillson at the break as Goodwin unsurprisingly felt the need to change things up, and the winger’s immediate goalbound drive was superbly blocked by Miles Welch-Hayes.
An even better opportunity fell to Louis Moult following some pinball in the Pars box, but the Tannadice marksman somehow contrived to lash his effort wide
from point-blank range. United paid a heavy price for that profligacy.
Scott McMann took a heavy touch on the halfway line, allowing the electric Ritchie-Hosler to rob the left-back before haring forward and slamming beyond Walton following a slick one-two with Jakubiak.
Greive warmed the palms of Deniz Mehmet from distance, while Middleton flashed another shot wide as United desperately sought a spark.
United pulled one back with 10 minutes to play when a Middleton delivery was inadvertently turned into his own net by Kyle Benedictus.
Too little, too late. Over to you, Rovers.
Star man: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Dunfermline)
Dunfermline Athletic (4-2-3-1): Mehmet 7; Welch-Hayes 7, FaganWalcott 7, Benedictus 7, Edwards 7 (Fisher 78); Otoo 7, Hamilton 5 (Allan 45, 7); Ritchie-Hosler 9 (Chalmers 78), Todd 8 (Moffat 70), Summers (McCann 28, 6); Jakubiak 9. Subs not used: Little, O’Halloran, Sutherland, Holmes.
Dundee United (4-3-3): Walton 6; Thomson 6, Gallagher 5, Holt 5, McMann 5; Sibbald 6, Docherty 5 (Mochrie 63), Tillson 4 (Middleton 45); Greive 5, Moult 5 (Fotheringham 63), Watt 5. Subs not used: Newman, McClelland, Graham, Grimshaw, Meekison, Cudjoe.
Referee: Colin Steven.
Attendance: 6,368.