Dunfermline

Dunfermline 0-0 Falkirk Dunfermline progress 4-2 on penalties Dunfermline held their nerve on penalties to advance to a first Scottish Cup final since 2007, beating their third Premiership side, and bitter rivals Falkirk, at Hampden. Neil Lennon’s side started superbly, with former Falkirk star Callum Morrison latching onto Chris Kane’s headed pass in the opening minutes, but his right-footed strike flew wide of Scott Bain’s goal. Despite their Premiership status, Falkirk struggled with the physicality and intensity of Dunfermline’s press. Lennon’s side hunted the ball, harassing navy shirts at every opportunity. John McGlynn cut a frustrated figure on the Hampden touchline. The early opportunity was a wake-up call for the Premiership side, who eventually found their rhythm. Filip Lissah headed over from Calvin Miller’s free kick, after beating the press for the first time in the match. Barney Stewart got his first sight of goal on the half-hour mark, Aston Oxborough gathered his back-post header, before flicking Keelan Adam’s cross wide moments later. The former Dunfermline loanee had been on the receiving end of some crunching tackles from his previous teammates. Miller has been one of McGlynn’s many bright sparks throughout the season, with 6 goals and 9 assists in the Scottish Premiership. The winger was continually afforded too much time in the attacking left areas; another low cross narrowly evaded Stewart as the half crept to an end. Lennon’s side matched their opposition physically, but needed to gain more control of the ball to halt the continuous waves of Falkirk attacks. The second half began much like the first, with Morrison bursting toward goal after winning possession on the halfway line. However, a lapse in decision-making saw the chance go begging – a simple pass to the unmarked Tod might have been the better option. Despite the pedigree of two sides who have combined for 95 league goals this season, the game remained uncharacteristically tense. With 20 minutes remaining, Kyrell Wilson spearheaded a break before finding Ben Broggio in space on the left. The Aston Villa loanee cut inside, but his right-footed effort drifted wide, leaving both sides still searching for a breakthrough. John Beaton brought an abject second half to a close. Falkirk’s trademark free-flowing form was nowhere to be found. Instead, Lennon’s determined Pars continued to frustrate their bitter rivals, and with a bit more quality up front, could steal the game. Dunfermline were inches away from securing their final place in extra time. Tashan Oakley-Boothe delivered a dangerous low cross, which Lucas Fyfe couldn’t convert on the stretch. The opening goal would surely decide this tentative semi-final. In the 108th minute, another chance flashed for Fyfe. The 17-year-old nipped in to recover a hopeful ball on the edge of the box; however, his resulting shot was tame and easily gathered by Scott Bain. Incredibly, Fyfe spurned a golden opportunity moments later. Todd and Oakley-Boothe combined brilliantly down the left to square the ball to the youngster, only for his effort to crash off the crossbar. Substitute Ethan Ross forced Oxborough into a save moments later. Both teams were sapped of energy in the Hampden sun, but were producing the best period of the match. Pars fans would have had their hearts in their mouths after Henry Cartwright fell to the floor in the Dunfermline box. But John Beaton quickly awarded the midfielder his second yellow card after a blatant dive. The lottery of a penalty shootout ensued. Falkirk missed their first two penalties to give Dunfermline the advantage. Oakley-Boothe smashed home the winning penalty to secure an emotional victory for Lennon’s inspired side. Dunfermline: Oxborough, Chilokoa-Mullen (Hamilton 106’) Abdulai, Ngwenya, Todd (Fyfe 101’) Amade (Oakley-Boothe 76’), Gilmour, Fraser, Tod, Morrison (Morrison 68’) Kane (Cooper 76’) Falkirk: Bain, Lissah, Allan (Neilson 109’) Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Tait, (Cartwright 102’) Yeats (63’) Miller (Ross 102’) Broggio, (Graham 106’) Stewart (Parkinson 83’)

Neil Lennon believes his side’s rescheduled calendar has been “unfair” as his Dunfermline side aim to reach their first Scottish Cup Final since 2007 this weekend. Speaking ahead of their tie with Falkirk, the manager reckons his side have been “punished” for international call-ups. Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Airdrieonians means The Pars have played four matches across the last fourteen days leading up to the semi-final. “We’re getting punished for players getting picked for Scotland and for getting to the semi-final.” “I’m really annoyed about how many games we’ve had to play leading into this game. It’s been really, I think, unfair.” “The game on Tuesday could have been moved a couple of weeks down the line before the end of the season. So we’ve had to go Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday into this game.” “People might have been complaining about the integrity of our team selection on Tuesday,” Lennon suggested. “Well, it’s not our fault. Our hands were forced into that – and we got the result anyway. “But, if other clubs were upset about my team selection, they should take it up elsewhere. We did ask a couple of times if other games could be moved, and it was a big flat ‘no’.” Lennon won the Scottish Cup four times as a Celtic player, and having picked off Hibernian and Aberdeen earlier in the competition, the Pars manager is no stranger to upsetting Premiership opposition. We’ve played very well to get here, so we want to make the most of it.” “I’ve told the players that nobody remembers the semi-finals, so let’s try and make that next step. “It would just be another accomplishment for me. I’ve had a good career. I’ve faced up to a lot of challenges and overcome them. This would be up there with any of them – I’m really excited about it.” Lennon praised his opposing manager, John McGlynn, and believes his success with Falkirk should put the Scottish Champions, Celtic, on notice in their search for a new manager. “I think he should be in the conversation for the next Celtic manager as well. “Whether that would appeal to John, I don’t know, and I don’t want to throw him under the bus. I apologise to the Falkirk people as well, but that’s how I rate John. “I don’t think I’ve ever come up against him in a competitive game. He’s in the way on Saturday, so we’ll just have to go at it as best we can. “I’ve got such admiration and respect for what he’s achieved, not just at Falkirk but throughout his career.”