For the second week running East Fife were at Bayview as they welcomed Annan Athletic. Last weekend East Fife secured a massive three points against out of form Elgin City. This is the fourth and potentially final time the Galabankies and the Fifers have met this season and East Fife were without a win so far, a 2-2 draw being the only points the Methil men have picked up against their playoff rivals. Annan won the other two match convincingly, 3-1 at Bayview and 3-0 at Galabank.
Greig McDonald made one change to the team that beat Elgin City 2-0 last time as Jack Healy dropped to the bench to make way for Brogan Walls. Aidan Quinn unfortunately was unable to make a return to the squad as it was deemed too early for the centre back to be back playing.
The first chance of the match came in just the second minute for the visitors when, on the edge of the box, Johnston passed the ball out wide to Kilsby who’s drilled shot trickled just wide of the post.
In the 22nd minute, East Fife had their first chance of the game. Ferguson laid the ball off to Walls on the right wing who picked out Trouten with a cross, but the East Fife man couldn't make a clean connection, allowing the Annan stopper to collect easily.
A few minutes later Annan had a chance of their own. A long ball over the top found Johnston who cut the ball back to Gibson to cut inside and cross into the unmarked Tony Wallace who’s looping header bounced off the crossbar.
With ten minutes remaining of the first half, East Fife saw another effort go a-begging. Steele played a pass from the halfway line into Ferguson who reacted quickly to pick out Shepherd making a run behind the defence. Shepherd did well to create space for the shot but couldn't keep his effort down and ballooned the ball into the car park, bringing the first half to an end.
HALF TIME: East Fife 0-0 Annan Athletic
Ten minutes into the second half East Fife could have been awarded a penalty. A loose ball in midfield fell to McManus who played a blind pass around the corner to Shepherd inside the Annan box but as the number 9 looked to dribble round his marker, he was knocked off balance, sending him tumbling in the area, but the referee wasn’t interested.
In the 78th minute East Fife had a golden chance to take the lead. From his own half, Healy broke forward, skipping past multiple Annan players only to be scythed down, just yards outside of the box, by substitute Luissint who received the tenth yellow card of the game.
With the ball positioned 20 yards out from goal, Shepherd stepped up and rifled a powerful effort off the top of the bar and out for a goal kick.
With only a minute remaining of normal time, Annan snatched the winner with a last gasp header. A free kick from the halfway line by Docherty found Swinglehurst who, in turn, knocked the ball on for Smith who, facing away from goal, managed to flick a headed effort over the on-rushing Fleming, securing the three points for the visitors.
FULL TIME: East Fife 0-1 Annan Athletic
A disappointing loss for the Fifers saw them drop two places in the league table and out of the playoff spots. The Methil men now find themselves only a point behind Forfar and Annan Athletic and one point ahead of Stenhousemuir in 5th place. Next up is an away fixture against top of the league Stirling Albion.
East Fife Team: Fleming, Newton, Denham, Steele, Murdoch (Young 90+2’), Walls, Ferguson, McManus (Schiavone 59’), Denholm (Healy 59’), Trouten, Shepherd
Annan Athletic Team: Fleming, Gibson, Kilsby, Swinglehurst, Hooper, Lyon, Docherty (McCartney 90+2’), Johnston (Galloway 33’), Wallace (Luissint 72’), Smith, Muir
Referee: Jordan Curran
Attendance: 571
Match Report by Andrew Laing