Dunfermline 3 : 1 Forfar Athletic - Eight-man Forfar crumble

Posted Saturday, May 11, 2013 by PA

Dunfermline took advantage of three red cards to claim a 6-1 extra-time victory against Forfar and book a place in the First Division play-off final.

Forfar, who finished fourth in the Second Division, were in pole position to progress going into the game having held a 3-1 lead from the first leg.

But Mark McCulloch was first to see red after 15 minutes, Mick Dunlop followed in the 54th minute and by the time Iain Campbell was dismissed, Forfar had crumbled.

The visitors made it 4-1 on aggregate with the opening goal after six minutes when Campbell's corner found its way past goalkeeper Michal Hrivnak.

McCulloch was sent off for bringing down Allan Smith in the area but Stephen Husband fired wide from the spot.

Dunlop inadvertently sent a Smith cross past his own goalkeeper to equalise on the day, and his afternoon went from bad to worse when he was dismissed for a cynical challenge on Alex Whittle.

Angry Forfar boss Dick Campbell clashed with Dunfermline coach Neil McCann and both were sent to the stands.

The Pars went on to add a second through Ryan Thomson's 20-yard strike and made it 3-1 when Ross Millen converted a penalty after Omar Kader was adjudged to have handled.

Iain Campbell's dismissal for his protests made extra time a bridge too far, and the eight men crumbled as Smith slotted in a fourth from just inside the area and Husband added a brace.

His first was a superb 25-yard drive and the second a low drive from 12 yards to secure a 6-1 win on the day and 7-4 on aggregate.