With Jock Stein well into his first full season in charge at East End Park, Pars supporters had every right to feel optimistic about the future. Having narrowly avoided relegation the previous season, the Pars were sitting in a very respectable 7th place in Division One. Now, drawn away against Berwick Rangers in the first round of the Scottish Cup, there was a feeling that the Pars could achieve a good cup run to complement their fine league form.

In its match preview, the Dunfermline Press, whilst warning against underestimating Second Division Berwick Rangers, stated that "the Pars should win by a good margin, as unlike last year, they are not immersed in the relegation mire and should have the psychological advantage".

Despite the previous season's disastrous Scottish Cup, which saw the Pars dumped in the second round by Second Division Stenhousemuir, about 1000 Pars supporters made the long trip south, travelling by bus and specially chartered train.

Match Report v Berwick Rangers

"Whoever planned Berwick's approach to this game cannot feel too happy about it, for there was very little fight in Ranger's make-up. Indeed, there was almost a complete absence of the kind of football one could expect in a Scottish Cup first round tie. It could have been nerves, but on their own Shielfield Park, Berwick Rangers certainly never looked likely to develop enough power to create a surprise", wrote the Dunfermline Press reporter covering the game.

Dunfermline took the early initiative in the game, and in the first minute the Berwick keeper Fleck dropped a Peebles cross, but managed to recover before Dickson could pounce. The Athletic defence was untroubled in the early part of the game, unlike their Berwick counterparts, as a Smith drive was touched past the post by Fleck. In 10 minutes, McLindon ran through for a shot which Fleck parried, and Dickson netted the rebound. However, the strike was disallowed, as McLindon had continued to run forward after his shot, and was ruled offside. After that let off, Berwick Rangers stunned the visiting support by scoring two minutes later. Pars centre half Jackie Williamson failed to clear a ball, which broke to Kennedy, who raced in on Herriot to net.

Even with a goal of a lead, Berwick Rangers did not change their pattern of play, and continued to defend in their own half. There was menace in every Athletic move, and they returned again and again to the attack, but Rugg, McIntosh and Fleck were always in a position to thwart them. The wonder was that Rangers held out for so long, but after 26 minutes the Pars equalised. With Sweeney well inside the Berwick half, the ball was swung into the box, where Dickson's header was parried by Fleck. However, the ball returned to Charlie Dickson, who whipped the rebound into the net.

With winger Tommy McDonald in rampant form, the Berwick Rangers goal was always in danger, and so it proved a minute before the interval, when McDonald put the ball through for Dickson to touch on for Dan McLindon to slam the ball into the net.

After the break, Berwick Rangers continued to defend, although by this time Robertson had managed to contain the danger of McDonald. A Mailer long range effort hit off the bar. With 20 minutes remaining, Rangers decided to throw caution to the wind and go all out for an equaliser. For a brief moment it looked as if the gamble had paid off, when Imrie brilliantly netted a Carr free-kick. However the effort was offside, and that effectively was Berwick's last chance of the game.

Up until 10 minutes before the end, Alex Smith's shooting had been poor, but the forward made amends by lashing a beauty into the top corner of the net from all of 30 yards.

With two minutes to go, the Pars found themselves on easy street, when they scored their fourth of the afternoon. George Miller, brought the ball from the half way line through to the Ranger's penalty area, before trying a shot. Previously George's efforts had been all too high, but although this effort was also wide of the mark, it seemed to touch a defender slightly, and Dan McLindon flicked the ball into the net for his second goal.

Berwick Rangers: Fleck, MacIntosh, Robertson, Campbell, Rugg, Carr, Livingstone, Kennedy, Imrie, Slavin, Hilley.

Scorer: Kennedy (12)

Dunfermline Athletic: Herriot, Cunningham, Sweeney, Mailer, Williamson, Miller, McDonald, Smith, Dickson, McLindon, Peebles

Scorers: Dickson (26), McLindon (44, 88), Smith (80)

Referee: Mr A Crossland (Edinburgh)

Post Match Comment

In the book 'Black and White Magic', Bob Torrie, an Athletic Director at the time, had this to say of the match:

It wasn't only on the playing field that things went according to plan. The club were congratulated for arranging the special train, which arrived only four minutes behind schedule on both journeys!