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Match Preview - Stirling Albion

We welcome Stirling Albion to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium this afternoon for our final league match of the 1^st quarter.

Squad News

Aaron Steele returns to the squad this week after missing last week’s cup tie, along with Taylor Steven and Liam Parker who were cup-ties, but Kieran Millar misses out, serving the second of his 2-match suspension following he red card against Stenhousemuir.

Brogan Walls, Connor McManus and Scott Gallacher all continue to be absent with long-term injuries

Team Colours

East Fife will be in our away colours of pink strips, black shorts and pink stockings with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.

Stirling Albion will also be in their away colours of all-navy with the goalkeeper in all-turquoise.

Previous Encounter

The last meeting between the sides took place at Bayview in the opening round of the Challenge Cup at the start of the 2019 season with the visitors progressing to the next round with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Darryl Duffy and Josh Peters.

East Fife Team: Hart, Higgins, Dunlop, Watson, Slattery, Denholm, (Dunsmore 74’), Hunter, Watt, McConville, Smith (Wallace 57’), Cosgrove (Dowds 57’)

Stirling Albion Team: Binnie, Truesdale, Lowdon, Banner, McLean, Nicoll, Jardine, Docherty, Willis (Scott 89’), Duffy (Wright 79’), Peters (Hawke 84’)

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) or directly from the club office. 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: David Dunne

AR2: Stephen Gill

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 8 of our new-look matchday programme is available to purchase for £2.50. Please look out for our programme sellers around the stadium before the game.

Applications for First-Team Manager

Following the departure of manager Stevie Crawford to Dundee United, Assistant Manager Greig McDonald has been appointed caretaker manager. This has allowed the board of directors to consider the selection process for a new manager.

Several notes of interest have already been received and the club is now formally inviting application for the position of First-Team Manager. This is a part-time position and applicants must hold a minimum of a UEFA A Licence.

CVs should be submitted in confidence to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Match Report - Arbroath

East Fife made the journey north to take on Angus club Arbroath in the SPFL Trust Trophy 3^rd round. The Methil men were off the back of a midweek 2-1 loss to Stenhousemuir. The team were keen to put in a quality performance to give the travelling supporters something to cheer about. 

Three changes were made to the starting squad that lost to Stenny. Kieran Millar was serving the first of a 2-match ban following the red card he gained midweek with Taylor Steven and Liam Parker missing out due to being cup tied along with Aaron Steele who picked up a knock during the week. Pat Slattery, Joao Balde and Liam Newton were added to starting line-up. 

The game got underway, and it was the Championship side who were earliest out of the blocks, winning a penalty after only 9 minutes. The ball was fired into the box from the left and Sam Denham, misjudging the movement of Hilson, tripped the Lichties forward inside the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. Michael McKenna as the designated penalty taker stepped up and sent Fleming the wrong way, putting Arbroath 1-0 up. 

A few minutes after, Arbroath kept up the pressure and scored another. McKenna played a lofted ball over the top which Fleming came well out of his box to clear however the clearance only went as far as Scott Allan who laid the ball off to Hilson who had an empty net to aim at, doubling Arbroath advantage inside twelve minutes. 

After a fairly uneventful 30 minutes, East Fife began to ramp up the pressure before half time as the Fifers had a few good chances to get a goal back before the break. The first being in the 41st minute when Trouten took the ball past his man and laid it off to Balde on the edge of the area however his shot was cannoned over the bar and out for a goal kick.

East Fife had an even better chance 2 minutes later as Scott Shepherd wins the ball off Scott Allan and found himself in space down the right with to cuts the ball back to Trouten who’s shot bounces back off the post and is cleared out for a corner. Seconds later the half time whistle goes. 

Half-Time: Arbroath 2-0 East Fife

East Fife got the first chance of the second half shortly after the restart when Balde flicked the ball on to Healy cutting through the middle of the defence, however his lobbed effort was narrowly over the bar and onto the roof of the net. 3 minutes later, Arbroath had a good chance to add a third when Hilson broke froward however as Hilson pulled the trigger, Denham was on hand to execute an incredible last-ditch tackle to stop the ball rippling the net. 

In the 77th minute, the management team made the first East Fife change of the game as Ryan Schiavone came on for Liam Newton. Instantly after the substitution, Arbroath had a corner which was very close to becoming a wonder goal, as Isiaka’s acrobatic effort is saved well by Fleming.

East Fife scored a lifeline with a minute of the 90 remaining. With Balde and Healy breaking forward, Balde returned the ball to Healy on the edge of the box who unleashed an effort that leave the Arbroath goalkeeper flatfooted to pull a goal back. However this turned out to be only be a consolation moments after the referee blows his full time whistle ending a game.

A significantly improved performance for East Fife in the second half however its Arbroath who qualify for the fourth round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. The fifers can now focus on their league campaign now with the next fixture is a home game against 2nd place Stirling Albion at Bayview. 

Full-Time: Arbroath 2-1 East Fife

Report by Andrew Laing

Arbroath Team: Gill, Oakley, Hamilton, Stewart, Hancock, Gold, McKenna (Isiaka 45'), Jacobs, Fosu, Hilton (Corfe 78'), Allan (Linn 78')

East Fife Team: Fleming, Murdoch, Mercer, Slattery (Cunningham 88'), Denham, HEaly, Newton (Schiavone 77'), Balde, Ferguson, Shepherd, Trouten

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 1123