Match Report - Peterhead

Peterhead 1-0 East Fife, Saturday 14^th December 2024, William Hill League 2, Balmoor Stadium

East Fife fell to third in the William Hill League 2 table this week, falling 1-0 to Peterhead at the Balmoor Stadium on Saturday before midweek results fell in favour of our closest challengers. The first-half header from Kieran Shanks was all that separated the two sides, though East Fife came close on a couple of occasions.

Peterhead were the side who started the game stronger, holding more of the ball and creating more chances. They tested McFarlane twice in the opening stages before Shanks grabbed the first and only goal of the contest. A deep cross was invited in by the East Fife backline, and the Blue Toon’s number nine capitalised on a pocket of space to loop his header over the head of the Fife goalie.

The game was scrappy, as Peterhead showed their pace on the break, with their full-backs and front line causing the Fifers some real bother.

Just before half-time, Scott Shepherd had an opportunity to grab an equaliser for the Fife. Despite getting some decent power behind the shot, it headed straight for Blessing Oluyemi who produced a quick reaction save to knock it away for a corner kick.

East Fife struggled to grow into the game in the second half, as the sides were so evenly matched. With that being said, Brian Easton had a half chance not long after the hour mark. Gordon Walker did well to keep in a deep free kick and lay the ball off to Easty, though he got far too much loft on the volleyed effort and the shot soared over the goal.

Peterhead wanted more too, and in the final minutes, they forced Liam McFarlane into an excellent save. The young goalkeeper showed his lightning-quick reactions, denying three-point-blank efforts from the Blue Toon attack.

With just two minutes to go, it looked like East Fife would nab the winner. Jess Norey stabbed the ball across the face of goal and an outstretched Pat Slattery just could not connect with the ball on the way past.

That was the game’s last piece of action, which sent the Fifers down the road empty-handed.

Reporter’s Man of the Match: Liam McFarlane

There was next to nothing that McFarlane could have done for the goal, which took the entire Fife team by surprise. The triple save at the end of the second half kept the points in the balance, along with his other half-dozen saves on the day.

Peterhead – Oluyemi, D Strachan, Goldie, Wilson, Dunne, McCarthy, Pawlett (Ja Brown 52’), Forrest, Ross (McAllister 78’), Barry (Duthie 70’), Shanks (Armour 78’). Subs not used: McKenzie, R Strachan, Jo Brown.

East Fife – McFarlane, Easton, Docherty (Walker 61’), Munro, Millar (Slattery 70’), McManus, Norey, Healy (Laaref 70’), Peggie, Shepherd (Winn 77’), Trouten. Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Blake, Gilfillan.

Referee – Sean Murdoch

Attendance – 651

Report by Oli Anderson

Ticket Info v The Spartans

Tickets for our William Hill League 2 match against The Spartans at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday 21st December are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Admission Prices

Adults - £18

Concessions* - £14

Under 16s* - £5

Parent & Child - £21

Parent & 2 Children - £24

*Proof of age may be requested

Season tickets are valid for this match.

All members of East Fife Community Football Club & East Fife Girls & Womens’ Football Club who are under 16 go free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all William Hill League 2 matches at Bayview this season.

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick-off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office for those unable to buy online.

Please note, that parent and child tickets must be purchased directly from the club office.

Supporters outside the UK and Ireland can also watch via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live streaming option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.

Match Preview - Peterhead

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Peterhead

A last-gasp winner from Jess Norey last weekend saw East Fife reclaim top spot in the William Hill League 2 table. A physical battle with Elgin City was decided in the 97th minute when Norey capitalised on a stramash in the box.

Today, East Fife face another great challenge. We venture north to play Peterhead at the Balmoor Stadium for the first time this season. Last Saturday, Peterhead fell to Clyde 3-2 in a dramatic contest.

William Hill League 2 Table

*Bonnyrigg Rose have been handed a 6-point deduction due to their failure to comply with SPFL regulations.

Last Week’s League Results

Bonnyrigg Rose P-P The Spartans

Clyde 3-2 Peterhead

East Fife 2-1 Elgin City

Forfar Athletic P-P Stranraer

Stirling Albion 0-3 Edinburgh City

This Week’s Fixtures

Elgin City vs Stirling Albion

Forfar Athletic vs Bonnyrigg Rose

Peterhead vs East Fife

Stranraer vs Edinburgh City

The Spartans vs Clyde

The Form

The Fifers

East Fife claimed their first win in six last weekend. Their form now reads five points from six games, with one win, two draws, and three losses.

The first loss came in incredibly disappointing fashion, as we slumped out of the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle for the fourth year running, losing 1-0 at home to Banks O’Dee. The second loss came in November when we fell 2-1 to Stranraer. Similar to the game at Stair Park earlier in the season, the Blues took an early lead in the first half, before a rejuvenated Fife side grabbed an equaliser not long after the restart. Unfortunately, Stranraer secured a sucker punch of a goal to claim all three points.  Most recently, we fell 3-1 to Clyde at the ZLX Stadium. The Bully Wee were the better team in the contest, and Jack Healy’s 90th-minute goal was merely a consolation.

Our draws have been frustrating, with chances to win both games. Our first was a 1-1 draw with Stirling Albion at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium before Norey’s equaliser two weeks ago cancelled out Lee Currie’s free kick to share the spoils against Bonnyrigg 1-1.

Jess Norey was on the scoresheet again the following week, as East Fife grabbed a late winner in a ding-dong battle with Elgin City. Reis Peggie opened the scoring in the first half before Gallagher’s long-range effort secured an equaliser for the Black and Whites. The game looked destined to finish a draw, but in the dying embers, East Fife’s Norey took the bull by the horns and stuck the ball in the back of the net.

Our Opposition

Peterhead have won three and lost three of their last six games. Incidentally, they are coming off the back of their third consecutive 3-2 defeat.

The Blue Toon’s first loss came at home to Edinburgh City, when a late goal from former Fifer Connor Young secured his hattrick and a victory for the Citizens. Secondly, Peterhead were knocked out of the Scottish Cup with a 3-2 defeat to League One Montrose. Kane Hester did the bulk of the damage, with two first-half goals. Finally, a Liam Scullion brace bedded Peterhead last week at the ZLX Stadium, as they lost out to Clyde, 3-2 once more.

Their wins have been of slightly varied scorelines. Firstly, Peterhead had to come from 2-0 down against Lochee United in the second round of the Scottish Cup. Former Fifer Bobby Linn grabbed a hattrick for the junior side, although the Blue Toon ran out as comfortable winners in the end, 6-3.

They have two league wins in the last six, firstly over The Spartans, as Jack Brown and Max Berry both found the net in a 2-1 win. Finally, two second-half strikes from Peterhead saw them come from behind in a recent encounter with Stirling Albion.

Previous Encounter

East Fife 2-0 Peterhead

21^st September 2024, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

East Fife were victorious over Peterhead the last time the sides met. A strong first half for East Fife saw us go into the interval two goals to the good after Trouten and Murdoch found the net.

Peterhead came out fighting in the second half, though some resolute defending from East Fife nullified the Blue Toon threat.

Squad News

Outs: Liam Newton continues to miss out through injury, as does Nathan Austin and Andrew Tod. A couple of other players will have their fitness assessed

Ins: Neil Blake, Ben Gilfillan, Logan Briggs and Masson Winn keep their place in the senior squad heading into this week. 

Match Tickets

Tickets for today’s game can be purchased online ahead of today’s game with prices as below

Adults: £15

Concession: £18

Under 16s: £5

Accompanied kids : £2

Live Stream

For our international fans, live streaming for today’s game will be available on EFTV, using a Monthly, or Annual Gold Pass. Today’s commentator will be Oli Anderson.

Club Colours

The Fifers will don the MPH-sponsored home kit this afternoon. They will wear the traditional black and gold striped shirt, with black shorts and socks. The Fife goalkeeper will be clad in orange for the tie.

Officials

The referee today will be Sean Murdoch with his assistants Callum Doyle and Owen Lawrence running the lines.

Pre-Match thoughts

This afternoon will be a challenging game, with Peterhead averaging almost three goals a game in their last six, compared to our one. With that being said, I fully believe that the Fifers can carry their momentum over from last week’s success to claim the three points again today.

‘Mon the Fife! 

Half-Season Tickets Now On Sale

We’re pleased to announce that half-season tickets for our 2024/25 campaign are now on sale.

Half-season tickets are valid for 9 home William Hill League 2 matches over the second half of this season starting with the visit of Forfar Athletic on Saturday 4th January 2025 and prices have been confirmed as follows:

Adults - £144

Concessions - £114

Students (16-19) - £74

Under 16 - £27

Tickets can be purchased by contacting the club office on 01333 426323.

Please note, that those purchasing concession or age-discounted season tickets may be asked for proof of age/disability.

All East Fife Community Football Club members under 16 years old will continue to be entitled to free admission to all SPFL Willam Hill League Two games at Bayview when accompanied by an adult or as part of an organised group.

New Date for Edinburgh City Game

Our William Hill League 2 match against Edinburgh City which was postponed on Saturday 23^rd November has now been rearranged for Wednesday 8^th January 2025 at Meadowbank Stadium with an 8:00pm kick-off.

Any tickets purchased for the original game will be valid.