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DUNFERMLINE have breathed a huge sigh of relief after learning that Lewis Martin will not be banned for this weekend’s crucial bottom-of-the-table clash with St Mirren.
The stopper was red-carded in the 57th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Dundee United in the IRN-BRU Cup after, as the last defender, he hauled back Blair Spittal.
The Pars were angered by the decision, arguing the incident took place 45 yards from goal and that fellow centre-half Lee Ashcroft was capable of covering Spittal’s run to goal.
Referee Willie Collum’s report to the Scottish FA rules the 20-year-old was guilty of the A4 offence of ‘denying the opposing team or an opponent a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity’.
That carries with it an automatic one-match suspension but only in the same competition, ensuring Martin will be banned from Dunfermline’s first match in the Challenge Cup next season.
It means he is free to face St Mirren, which is good news for the Fifers, who are already without midfielder Nat Wedderburn for the trip to Paisley following his red card in last Tuesday’s league defeat to United at Tannadice.
The Pars sit just five points above the bottom-placed Buddies after taking only two wins from their opening 13 league outings.
