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Match Report - Forfar Athletic

East Fife made the trip up to Angus to face Forfar Athletic in the first game of the second quarter of the season. East Fife previously lost out to Stirling Albion at Bayview and the team were hoping to bounce back and pick up as many points as possible. In the first game against Forfar this season, the Methil men came out victorious thanks to a late Alan Trouten penalty and a resolute defensive performance.

Caretaker manager Greig McDonald made 3 changes to the team that lost to Stirling last time out. Liam Newton, Kieran Millar and Ryan Schiavone were brought into the starting line-up, replacing Alan Trouten, Jack Healy and Pat Slattery. Ex-Fifers Mark Docherty and Craig Thomson lined up for the Loons. 

Shepherd got the game underway, and an early chance fell the way of the home side when Slater’s free kick was whipped into the centre of the area and met by the head of Munro, but his header was straight at Fleming who gathered at the second attempt. 

East Fife’s first decent chance came in the 17th minute, when Ferguson played in Shepherd, but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and the Forfar defence were able to turn behind for a corner. Another chance fell the way of the Loons when again a corner from Slater found Munro in the middle do the box however, he could only head the ball over the bar and out for a goal kick. 

The Methil men took the lead with five minutes remaining of the half, when Shepherd dispossessed Moreland in the middle of the pitch and proceeded to sprint with the ball down the left wing, to the by line, and cut the ball across to Schiavone, who slots it home.

In the second minute of first half additional time, the Fifers added a second to their tally. Ferguson picked up the ball on the edge of the box, darted inside and drilled a pass across the face of goal to find Schiavone, once again, at the back post who slots the ball into the empty net with the last kick of the half.

Half-Time: Forfar Athletic 0-2 East Fife 

East Fife extended their lead early on into the second half when Ferguson won the ball of the edge of the box before forcing the Forfar defence into an error when, rather comically, Docherty attempted to pass the ball back to McCallum however the ‘keeper was left flat footed and could only to watch the ball dribble past him and into the net.

Despite East Fife mostly dominating the second half in terms of possession, Forfar began to grow into the game a bit more and had a chance to claw a goal back when Thomson, on the right side, played a cross into Armour, however he hit the ball into the ground giving Fleming a comfortable save. 

In the 72nd minute, Forfar pulled a goal back when a short pass from Jack found Hanratty who’s shot from 20-yards sailed into the bottom corner.

Greig McDonald made his first change with ten minutes remaining as Alan Trouten, Jack Healy and Taylor Steven replaced Mercer, Shepherd and goal scorer Schiavone. 

As Forfar threw men forward it left gaps at the back for the Loons leading to more room for the east fife forwards. Healy, Steven and Steele all had efforts saved in the closing stages. One notable chance came when Newton picked out Steven inside the area, who forces McCallum into a good save. The rebound to be dipping into the back of the net, however the ‘keeper recovered well to clear the ball off the line. Another late chance for the Fifers came thanks to a rifled effort from Healy which unfortunately cannoned against the crossbar. After five minutes of additional time the referee blows the full-time whistle. 

Full-Time: Forfar Athletic 1-3 East Fife

A solid performance from the Methil men sees them climb up to fourth in the table. The Fifer’s next face a trip to face Bonnyrigg Rose who triumphed 3-0 at Bayview earlier in the season. Since then, however, Bonnyrigg have been on poor form, losing their last four games. With some scores to settle the squad will be hoping to put in a performance to entertain the travelling fans and possibly pick up some points. 

Forfar Athletic Team: McCallum, Moreland (Dailly 59’), Brindley, Munro, Docherty, Slater (Hanratty 66’), Moore (Jack 55’), Hutton, Thomson, Aitken, Ferguson (Armour 55’)

East Fife Team: Fleming, Steele, Mercer (Healy 80’), Murdoch, Denham, Newton, Schiavone (Steven 85’), Balde, Millar, Shepherd (Trouten 80’), Ferguson

Referee: Jordan Curran

Attendance: 483

Andrew Laing