The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dunfermline too slick for battling Forfar side
Kane Ritchiehosler’s family found out he’d scored his first senior goal through a goalflash on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.
They weren’t able to attend as the Rangers loanee was handed his first start in a Dunfermline Athletic jersey in a 4-0 win over Forfar in the Scottish Cup.
“I think a couple of my friends came to watch,” said a “buzzing” Ritchiehosler, barely able to wipe the grin off his face.
“My parents were a bit busy, unfortunately, but they saw it come up on Sky Sports. They are very happy for me.”
Craig Wighton opened the scoring from Aaron Comrie’s cutback, but Ritchie-hosler’s pass helped create the attack. He then reacted to the ball bouncing off Rhys Breen after a long throw, to finish low past Forfar Athletic keeper Marc Mccallum.
“I think Breeny flicked it on,” added the Manchester City academy product.
“I didn’t know if he was going to get to it, but he left it and it was inviting to hit.
“I got a good connection on it and I’m just happy that it went in.”
He wasn’t done there. Ritchie-hosler then played his part in the third, slipping in Edwards to put the game out of sight before half-time.
Before Saturday he’d made three appearances from the bench and most recently impressed in the reserves versus Hibernian.
Ritchie-hosler revealed after the game that manager James Mcpake had told the forward to “express himself”, and he did just that.
Pars assistant Dave Mackay said he has done his chances of a league start no harm with his performance.
“It was great to get my first start,” said Ritchie-hosler.
“I have had to be patient and I think I did well. I am buzzing, you could see that from my reaction, but with all the fans and everything it was great.
“It is a great team to be in and I think we moved the ball really well throughout the game today. I am buzzing.”
That’s despite limping into the press area following a heavy challenge from Andy Munro in the first half.
The Rangers youngster came out after half-time, but didn’t last too much longer before he was replaced.
The Pars then went on to score a fourth through Wighton’s clever chip.
“I think (taking me off) was just not to risk anything,” said Ritchie-hosler.
“I still felt it from the first half and wanted to see how it would carry on into the second. I felt it so it was a precaution to come off and try to be ready for next week.
“I was really annoyed coming off, but you don’t want to risk anything.”
This match panned out pretty much as expected given the respective league positions of the side.
The key part of the match came when Mochrie – and to a lesser extent Ritchiehosler – started to drop deeper to link play.
Mochrie dropped into his own half, almost level with Rhys Breen at times.
Forfar didn’t come to sit in, but it took the Pars a while to figure them out.
The Dundee United loan man was coming deep to start attacks, while Edwards pushed on like a left winger, was key to this.
Stefan Mccluskey went closest for the visitors when he shot over the bar at 0-0 and looked like he could cause the Pars a few issues.
He was moved back into midfield by Mckinnon in a half-time switch, but he and Forfar were chasing the game in a difficult second half.
Mcpake wouldn’t have been exactly sure how his opponents would line up given the recent change of manager.
Mckinnon had played a back four and a back three in his two draws after taking over.
And to their credit, Mckinnon’s side tried to take the game to the Pars – many sides the league above them have come to East End Park to pack the defence. However, Dunfermline’s quality told on the day.