We welcome league leader’s Dumbarton to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium this afternoon for our 6th league match of the season.
Squad News
Brogan Walls returns to the squad this afternoon after missing the last few weeks with an ankle injury and Scott Mercer returned to training on Thursday night after picking up a knock last weekend and could feature today provided there is no reaction.
Scott Gallacher underwent his operation on his finger during the week and could be in line for a return to the squad in 12 weeks.
Connor McManus is continuing his rehab and could be looking at a return to the squad in 6-8 weeks all going well.
Lewis Anderson featured for the Under 20s last night on his return from an ankle injury.
Team Colours
East Fife will be in our traditional colours of black & gold strips, black shorts and black stockings with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.
Dumbarton will be in their away colours of all white with the goalkeeper in all-grey.
Previous Encounter
The last meeting between the sides took place at Bayview back in March with the home side running out 2-0 winners. Kyle Connell opened the scoring in the 3rd minute before Danny Denholm sealed the win just after the hour mark. Dumbarton had Stuart Carswell sent off for dissent in the final minute.
East Fife Team: J Smith, Watson, Murdoch (D Higgins 40’), Slattery, Mercer, Denholm, Millar, Healy (Pollock 82’), Blair, Wallace (Swanson 71’), Connell (K Smith 82’)
Dumbarton Team: Wright, Boyle, Pignatiello, Bronsky, Stanger, Carswell, Duthie, Stokes (Wilson 58’), McKee, Paton, Wilde (Orsi 58’)
Match Tickets
Tickets for today’s match are available to buy online here ahead of the game. Please note, there will be no cash turnstiles and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be presented digitally or printed at home. Those unable to purchase tickets online can buy theirs over the phone (01333 426323) and collect from the matchday reception. Parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - £18
Concessions* - £14
Under 16s** - £5
Parent & Child - £21
Parent & 2 Children - £24
*Over 65s and full-time students. Proof of eligibility may be requested
**Proof of age may be requested
All child members of EFCFC & EFG&WFC will be admitted free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all of our home league matches this season. Tickets for this are being organised through EFCFC.
Season tickets are valid for this match. Those who have still to collect their season ticket card can do so up until kick off this afternoon.
Turnstiles will open at 2pm.
Match Officials
Match Referee: Daniel Graves
AR1: Stuart Stevenson
AR2: John Stewart
Car Parking
Car parking is available at both ends of the stadium for both home and away supporters free of charge.
Live Streaming
No live stream is available to viewers with the UK & Ireland.
Viewers outside the UK & Ireland can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.
Matchday Catering
The stadium bars will be open to both sets of supporters from 12.15 pm this afternoon for pre- and post-match refreshments.
Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 2pm. Please note, our pie stalls are cash only.
Matchday Programme
Issue 6 of our new-look matchday programme is available to purchase for £2.50. All proceeds from this programme will be donated to Tiny Changes in memory of Ross McLean. Please look out for our programme sellers around the stadium before the game.
Adult sizes (S, M, L, XL) of our new 2022/23 away strip are now back in stock and are available to buy in the club shop from 1:30PM tomorrow.
Those who pre-ordered directly from the club will receive an email with collection details.
Please note, orders placed through Football Nation will be processed by them.
East Fife Supporters Club will hold their September meeting on Thursday 1st September at 7:30PM at the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium.
New members are welcome to attend.
Membership Prices for 2022/23
Adults £10
Concessions £5
Tickets for our cinch League Two match against Dumbarton on Saturday 3rd September at the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium 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
*Over 65s/Full-Time Students/Disabled – proof of age/eligibility may be requested
**Proof of age may be requested.
All member 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 cinch League Two matches at Bayview this season. Tickets for this are arranged through EFCFC.
Season tickets are valid for this match. Supporters who have not yet collected their season ticket card can do so up until kick off.
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling the club office on 01333 426323.
Please note, parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be purchased directly from the club office.
We have been drawn away to Championship side Arbroath in the 3rd round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
The tie is scheduled to be played on 24/25th September 2022.
Full details of fixture date/time and admission prices will be announced in due course.
East Fife made the tough trip down to Stair Park to play Stranraer. The Fifers were coming off the back of 3 wins in a row and most recently a 4-0 hammering of St. Johnstone B midweek.
Stevie Crawford made 5 changes to the team that comfortably overcame St. Johnstone a few days ago with Stewart Murdoch, Kieran Millar, Ryan Schiavone and Alex Ferguson all returning to the starting line-up along Taylor Steven, who was making his first starting for the club. Lucas Williamson, Liam Newton, Jack Healy, Alan Trouten and Mikey Cunningham were all handed places on the bench after starting earlier in the week.
East Fife got the ball rolling and the game underway and stated their intention quickly as they were attempting to dominate and control the game. After 4 minutes, the first chance of the game fell to the visitors when João Balde turned his man and dribbled away quickly before passing out to an unmarked Schiavone inside the box, however his shot is blazed over the bar.
A short while later, in the 8th minute, East Fife had another good chance thanks again to Balde skipping past numerous Stranraer defenders to give himself a clear sight of goal, although his shot is narrowly dragged wide of the post.
On the 15th minute, completely against the run of play, the Blues took the lead when Anton Brady played a defence splitting pass through to Paul Woods who raced in one-on-one with Fleming to slot past him putting Stranraer 1-0 up. Despite the goal, East Fife didn’t give up and equalised 7 minutes later. Ferguson’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the pathway of Schiavone who curled an effort into the top corner of the net.
Midway through the first half Crawford was forced to make his first change of the game as an injured Scott Mercer limped off to be replaced by Williamson. In the 32nd minute, Stranraer scored another as Josh Walker’s free kick found the feet of ex-Fifer Luke Watt for a tap in. The rest of the half went past uneventfully and after three minutes added time the referee blew his whistle for the half.
Half-Time: Stranraer 2-1 East Fife
At the break, Liam Newton was brought on for Schiavone. The first real chance of the second half fell to East Fife as Steven’s short free kick found Ferguson on the left wing but his cross bounces on the cross bar and, despite the ball falling into a dangerous area, the Stranraer defence were able to clear.
In the 65th minute, Ferguson received East Fife’s first and only yellow card of the game after cynically breaking up a Stranraer attack. From the resulting free kick, Watt dribbling along the by-line and attempted to curl the ball around the ‘keeper, however Sam Denham was on-hand to clear off the line. Directly after the Stranraer chance, Watt was shown red as an off the ball incident to the confusion of most inside the ground. However, replays showed Watt kicking out at East Fife’s Aaron Steele after the ball was cleared.
With Stranraer down to 10 men, Crawford made a few forward-thinking changes as Healy and Trouten were both brought on with 10 minutes remaining. Multiple chances fell for East Fife however none were good enough to seriously challenge the ‘keeper. That was until the 90th minute when Newton has a shot very close to the goal, however the diving Stranraer ‘keeper prevents the ball from rolling into the back of the net.
As the game was coming to an end, it appeared as though East Fife’s time had run out, however Healy had other ideas. He picks up the ball in middle of the Stranraer half, magically skipped past multiple Stranraer players to find himself with a clear sight of goal to unleash a shot the that found the back of the net off the underside of the bar to level the game at the very depths.
The full-time whistle went a short while after ending a very entertaining game for the neutral. East Fife host league leaders Dumbarton next as they aim to be the first team take points off of the high-flying Sons this season.
Full-Time: Stranraer 2-2 East Fife
Report by Andrew Laing
Stranraer Team: Scullion, Watt, Ross, Girvan, Ellis, Grant (Hilton 59'), Brady (Robertson 84'), Woods, Forrest (Hawkshaw 84'), Walker (McLean 59'), Malcolm (Duffy 90+2')
East Fife Team: Fleming, Denham, Mercer (Williamson 27'), Murdoch, Steele, Ferguson (Trouten 70'), Schiavone (Newton 45'), Balde (Healy 77'), Millar, Steven, Shepherd
Attendance: 395
Referee: Scott Lambie