Dunfermline got the better of Montrose in an incredible fourth round Scottish Cup replay at East End Park.
The two sides had drawn 2-2 at Links Park at the start of this month with a late Paul Tosh goal securing the third division side a second bite at going through to meet Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the next round.
That Scottish Cup dream was ended by the Pars but the Angus part-timers refused to go down without a fight. They had looked dead and buried at 5-1 down but battled back to 5-3 in a thrilling finish which also saw Pars keeper Chris Smith sent off.
Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre said, “We played some great stuff tonight. I thought we were a treat going forward. We played with a high tempo from the start and took a handsome lead but then we switched off.
“We conceded some bad goals and lost our keeper to a red card which I thought was slightly harsh. But the important thing is we are in the next round up in Aberdeen which will bring the club some much-needed revenue.”
McIntyre made two changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Dundee at the weekend with Willie Gibson and Steven McDougall coming in for Pat Clarke and Paul Willis who both dropped to the bench.
Montrose player-manager Steven Tweed made just the one change from the side which won away at Albion Rovers on Saturday with Gordon Pope replacing Sean Crighton in the starting line-up.
The Pars started brightly, zipping the ball about the slick East End surface and they almost made a dream start in the fifth minute. Skipper Austin McCann made an overlapping run down the left flank and sent over a tempting cross into the Montrose box which youngster Ryan Thomson headed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
Shortly after, it was the turn of the other Dunfermline full-back Calum Woods to pose a threat when he cut in from the right and hit a 20-yard shot which flew narrowly past Sandy Wood’s near post.
However, the Pars did not have long to wait for the opener when Gibson found himself with too much time and space on the right in the 11th minute to send an inch-perfect cross towards Andy Kirk and the Northern Ireland internationalist made no mistake with a bullet header from eight yards.Tweed injuryMontrose suffered a further blow five minutes later when Tweed had to hobble off with what looked like a hamstring injury to be replaced by Sean Crighton. Without Tweed’s on-field presence, the Angus side quickly began to look ragged and came close to conceding another when Steven McDougall went tearing down the right before pulling back a perfect ball to Gibson lurking unmarked on the Montrose penalty spot. However, Wood came to the rescue with a vital save.
Just after the half-hour mark, the Pars’ Neil McGregor spurned an opportunity to extend his side’s lead when he completely missed with an attempted header from a Gibson corner from close range.
Montrose finally made Dunfermline goalie Smith make a save of sorts when he came to gather a mis-hit Ryan McCord shot in the 36th minute. Shortly after, the Pars had a real scare when a Douglas Cameron corner kick fizzed across goal but no one in a Montrose jersey could make contact.
And the Angus side were made to rue that missed chance in the 40th minute when Gibson cracked a vicious shot from 20 yards off the underside of Wood’s bar.
McDougall was fastest to react and he bundled the loose ball into the back of the net with his chest to send Dunfermline in at the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
There was a sensational opening to the second half when Montrose pulled one back after just two minutes. McCord cut in from the right and hit a fierce shot which Smith did well to parry. Unfortunately for Dunfermline, the ball then cannoned off Woods and into the back of his own net.
However, a minute later, Dunfermline re-established their two-goal cushion when Davie Graham hit what looked like a cross from the left which instead looped over Wood and into the Montrose net. And Graham made it a quick-fire double in the 52nd minute. Gibson fed McCann on the left and he played a measured ball into Graham’s path and he made no mistake.
Graham was involved in the next counter nine minutes later when he was sent clean through on goal by a superb ball by substitute Nick Phinn only to be chopped down inside the Montrose box by Stephen McNally who was booked by referee Crawford Allan.
Gibson stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it past Wood, sending the keeper the wrong way.
However, to their credit, Montrose refused to lie down and pulled another back in the 73rd minute when Tosh headed home a cross from substitute Chris Hegarty. They were then awarded a penalty in the 86th minute after Pars keeper Smith brought down Martin Boyle.
Smith was sent off and McCann put on the keeper’s jersey but he was helpless as Tosh hit the spot kick into the back of the net.
Tweed said, “The lads played very well tonight but we lost poor goals defensively. But to score three goals here is great testament to their spirit and fitness.”
Attendance 1541Dunfermline Athletic Smith, Woods, McCann, Mason (Phinn, 57), McGregor, Keddie, Gibson (Willis, 63), Thomson, McDougall, Kirk (Clarke, 63), Graham. Subs not used Dowie, Allison.Montrose Wood, McNally, Pope, Campbell, Tweed (Crighton, 16), Cameron, McCord (Hegarty. 69), Masson, Tosh, Smith (Boyle, 60), Sinclair. Subs not used Thomson, Capstick.Referee Crawford Allan.
There was a sensational opening to the second half when Montrose pulled one back after just two minutes. McCord cut in from the right and hit a fierce shot which Smith did well to parry. Unfortunately for Dunfermline, the ball then cannoned off Woods and into the back of his own net.
However, a minute later, Dunfermline re-established their two-goal cushion when Davie Graham hit what looked like a cross from the left which instead looped over Wood and into the Montrose net. And Graham made it a quick-fire double in the 52nd minute. Gibson fed McCann on the left and he played a measured ball into Graham’s path and he made no mistake.
Graham was involved in the next counter nine minutes later when he was sent clean through on goal by a superb ball by substitute Nick Phinn only to be chopped down inside the Montrose box by Stephen McNally who was booked by referee Crawford Allan.
Gibson stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it past Wood, sending the keeper the wrong way.
However, to their credit, Montrose refused to lie down and pulled another back in the 73rd minute when Tosh headed home a cross from substitute Chris Hegarty. They were then awarded a penalty in the 86th minute after Pars keeper Smith brought down Martin Boyle.
Smith was sent off and McCann put on the keeper’s jersey but he was helpless as Tosh hit the spot kick into the back of the net.
Tweed said, “The lads played very well tonight but we lost poor goals defensively. But to score three goals here is great testament to their spirit and fitness.”
Attendance 1541Dunfermline Athletic Smith, Woods, McCann, Mason (Phinn, 57), McGregor, Keddie, Gibson (Willis, 63), Thomson, McDougall, Kirk (Clarke, 63), Graham. Subs not used Dowie, Allison.Montrose Wood, McNally, Pope, Campbell, Tweed (Crighton, 16), Cameron, McCord (Hegarty. 69), Masson, Tosh, Smith (Boyle, 60), Sinclair. Subs not used Thomson, Capstick.Referee Crawford Allan.