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East Fife welcomed Clyde to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on a Tuesday for the 1st leg of our cinch League 1 playoff semi-final encounter, the first the Fifers have been involved in since 2015.

Greig McDonald made nine changes to the team that narrowly lost out to Forfar Athletic at the weekend with Fleming, Denham, Murdoch, Walls, Ferguson, Trouten, McManus, Healy and Shepherd all returning to the starting line-up. their place in the first team after a games break.

Not long after the game got underway, Clyde went very close to taking the lead when Kurtis Roberts intercepted a misplaced pass in midfield and drove all the way to the edge of the box where he laid the ball off for Scullion on the right-hand touchline. With the low sunlight, the Clyde man’s cross caused a mix up in the East Fife box and Fleming had to resort to blocking the cross with his foot only for the ball to rebound off a Clyde player but thankfully the keeper was able to collect.

In the 13th minute, East Fife had their first good chance of the game. Newton, from the halfway line, lofted a ball towards the edge of the box that was headed back across the Clyde goal by Steele, but the ball just wouldn’t drop for Trouten to knock in at the back post.

Nearing the 30-minute mark, Clyde had another opportunity to take the lead when Salkeld picked up a loose ball and cut the ball back for Rennie, but Fleming was again able to get his boot to the ball making the ball to divert it away from the Clyde forward. 

With around ten minutes until half time, East Fife went close after a quick break following a Clyde attack. Ferguson punted the ball clear and up to Shepherd who took advantage of a poor header from Craig to drive at the panicking Clyde defence, before cutting inside but his shot was saved by Mullen. 

HALF TIME: East Fife 0-0 Clyde

With only 7 minutes gone in the second half Clyde took the lead with a very poor goal from East Fife’s point of view. Murdoch tried to see the ball out for a by-kick but was dispossessed by Salkeld who drove into the box before picking out Rennie was tapped in from a couple of yards.

In the 65th minute, Clyde’s were very close to doubling their lead. A loose ball in the middle of the park was picked up by Scullion who sent Salkeld clean through the middle but dragged his effort wide with only Fleming to beat.

With only 2 minutes of the game remaining, East Fife won a free kick at around 25 yards out. Healy stepped up and curled the ball round the wall only for it to land on the roof of the net with the keeper beaten. 

FULL TIME: East Fife 0-1 Clyde

A tough result to take when the teams were very evenly matched, however the tie is far from over. The return leg takes place this Friday at New Douglas Park where both teams will be looking to progress to final where they’ll play the winner of the tie between Dumbarton and Annan Athletic.

East Fife: Fleming, Murdoch, Steele, Newton, Denham, McManus, Trouten (Steven 75’), Healy, Walls, Ferguson (Denholm 85’), Shepherd

Clyde: Mullen, Lyon, McLean, Craig, Sula (Thicot 73’), Roberts, Scullion (Kennedy 85’), Cameron (Duthie 78’), Hynes, Rennie (McDonald 85’), Salkeld

Referee: Barry Cook

Attendance: 1206

Report by Andrew Laing

On Friday night we travel to New Douglas Park to face Clyde in the 2nd leg of our cinch League 1 play-off semi-final. The match has been confirmed as all ticket and Clyde are strongly encouraging fans to buy online in advance to avoid queuing at the ticket window.

Ticket prices

Adults - £17

Over 65s - £14

Under 18s* - £5

For those who can’t make it to the game, Clyde are offering a PPV to UK & Ireland viewers priced at £13 + a streaming fee.

East Fife TV Overseas Gold Subscribers can watch the match on East Fife TV with their annual or monthly subscription.

Oli Anderson’s previews tomorrow’s play-off match against Clyde.

After a turbulent season for the Fifers filled with some triumphant highs and worrisome lows, we have wound up in the playoffs for one last push. Tomorrow night we welcome the Bully Wee to MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, to mark the start of East Fife’s playoff campaign.

There are only a potential 4 games between the Methil Men and the Third Tier of Scottish Football as we strive for promotion. Our Semi Final opponents are current League One side Clyde, who finished in 9th place over the course of the league season on just 24 points. They finished on a high however as they overcame Montrose 2-1 at the weekend, showing their determination as McDonald scored the winner in the 91st minute.

East Fife fell to Forfar Athletic in what was a truly inspiring performance at Station Park last weekend. McDonald made a whole host of changes, with only full backs Steele and Newton retaining their place in the squad ahead of the dead rubber tie. East Fife were lively and took the game by the scruff of the neck and were the better team throughout. St Johnstone loanee Taylor Steven excelled as he caused so much bother for the Loons on the wing. Nditi was sent off for a second bookable offence in the first half which allowed Fife to control the game. Despite this, Forfar grabbed a winner in the last minute of play after East Fife had missed a handful of chances and dominated the proceeding.

Ones to Watch

Clyde

Goals have been hard to come by for the Bully Wee this season, having only scored 35 goals in 36 games across the league season. However, one man who has started to hit form at the right time is young striker Oliver McDonald, who has only scored five times this season, though 2 of them came at the weekend.

Their top contributor in all competitions this year is Ross Cunningham, who has scored 10 and set up 3 goals in all competitions this season.

Euan Cameron is also one to be wary of this season as the midfielder has assisted 8 goals for Clyde, showing his creative abilities, proving that Clyde are not a team to be discounted.

East Fife

Our Talisman this year who has brought the most goals for us this year is Alan Trouten. Trouts has converted 10 times for us in the league this year, and has also set up one too, the attacking midfielder, turned holding DM has showed his prowess and class over the course of his debut season in Methil.

Another man with astounding numbers considering his position this season is St Johnstone loanee Alex Ferguson, who has contributed an amazing 18 goals from the middle of the park, in the league alone this year. Fergie’s 6 goals have paired well with his 12 assists, as his movement and passing ability have torn teams to shreds across the season.

One who perhaps slides under the radar is East Fife’s number 9 Scott Shepherd. He came out of the blocks at tremendous pace netting 4 of his 7 league goals in the first 6 games of the season, before his finishing became secondary to his game. Shepherd’s hold up play, and vision are what make him such an asset for East Fife, as the front man has also assisted on 8 occasions this league campaign.

Squad News

Everyone made it through the Forfar game at the weekend unscathed, and as a result, Greig McDonald has a full squad ready for tomorrow night.

Match Admission

We have dropped our admission prices for our playoff game tomorrow, and we will be exclusively Pay at The Gate. Please note, turnstiles are cash only however card payments can be made at the matchday reception.

Season Tickets will NOT be valid for the game; however, Season Ticket Holders are still entitled to their seats upon entry. Please Find Prices Below

Adult: £15

Concession: £10

Under 16: £5

As with all league matches this season, 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. Eligible members should enter through the Community Gate at the home end of the stand.

Team Colours

East Fife are back in their home kit, wearing the black and gold top, with black shorts and socks too. The Fife goalie will wear all blue tomorrow night.

Clyde will wear red and black for the tie, with white shorts and red socks. The Bully Wee ‘keeper will be in green.

Live Stream

For those who can’t make it to Bayview tomorrow night, a live stream is available worldwide via East Fife TV for £15.

Referees

The on pitch official tomorrow night will be Barry Cook, and his two assistants running the lines are Drew Kirkland and Michael Banks. Stewart Luke is the Fourth official for the tie.

Refreshments

The Stadium bar will be open from 6pm for pre-match refreshments tomorrow night. Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 7pm. Pie stalls accept both cash and card.

Programme

Issue 23 of The Bayview will be available for purchase tomorrow night for £2.50 outside of the stadium.

Forfar Athletic v East Fife, cinch League Two, Saturday 6th May 2023, Station Park

East Fife travelled north for the final game of the regular season to take on 5th placed Forfar Athletic at Station Park. After confirming a play-off place following a 2-1 defeat of Albion Rovers last weekend, Manager Greig McDonald used the opportunity for some valuable gametime for players who haven’t featured as much recently.

Nine changes were made to the starting line-up this week with Reece Beveridge, Johnathan Page, Aidan Quinn, Rabin Omar, Pat Slattery, Kieran Millar, Aidan Denholm, Connor Young and Taylor Steven all handed starting berths. Under 20s players Jude Black, Logan Briggs, Keir Allan and Brendan Ramsay were also included among the substitutes.

East Fife’s first chance of the game came in the 19th minute when the Fifers won a free kick just outside the box on the left-hand touchline. With Loons’ keeper McCallum expecting a cross, Omar tried to catch him off guard at the near post, but stopper manged to tip the ball over the bar.

In the 25th minute of the game, a long ball over the top of the Forfar defence reached the feet of Steven who cuts inside and, from just outside the box, forced McCallum into a very good save with a powerful drive. 

As the half an hour mark was approaching, Forfar were attempting to break out from the back following an East Fife attack when Nditi was caught by Omar, however the referee ruled this to be a dive and sent the Forfar man for an early shower after picking up a second yellow.

The resulting free kick was a pinpoint delivery to the back post which Steele headed back across goal, but no one in an East Fife shirt was able to get on the end.

Just before half-time, Steven curled a corner deep into the middle of the box and picked out Steele who had managed to break free from his marker, but his headed effort is just wide of the post. 

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 0-0 East Fife 

9 minutes in to the second half, Forfar won a free kick just on the edge of the box and League Two player of the year nominee Craig Slater stood over it. Slater’s effort clipped the top of the wall and dipped on target, but Beveridge got across his goal well to turn behind for a corner.

A minute later, Forfar won another corner and this time Slater picked out Munro who attempted to flick a header goalwards that was cleared off the line by Oamr.

Entering into the final ten minutes of the match, East Fife had a chance to win the game when a low and fast ball across the face of the goal from Steven found Schiavone a couple of yards out, but the forward was denied by an excellent point-blank save from McCallum. 

With five minutes left, Denholm picked up the ball inside his own half and drove forward towards the Forfar back line before laying the ball off the Steven on his left who unselfishly squared the ball to Schiavone who could only balloon his effort over the bar.

Forfar manage to snatch victory late on when Flanagan collected the ball on the right who, with use of trickery, skipped his way into the box and played a ball across goal where Aitken was waiting to tap home the winner. 

FULL TIME: Forfar Athletic 1-0 East Fife

It was an impressive performance at times for East Fife, but it was the Loons who emerged victorious and confirmed that East Fife will be playing Clyde on Tuesday in the playoffs. Clyde finished 9th in league one however their form has improved over recent weeks with wins against FC Edinburgh and Montrose and draws with Peterhead, Kelty Hearts and Falkirk all in their last six games. 

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Nditi, Moore, Munro, Hutchibson, Thomson (Flanagan 65’), Slater, McCluskey (Aitken 45’), Robson (Watson 66’), Ross (Gillies 31’), Armour (Brindley 45’)

East Fife: Beveridge, Page, Steele (Allan 80’), Newton (Briggs 80’), Quinn (Black 69’), Millar, Slattery, Denholm, Omar (Schiavone 66’), Young (Ramsay 80’), Steven

Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Attendance: 623

Report by Andrew Laing