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Match Preview - Forfar Athletic

Oli Anderson previews tomorrow’s match against Forfar Athletic.

Having confirmed their place in the playoffs last week, the Fifers can relax as they travel to Station Park this weekend to face Forfar Athletic in the last game of the regular season. Last Week, the Fifers recorded a comeback victory against Albion Rovers, where two stunning goals from Healy and Ferguson proved to be the difference makers.

While this was anticipated to be an all-or-nothing game for both sides a few weeks ago, the game now only has ramifications for the Fifers, who if they can better Annan Athletic’s result this weekend will leapfrog them into third allowing a playoff Semi-Final against Dumbarton rather than cinch League 1 side Clyde.

Form

Forfar have amassed 7 points from their last 6 games, although the Loons are without a win in 4. They are coming off the back of 3 consecutive losses, losing 2-1 to Champions Stirling last week, while also struggling against then relegation threatened Elgin City, losing 2-0 as well as currently relegation threatened Bonnyrigg Rose 1-0. Their points have come in the form of a goalless draw against Stranraer, along with a 1-0 win against Dumbarton and a 2-1 win against the aforementioned Albion Rovers.

East Fife’s last 6 games have seen them pick up just 10 points, where despite outplaying the opposition at times, the Methil Men have been unable to capitalise. They have recorded 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in recent weeks. Our wins came in emphatic fashion, most recently in a hard-fought battle against Albion Rovers. Other results have seen East Fife ease into the points with a routine win over Elgin City, during our edition of Friday Night Football some weeks ago, before the more impressive result, an 8-0 humiliation of a poor Stranraer side. The latter gave the Fifers their biggest ever win at Bayview Stadium, as well as their biggest league win since 1963. The draw came against the Champions, as we played out a 2-2 draw with the Binos, at Forthbank. This proved to be an important point enroute to Stirling Albion’s first league title since 2010/11. The defeats came last week against Dumbarton, where we missed out 1-0 in a close encounter, and also at the start of April where we fell to a last-minute goal against Annan Athletic.

Last Week

Last weekend, East Fife cemented their place in this seasons cinch League One Playoffs when they beat Albion Rovers 2-1 at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Despite the Coatbridge outfit finding themselves at the foot of the table, they showed some real glimpses of quality at times, with Joe Bevan, Charlie Reilly and Euan Mutale all putting in impressive performances while leading the Albion line.

Albion started much better than East Fife and were able to penetrate the Methil defence on several occasions with their route one style of play. Allan Fleming was forced into a big save early on to deny Euan Mutale, who latched onto a through ball to go one on one with the goalkeeper.

East Fife’s build up play looked more impressive although their lack of a cutting edge in the final third cost them in the early exchanges.

The opening goal came after 35 minutes and was in favour of the away side. The ball was floated in by Luke Graham following a short corner, and Mutale leapt higher than anyone around him, from inside the six-yard box.

However, Albion Rovers’ lead did not last long however, as just nine minutes later, Jack Healy produced a potential goal of the season contender to bring in an equaliser for the Fife. He danced around two, before unleashing a magnificent long-range effort from 25 yards out, which no ‘keeper could get near.

This sent the two sides in at the interval all square.

In the second 45, East Fife were much more direct and created many more chances, deserving to go in front when they did.

With 25 minutes still on the clock, Ferguson found himself in a pocket of space and unleashed a fantastic, curled effort into the side netting from the far-right corner of the 18 yard box. His goal capped off an excellent individual performance.

With the clock running down, you could see the desperation begin to set in, as the Rovers edged even closer to dropping out of the pyramid. They began to throw everything they could at the Fifers, although the Black and Gold held on, showing their resilience.

In the dying embers, Alan Trouten sacrificed himself on the goal line, heading a shot clear, which was just as good as a goal at the other end, as shortly after, the referee blew his whistle marking full time, and East Fife a club potentially 4 games away from a return to the third tier.

The cinch League Two Table

Squad News

No fresh injuries, therefore, Greig once again has a headscratcher, as the full squad is at his disposal for Saturday!

Team Colours

East Fife are back in their home kit this week, donning the tartan shirt with black shorts and white socks. The ‘keeper will wear the all green kit for the tie. 

The hosts will be clad in their home kit too, wearing navy and sky blue for the tie, with navy shorts and sky so. The Loons Goalkeeper will be dressed in all purple for the match.

Previous Encounter

The Fifers bounced back from their blip at Stranraer last week to overcome Ray McKinnon’s strong Forfar Athletic side, scoring the winner at the death, in the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.

It looked to be a repeat of the dismal display at Stranraer to start with, as the Fifers could not get off the blocks, going 1-0 down after 10 minutes courtesy of a Finn Robson tap-in.

This did not dishearten the Black and Gold though, and rather than going under, they bounced back with venom, with Brogan Walls rattling the post after 20 minutes of play.

Going a goal down lit a fire under East Fife, who started to dominate, and eventually got their equaliser through Brogan Walls, who fired his shot into the roof of the net from close range.

The Fifers kept pushing and should have taken the lead after 31 minutes, when there was a stramash in the box, but nobody could pull the trigger and beat the stranded ‘keeper. Trouten, Shepherd and Schiavone all had a chance, but none could tuck it away.

Half Time: East Fife 1-1 Forfar Athletic.

East Fife were rampant at the start of the second half, they never gave any space at all as they pushed for the goal to put them ahead. After lots of hard work, and good football, it eventually came in the 69th minute, through an own goal, as Kyle Hutton’s header changed the course of the ball, and it bobbled past Marc McCallum for 2-1 Fife.

The lead never lasted long though, as the Loons bounced back just 7 minutes through Stefan

McCluskey, who rolled his shot into the bottom corner after some great build up play.

East Fife fought to the whistle though, and earned their reward in the 89th minute, as captain Alan Trouten scored the winner. It was a lovely ball whipped in from Alex Ferguson, and Trouten had to leap like his namesake to fire it home. Trouten was instrumental in East Fife’s positive play during the entire match, and his goal capped off an excellent team display.

Match Tickets

It will be cash only at the turnstiles this weekend at Station Park, with seated and standing tickets available. Prices Below:

The Stand (Seated Tickets)/ Terracing (Standing Tickets):

Adults: £15/£14

65+: £9/£8

U17: £5.       

Officials

Our on-pitch official for Saturday will be Lloyd Wilson. His two assistants running the lines will be David Doig and Chris Newman.

Live Stream

Unfortunately for our British and Irish based support, the match is not able to be watched to UK blocked hours. Luckily for our International support, the game can be watched on EFTV with a monthly or season pass!

Parking

On Saturday there will be plenty of parking behind the main stand or in Auction Mart Car Park. Unfortunately, the 1984 Lounge at the ground is now only available for home supporters and officials pre-match.

Admission Prices - Play-Off Semi Final

cinch League One Play-Off Semi-Final 1^st Leg

The 1^st leg of our League One play-off semi-final will take place Tuesday 9^th May 2023 with an 8:00PM kick off when we host either Clyde or Dumbarton. Our opponents will be confirmed following this weekend’s matches.

Admission is via pay-at-the-gate and prices have been confirmed as follows:

Adults - £15

Over 65s - £10

Under 16s - £5

Season tickets are not valid for this match however reserved seating for season ticket holders will be retained.

Please note, our turnstiles are cash only however card payments can be made at reception.

As with all league matches at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium this season, all U16 members of East Fife Community Football Club and East Fife Girls & Women’s FC will be admitted free of charge with a paying adult or as part of an organised group. Eligible members should enter through the Community gate at the sea end of the stand.

If you can’t attend the match in person, a live stream will also be available worldwide via East Fife TV priced at £15. Details on how to sign up will be announced on Sunday.

The 2^nd leg is scheduled to take place on Saturday 13^th May 2023 at either New Douglas Park (Clyde) or the Dumbarton Football Stadium (Dumbarton). Admission prices for this match will be announced by the home club. Please note, should Hamilton Academical also be involved in play-off matches, Clyde’s home match will take place on Friday 12^th May 2023 due to a venue clash at New Douglas Park.

Match Report - Albion Rovers

East Fife hosted Albion Rovers at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium in a crucial match for both home and away sides. The Fifers had faced Albion three times already this season, with two 1-0 wins going to East Fife, both at the Reigart Stadium, and a 3-2 defeat at home. East Fife were sitting in fourth and with results elsewhere going the way of the Fifers, could secure a guaranteed spot in the playoffs for the Methil men. Last weekend East Fife suffered an agonising defeat at the hands of Dumbarton who narrowly triumphed 1-0. 

Greig McDonald made one change to the team that lost to Dumbarton away from home as Alan Trouten came back into the starting line up in place of Brogan Walls who dropped to the bench.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors in the 8th minute when a poor header back put Mutale through on goal however Fleming gets behind it well. A few minutes later Shepherd won a free kick from around 30 yards and stood over the ball to take the set piece himself, but his attempt was blazed over the bar. 

Around the 20-minute mark, Bevan had a multitude of chances to give the Rovers the lead. The first being after a neat one-two saw him with only Fleming to beat, but he shanked his shot as the effort goes high and drastically wide. Minutes later a failed cross ended up dropping at the forwards feet after a deflection, but this time he scuffed the shot. The third came when he was slipped through in behind the defence, but his shot trickled wide of the post and out for a goal kick. 

In the 35th minute, Albion took a deserved lead when a short corner resulted in a looping cross towards Graham, inside the area, who directs a header goalwards where Mutale was there to knock the ball in from close range. 

East Fife weren’t behind for long however and the visitors were made to pay for their poor finishing when the home side levelled shortly before half-time when Jack Healy did what Jack Healy does! Murdoch played the ball out to the winger on the left-hand side who cut inside onto his favoured right-foot and curled a sensational strike into the top corner of the net.

HALF TIME: East Fife 1-1 Albion Rovers 

Early in the second half East Fife came out all gun blazing and were almost ahead when Shepherd drove down the right wing before attempting to pick out substitute Walls but he was denied by a last ditch challenge from Malcolm. 

In the 64th minute, East Fife took the lead when a good passage of play from Denham and Steele led to Trouten finding himself in acres of space to push forward before playing the ball off the Shepherd on the right wing. The East Fife man’s effort was blocked but Ferguson picked up the loose ball curled a shot into the top corner of the net, putting the Fifers in front. 

Albion really piled on the pressure and the game neared the full-time whistle and one last chance fell their way when an excellent corner from Reilly was curled into the centre of the six-yard box when it was met by Bevan gets the ball goalwards, but Trouten was on hand to clear the ball off the line, securing the points and the playoffs for the Fifers. 

FULL TIME: East Fife 2-1 Albion Rovers 

A massive result for the Fifers and with results going the way of East Fife, it means that a place in the playoffs is secured with a game remaining. Next up is a trip to Angus to Forfar Athletic who are currently 5th. East Fife still have the chance of finishing third should Annan fail to win, and the Fifers triumph at Station Park. 

East Fife: Fleming, Steele, Denham, Murdoch, Newton, McManus (Millar 90+1’), Schiavone (Walls 45’), Ferguson, Trouten, Healy, Shepherd (Steven 90+4’)

Albion Rovers: Leighfield, Fernie, Malcolm, Sonkur, Wilson, Graham, Fleming, Leslie, Bevan, Mutale (Wright 74’), Reilly

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 774

Report by Andrew Laing