THE sense of charity was palpable around East End Park yesterday.
Amid the rattling of buckets, clinking of change and scribbling on sponsor sheets, the announcement kick-off was delayed due to the swell of people clamouring to get in was by far the most encouraging noise prior to the derby between cash-strapped Dunfermline Athletic and Cowdenbeath.
Yet it was the generous nature of Cowden substitute Kyle Miller that was to offer the biggest dose of light relief to the ailing natives among the 4879 watching on. The striker had been on the park for just five minutes when his clumsy challenge on Allan Smith not only brought about a penalty, and a resulting goal through Stephen Husband, but a lifeline that could prove to be priceless for Jim Jefferies and his team.
After being docked 15 points for entering administration, Dunfermline were plunged into ninth place in the first division, with relegation becoming the latest worry in a growing list of concerns for the club's players, at least those who still remain there. However, the dark cloud of gloom gave its first glimpse yesterday of relenting, with Jefferies' side pulling themselves out of that play-off space and above their Fife rivals with just two games to go, albeit on goal difference.
"It was a massive game for obvious reasons, and with a young team all you can do is ask them to go out and give it their best shot," said Jefferies, whose side now face newly-crowned champions Partick Thistle next week. "The players are buzzing in the changing room, it's been a big ask for them. I've told them that it's all going to be positive from now on, the fans won't criticise you, they will just support you. And they did that again today."
The contrast between this encounter and these two sides' first this term will not be lost on Jefferies. On that occasion back in August, his squad of established first-teamers and SPL regulars rubber-stamped their status as title favourites by shrugging off the meagre challenge of their hosts in a 4-0 procession. Only three of the starting XI from the first day of the campaign featured in yesterday's youthful and makeshift lot.
"Alex Whittle is a young left winger trying to make his name, then he's thrust in at left-back, but he's just got better and better," added Jefferies about one of his young talents on show yesterday. "I said to him a few weeks ago that you'll either be Jordi Alba or Radio Alba, and he's certainly getting further away from radio."
Perhaps the five-minute delay to kick off served to unsettle the inexperienced team, with Ryan Thomson's offside goal on five minutes the brief highlight in a blood-and-snotters first half that thundered back and forward at a frantic pace. But the patience of the healthy home crowd was eventually rewarded on the 67th minute, courtesy of the flailing leg of Miller. Husband then showed a cool head to thunder the ball straight down the throat of Thomas Flynn, who did just about enough to get out of the road of it.
While a spot kick was required for the hosts due to their limited shots on goal, chances at the other end were even harder to come by. Manager Colin Cameron, who substituted himself off with half an hour to play, watched his side do their best to prevent Dunfermline building anything tangible, only to construct their own downfall in the process.
"I don't think any team deserved to win the game," he said. "It was a battle, and it was a mistake from ourselves that cost us. It is a sore one to take, but obviously matters are now out of our hands."
After a day of giving at East End Park, ironically it is Cameron and Cowdenbeath who are now left hoping to benefit from the kindness of others.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article