Saturday 28th April 2018
DUNFERMLINE strode into the promotion playoffs with ease at East End Park this afternoon, beating a hard-pressed, ten man Dumbarton 4-0.
The Pars started with determination and soon had Sons on the back foot.
On eight minutes the pressure turned to nightmare. Captain Craig Barr was dismissed after a collision with Andy Ryan in the final third.
Two goals followed rapidly for the home side.
The first was a fine volley from Kallum Higginbotham on 17 minutes.
The second was from Fraser Aird, all but confirming Dunfermline for the promotion play-offs.
A third for the hosts and a second for Aird followed on the cusp of half time, as the striker cursed the balk past Sons’ keeper Jamie Ewings from a tight angle for 3-0.
The Pars continued to pile on the pressure after the break. Ryan Williamson finished a good move to make it 4-0 on 65 minutes.
With seven minutes to go Ewings pulled off a fabulous diving save to stop Dunfermline going nap.
Though it was a grim afternoon for Dumbarton, the real attention and energy is now on the relegation play-offs starting on Wednesday night.
Full match report, photos, reaction and SonsTV coverage to follow.
Simon Barrow