Football in July seems weird – it’s all right for things like the World Cup, particularly if it’s held in some exotic location, but the Scottish summer seems more appropriate for things like holidays, golf or even weddings. However, if you are going to play, then a Challenge cup tie provides a half-way house between a meaningless friendly, and proper competition, and allows players and fans the opportunity to ease themselves into the new season.

Having avoided the pre-season fare this year it was my first chance to see the new look Pars team. Not surprisingly, it looked a lot like the old one, although there was a competitive debut for Alex Keddie, a second debut for Pat Clarke, and arguably a third debut for Chris Smith in goals. Paul Willis was the only possible concession to youth, although he had shown up well by all accounts in the disappointing preparatory schedule, as the Pars started with a strong 4-4-2. Woods, Dowie, Keddie and captain McCann were the back 4, Mason and Bell the mid-field duo, Willis was on the right, Graham on the left, and Kirk and Clarke hoped to produce the first of many goals as first choice forward pairing.

New Red Lichties manager Paul Sheerin had one or two familiar faces in his line-up – Jay Shields and Kieran McAnespie as the full-backs and Danny Griffin at centre-back, but it was his assistant manager Stewart Petrie, the Pars’ all-time leading scorer in this competition, who got the warmest welcome.

Arbroath took the kick-off defending the Cowdenbeath end and although early action was cagey, both sides had a couple of decent chances in the first quarter. Dimilta got in a cross in the second minute, but Keith Gibson was off target with his connection, then when Woods put in an early cross Clarke hit his shot into the ground at the back post, rather than get a clean strike. The best chance came to McAnespie from a corner after the visitors had broken swiftly, but he nodded past the post with Smith rooted to his line.

The majority of the Pars play was down the right, with David Graham relatively underemployed, and Woods put in another cross in 20 minutes but Mason’s glancing header was always destined for the side-netting.

After the early problems the Pars defence looked pretty comfortable although they had a shaky moment in 26 minutes - Keddie’s clearance rebound off Falkingham to McGowan, but the pair over-elaborated and Smith was able to intercept.

Jim McIntyre was exhorting his mento pass quickly. This they were doing, but mostly sideways and backwards as Arbroath flooded the midfield. However, the Pars, and Graham in particular, began to come more into the game. Willis got the first effort on target in the 37th minute, although it was a tame header, before Dowie broke forward, found Clarke in a bit of space but his shot from 22 yards was well parried by Hill. Clarke looked to have done better in 41 minutes, evading 3 players to set up a shot from similar distance, which was deflected by Bell into the net with the keeper flummoxed – but Steven had strayed off-side and the goal was denied.

Half –time: Pars 0 Red Lichties 0

No changes at half time for either side – Arbroath were presumably more than happy to be on level terms, but the Pars would be thinking they were beginning to get on top. Certainly the home team started brightly, Graham found some early space for a shot (which sliced wildly right) and Kirk will feel he should have done better when latching onto a horror Shields back-pass, but Hill tipped his lob over the top. From the corner Dowie put a free header past the post from inside the six-yard box – he will feel he should have done better too. Next to go close was Clarke – Kirk timed his 52nd minute run to perfection to accept Bell’s pass and squared the ball along the edge of the six-yard box. Clarke’s first touch put the ball behind him, but his extravagant back-heel, even though it went past the post, brought the crowd to its feet.

Kirk had a shot over the top for the angle, and it began to look like when, not if, the Pars would score. Cardle came on for Willis to help things along (Graham swapping to the right), and after Woods was over ambitious with a chip from the edge of the box, Kirk looked like he was about to break the deadlock when he was on to a through ball in a flash, rounding the keeper only to see his rather scuffed effort come back off the far post. The off-side flag was up, but it wasn’t up a minute later when Graham played the pass in an almost identical move. Again Kirk rounded the keeper but this time was firmer and on target, and the Pars led one-nil.

Any hopes that the Pars would relax into their A-game soon proved inaccurate. The impressive former Leeds startlet Falkingham – short in stature but long on talk – got himself booked for appraising the linesman’s performance too loudly, before Sheerin spurned a great chance. An Arbroath free-kick on the half way line was delivered into the box, not cleared properly and the player-manager volleyed past with the home defence static.

However that was a rare threat from the visitors as it belatedly became obvious which was the first division side. Cardle’s aerial trap – controlling the ball in mid air in his midriff - allowed him beyond Shields to feed Clarke. Pat’s first effort was blocked, but he used his hand to control the rebound and although he smashed his second effort into the net the goal didn’t stand. McDougall and Phinn got a run instead of Kirk and Bell, Mason send a volley from a corner inches over the top and Hill produced another decent stop from a Graham half-volley with 6 minutes left. Clarke also had another chance to break his goal-duck picking up McAnespie’s poor pass but dragged his shot wide.

And that was pretty much that – a late flurry from the visitors didn’t cause any alarms and the Pars were through to the next round.

Final Score: Dunfermline Athletic 1 Arbroath 0.

This was a forgettable performance, but there were positives. We won, we kept a clean sheet, Kirk got a goal (which strikers need) and some players got some match time. Kirk and Clarke showed some promise and Mason showed plenty of appetite for the ball. Next up is...Arbroath (although there is another intervening friendly). Second games are usually much closer – let’s hope that’s not the case this time.