East Fife 2-2 Kelty Hearts (East Fife win 5-4 on penalties), Friday 15th December 2023
MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, Knockout Cup R1
The Young Fifers squeezed past Kelty Hearts’ U20s side needing penalty kicks to overcome our Fife rivals. The line-up included many who have featured in and around the first team, and the squad is full of experience considering their age.
They got off to a stellar start too, taking the lead inside 5 minutes. A failed attempted clearance ended up right in the path of Bodhi Taylor. The striker readied himself, and launched his half volley into the far corner, scoring a true poacher’s goal.
Matty Rollo then had to make a fantastic save, just seconds after the restart, and did so very well, in what was a strong showing for the youngster.
In the opening stages, it became apparent that the Kelty Hearts’ tactics were to go from the long drop kick from the ‘keeper up to the attacker and go from there. Credit goes to Adam Wilkie and Charlie Murray at the back, who both did a stellar job in snuffing out the danger.
Just after the half an hour mark, Rollo did excellently once again, as he rushed off his line, into the danger zone, cutting out a cutback, and launching an East Fife counterattack. It sadly came to nothing, but the speed, and distribution from Rollo was very impressive.
In the 18th minute, the Young Fifers doubled their advantage, this time through Brendan Ramsay. It came from a well implemented high press, as the team worked together to dispossess the Kelty winger, before Ramsay got onto the end of a floated ball and fired his shot into the bottom right corner.
After the initial quick start, both sides settled into the game soon after, and the game was largely played in the midfield, with both sides defending resolutely. Kelty got themselves back into the game just before half time, when they capitalised on a stramash in the box from a corner kick.
Half Time: East Fife U20s 2-1 Kelty Hearts U20s
The second half saw the game break down much more than the first, with both sides creating a few half chances, but never really looking like scoring. The equaliser, when it did come, came from absolutely nothing as well.
It wasn’t until the 75th minute that we saw it, and nobody knew much about it, including the scorer! The Kelty right back sclaffed his cross, for lack of a better word, though the angle in which it came down dumbfounded Rollo and found itself in the back of the net.
That was a sucker punch for the Fifers, causing the game to eventually go to penalties.
It has to be said, that every one of the Fifers who started, and came on looked impressive, and all caused bother, in one way or another. Notably, the pace in the Fife front line was blistering, and I trust that it will cause more teams issues in weeks to come.
The shootout came around with winners advancing to the second round of the Knockout Cup.
Jude Black stepped up first, and beat the ‘keeper, with a well struck pen handing the Fifers the lead. The Kelty Hearts taker replied, 1-1. Next up was Brendan Ramsay, who also struck his well, giving the Fifers the lead for the second time. Like the first, Kelty replied, making it two apiece.
Full back Tyler Dickson took Fife’s third, and made no mistake about it, 3-2 Fife. Kelty stood firm though, answering back for 3 apiece. 16-year-old Jaiden Fairley was next, and the central midfielder tucked his penalty away nicely, putting the pressure back on the visitors. As the saying goes though, pressure is for tyres and footballs, and the Kelty youngster answered back with a tidy finish.
The last man to step up for the Fifers was Adam Wilkie, who has been in the Fife set up for a number of years. He once again tucked his away, making it sudden death for Kelty Hearts. Finally, Kelty cracked, and the 5th penalty was ballooned over the bar, allowing East Fife to progress into the second round of the Knockout Cup, and handing new Under 20s head coach Aaron Anderson his first victory as gaffer.
After our League Cup 2nd round tie vs East Kilbride was postponed earlier in the week, we have to wait until the 12th of January to see the young Fifers back in action (unless the East Kilbride game is rearranged of course). That game would be the second round of the Knockout Cup, after the draw has been completed.
East Fife Team: Rollo, Dickson, Briggs, Wilkie, Murray, Ramsay, Black, Taylor (Stewart), McCafferty, Leddy (Allan), Fairley. Subs not used: Menzies, Donaldson, Morrison