Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Clyde

We recorded our second consecutive loss last weekend against Forfar Athletic, ending our competitive season in the process, as the Loons came back from behind to beat us 2-1 at Station Park.

All eyes are now turned to this afternoon against Clyde as the Bully Wee continue to fight for survival. They played out an impressive 2-2 draw with newly crowned champions Stenhousemuir last time out. Barry Cuddihy’s late equaliser gave them a much needed and sough after point, as they look to hold on to their League Two status.

A Message from the Management Team

“We know that Clyde are fighting for their lives to survive in the division this year, so we will have to be at the races from the first whistle, if we want a result on Saturday”.

cinch League Two

Bonnyrigg have been dragged right back into the danger zone, as their victory over us a fortnight ago looks all the more crucial for them now. Today they travel to Ochilview to play the champions, while Forfar host Stranraer. The battle for second is also well and truly on, with Peterhead hosting the Spartans today.

Last Week’s Results

Bonnyrigg Rose 0-1 The Spartans

Clyde 2-2 Stenhousemuir

Elgin City 1-1 Peterhead

Forfar Athletic 2-1 East Fife

Stranraer 0-0 Dumbarton.

Today’s Fixtures

Clyde vs East Fife

Dumbarton vs Elgin City

Forfar Athletic vs Stranraer

Stenhousemuir vs Bonnyrigg Rose

Peterhead vs The Spartans

Previous encounter

The last time the two sides met, East Fife and Clyde played out a 1-1 at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. An action packed first period was paired with a poor second, giving supporters a challenging watch at times.

East Fife opened the scoring in the 4th minute of play, in a team effort, Scott Shepherd flicked in a cross to Brogan Walls, who dinked a shot goalward. The ball cannoned off the crossbar, to Nathan Austin, whose cushioned header bobbled into the back of an empty net, giving the Methil Milan an early lead.

The game saw chances for both teams to get the next goal, but after Healy’s effort went wide, it was Clyde who replied. Martin Rennie, who did much damage to East Fife in their playoff tussle at the end of last season, grabbed the equaliser, tucking the ball into the back of the net after a stramash in the box.

There were very few chances made in the second half, with former Fifer Connor Young coming closest for the visitors, cannoning his free-kick off the post five minutes into the second half.

Fleming was called into action with 20 minutes left on the clock, as he denied Dunnachie, keeping us all square.

We almost limped over the line, with the Clyde on the larger ascendency, in comparison to ourselves. All in all, it is quite disappointing, particularly considering our fast start, although it must be said that this Clyde side has improved greatly since our game at New Douglas Park.

The Form

The Fife

In our last 6 games, the Fifers have recorded 2 wins 2 draws, and 2 losses, scooping up just 8 points in cinch League Two in the process.

Our first loss came against Bonnyrigg and was painful to say the least. The visitors controlled the game from the word go and ran out deserved winners in a 4-1 demolition job. Last week saw our second loss as we fell to a Forfar Athletic comeback, in what was a disappointing affair.

Our two draws have come in varying fashion. The first came when we shared the spoils with Peterhead on the 16th of March. We struggled massively in the first half, and Pawlett sent the Blue Toon in at the break with a deserved lead. We, however, managed to bounce back in the second period, and Alan Trouten did what he does best, and stuck the ball in the onion bag for the Fife. Our most recent draw came a few weeks back against Stenhousemuir, as we played out a goalless affair.

The 23rd of March saw us grab our first of the two wins, coming from behind to overcome Stranraer. Matty Grant scored the opener from a very deep free kick (which looked to have been largely assisted by the wind). James Lyon converted at the start of the second half for the Fifers, pulling us level, before Jack Healy scored a fantastic soaring volley to hand us the lead, and the three points.

Finally, the following week made it two on the trot, as Alan Trouten and James Lyon were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win against Elgin City where Jack Healy starred.

The Bully Wee

Clyde have also recorded 8 points from their last 6, winning 2, drawing two and losing the other two.

Their losses came in a 4-1 thumping from Peterhead, with Robbie Leitch scoring for Clyde. Peter Pawlett grabbed a hattrick for the Blue Toon on the day. Their other loss was a 1-0 outing at the Dumbarton Stadium.

The Bully Wee drew last week away to Stenhousemuir, with Cuddihy and Leitch both on the scoresheet for the hosts. Their earlier loss was a goalless affair against The Spartans.

Clyde’s first win was against Bonnyrigg. Jordan Allan scored two to mark a second half comeback against the Rosey Posey, winning a vital 3 points. The other win came against Stranraer, with Allan once again providing the goods, this time in the 92nd minute.

Lounge Access

Clyde’s fan zone lounge will be open from 1pm on Saturday, for pre-match drinks before kick-off. This can be accessed through the main reception, if you already have a match ticket for the game.

Squad News

We are almost back to a full-strength squad this week, with only long-term absentee Jacob Comerford missing.

Match Tickets

Tickets can be purchased on Clyde’s Ticketco page, with prices below:

Adult-£17

O65- £14

U18-£5

Live Stream

Live Streaming of the game will be available on East Fife TV for our international fans. This can be accessed through a monthly or season pass. You can access this HERE! There is no live streaming option for viewers within the UK and Ireland this weekend.

Officials

The on-pitch official this afternoon will be Iain Snedden while his assistants running the lines are Andy Milne and James McCluskey.

Final Remarks

With the playoff dream sadly over, these last two games have to be used as an assessment period for the new management team, to arrange the squad how they see fit for next season. I’m looking forward to seeing how things pan out.

Mon The Fife!

Due to staff holidays the office will be open reduced hours this week;

Tuesday 23rd April - 9.00am to 1.00pm

Wednesday 24th April - 9.00am to 3.00pm

Thursday 25th April 0 9.00am to 1.00pm

Friday as normal

Forfar Athletic 2-1 East Fife, Station Park

Saturday 20^th April 2024, cinch League Two

It was another disappointing day for the Fifers on Saturday, as we fell 2-1 to Forfar Athletic at Station Park. Despite playing some good stuff in the first half, we could not hold on, and Ray McKinnon’s men, particularly Russell McLean, put in a tremendous performance to complete the turnaround, and in turn, guarantee their safety in cinch League Two next season. On a more negative note, it was mathematically confirmed that it would be League Two for us next season after defeat, although even a win would not have been enough due to The Spartans’ victory over Bonnyrigg Rose at the weekend.

The game started slowly, with no side able to create any real chances for the first 20 minutes. The first action sadly saw Ryan Schiavone leave the park injured, being replaced by Sean Docherty whose pace was effective at times on the wing.

The scoring was opening on the 30-minute mark as Liam Newton fired the Fifers ahead. There were some major miscommunications in the Forfar backline, but that cannot detract from the full-back’s sensational finish. Newts lined it up on his supposedly weaker foot and slammed it past McCallum who was left stranded on his line.

It should’ve been two just before half time when Scott Shepherd, who ran himself into the ground, flashed a cross across the goal line. I reckon if Trouten had boots two sizes bigger on, he would’ve got a touch to it, but alas, we went in at the interval just one goal up.

Forfar took the reins in the second half, and as we approached the hour mark, they pulled level. Fleming did well to keep out the original effort, though his parry was right into the path of McLean who easily tucked home his first.

15 minutes later, the turnaround was complete, and Forfar led. The Loons hit a counter, counterattack, breaking through our lines, before McLean answered the dinked cross, nabbing his brace.

After it went 2-1, only one team looked like they would win the game, and all credit goes to Forfar for their strong second half, capitalising on us being off the pace.

The lads will now look to finish the season as strongly as possible, and our penultimate game on Saturday is at New Douglas Park, as we face relegation threatened Clyde.

Forfar Athletic – McCallum, Hutchinson, Munro, Nditi (F Allan 73’), Brindley, Morrison, Robson, Skelly (Mohammed 62’), Scally (Mykyta 61’), McLean. Subs not used: Thomson, Whatley, Inglis, Ross, Paris, Lobban.

East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch, Newton, Slattery (Walls 62’), Blaney, Millar, McManus, Schiavone (Docherty 21’ (Ramsay 69’)), Trouten, Healy, Shepherd. Subs not used: Page, Nicol, Hamilton, Murray, Beveridge.

Referee – Peter Stuart

Attendance – 561

Report by Oli Anderson

Highlights from yesterday's match against Forfar Athletic along with post-match reaction from Dick Campbell and Liam Newton.