Pars boss: Referee’s put my players at risk
Dunfermline Athletic manager Stevie Crawford claimed his players were forced to risk injuries by referee Craig Napier’s decision not to call an early halt to the Arbroath clash.
The Pars’ Championship title hopes took a severe blow as first-half strikes from Thomas O’Brien and Dale Hilson helped Arbroath to only their second home win of the season.
However, Crawford insists the game should never have been allowed to finish as his players struggled to cope with the battering wind and rain at Gayfield.
“I’m normally very respectful to the opposition after games and accepting of results,” said Crawford.
“But, as Dunfermline manager, I have a duty of care to call that out.
“Both clubs were called in to see the referee before the game and told that the game would start, but if it became farcical it would be suspended.
“I need to ask what farcical actually means? For me that was farcical and, not only did it make it impossible to play any sort of football, but it put the health and wellbeing of the players into doubt.
“I had players coming in after the game saying they were worried about getting injured.
“My goalkeeper couldn’t kick the ball any distance without it blowing back at him.
“It’s not sour grapes. Arbroath played the conditions better than we did and got their goals and the win, but the game shouldn’t have continued.
“How damaging will this be to our season? We have to use it as motivation to drive ourselves on.
“We didn’t lose through lack of effort. Our players gave all they possibly could on a day where football shouldn’t have been played.”
Arbroath went into the match on the back of a four-game unbeaten run, but knew the Pars would be on a high after their 4-1 derby win over Raith Rovers.
But, with a strong wind at their back, Arbroath adjusted superbly to conditions and peppered Owain Fon-Williams’ goal with a series of long-range efforts.
Winger Bobby Linn was having a storming game and looked a real threat every time he had the ball at his feet.
He had Arbroath’s first chance as his 20-yard free-kick was heading in until Fon-Williams got his fingertips to it to turn the ball over for a corner.
Hilson was next to have a go as he brought the ball down before cracking a drive off the post from 15 yards on 23 minutes.
And the hosts took the lead on 27 minutes as O’Brien’s deflected 30-yard strike sent Fon-Williams the wrong way.
Dick Campbell’s men doubled their lead on 35 minutes with Linn again at the heart of it.
Linn’s ambitious 30-yard effort cracked off the base of the post and Hilson pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0.
Arbroath knew they were going to be up against it in the second period and sacrificed playmaker Linn at the break for the more defensive-minded David Gold.
But, while the hosts used the conditions to their advantage, the Pars failed to really test Derek Gaston.
Dunfermline’s best chance came early into the second period as Kevin O’Hara’s low strike cracked off the base of the post.
Pars struggled to create anything else worthy of note and are now 12 points adrift of leaders Hearts in the title race.
Arbroath are now up to eighth ahead of Queen of the South and Alloa.