O’hara is head man for Pars
Pars boss Stevie Crawford hailed his side’s “never-say-die” spirit after watching substitute Kevin O’hara nod home a priceless stoppage time winner at a windswept East End Park yesterday.
O’hara’s crucial goal came just nine minutes after he replaced Iain Wilson and it keeps the Fifers in second place in the Championship, still three points behind leaders Hearts who came from behind to beat Ayr United at Tynecastle.
Having looked certain to edge further clear of Queen of the South at the foot of the table, O’hara’s late hammer blow sees secondbottom Arbroath continue to lead the Dumfries club by a single point.
“It was a huge goal for us and a massive three points, especially with Hearts, Dundee and Raith Rovers also winning,” said Crawford.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game against Arbroath, and both teams tried to win the game despite the terrible conditions.
“I was really pleased to come away with a clean sheet, and the boys showed great resilience and a real never-say-die attitude going into the last few minutes.
“I was delighted that Kevin got the winning goal after he missed a penalty in the Cup tie against St Johnstone last week.”
The warm glow of Christmas Day was replaced yesterday by weather conditions that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, requiring players to grit their teeth to combat 90 minutes of cold, wind and rain.
Arbroath started brightly and might easily have gone ahead as early as the sixth minute when full-back Colin Hamilton rattled the post with a low left-foot drive from long range.
Dunfermline were being outplayed yet almost scored with their first attempt on goal.
Ryan Dow’s cross picked out top scorer Declan Mcmanus, whose volley was somehow blocked by keeper Derek Gaston.
Gaston again denied Mcmanus in the 19th minute, while visiting skipper Tom O’brien later made a crucial challenge in the six-yard box.
Arbroath remained a constant threat and it took a fingertip save at full stretch from Owain Fon Williams to keep out Luke Donnelly’s curling right-foot shot.
The home side began the second half better and went desperately close through Kyle Turner, but the contest seemed to have gradually petered out despite a raft of substitutions from both managers. However, one of those then paid off spectacularly at the death as O’hara guided a clever header past Gaston to claim all three points for the home side.
DUNFERMLINE:
(4-5-1) Fon Williams 8; Edwards 5, Murray 7, Mayo 5 (Comrie 72 5), Watson 6; Turner 7, Dow 7, Whittaker 5 (Mcinroy 72 5), Wilson 5 (O’hara 81 8), Thomas 6; Mcmanus 7. Substitutes not used – Gill, Mccann, Bowman, Berry.
ARBROATH:
(4-4-2) Gaston 8; Thomson 6, Hamilton 7, Little 6, O’brien 7; Gold 4, Mckenna 6 (Stewart 66 4), Craigen 5, Virtanen 5; Hilson 7 (Ruth 87 3), Donnelly 7 (Doolan 77 4). Substitutes not used – Gallacher, Swankie, Linn, Smith.