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Cunningham Signs Contract Extension Ahead of Loan Move

Mikey Cunningham has penned a 1-year extension to his current contract ahead of completing a loan move to Cowdenbeath.

The 21-year-old forward has extended his contract until the summer of 2024 and will now gain some much needed game time at Lowland League side Cowdenbeath after missing the majority of last season through injury.

Manager Greig McDonald: “I’m really pleased Mikey has chosen to commit to the club for a further season. Now that his future is sorted, we feel a loan move to Cowdenbeath will allow him to play games at a good level and ultimately aid his development before returning to us in the summer”

Mikey started his footballing journey with the East Fife Junior Supporters Club as a 6-year-old, excelling in a side 2-years above his age group, before moving on to Celtic at the age of 10 and then making the move to Dens Park in 2018.

Mikey joined the club in the summer of 2021 from Dundee, but an ankle injury unfortunately ruled him out for much of last season. To date, Mikey has 19 appearances and 1 goal to his name.

Good luck Mikey!

Match Report - Stirling Albion

East Fife were back on the road on Saturday, taking a trip to Forthbank Stadium to face 2nd placed Stirling Albion. Off the back of a heart wrenching defeat last weekend against Albion Rovers, the team were hoping to leave that behind them and put in another solid performance. 

One change was made to the team that lost to Albion Rovers at Bayview last weekend as Aaron Steele, serving a one match suspension after being sent off early last weekend, was replaced in the starting line-up by Stewart Murdoch.

There was drama early on as the Binos struck first. In the fifth minute, Dunsmore was fed the ball on the right wing and sent in a pinpoint accurate cross to Fotheringham at the back who knocks it past Fleming putting the home side 1-0 up.

Five minutes later, the Binos doubled their lead as once again Dunsmore was the provider, this time finding Leitch in the box whose header finds the net, giving Albion a strong advantage after only 10 minutes. 

The Binos pressure didn’t stop there as instantly after the restart Carrick laid the ball off to Fotheringham on the left who took the ball into the area however this time Fleming was able to stop the ball from rippling the net. 

After the early onslaught from Stirling, East Fife began to grow more into the game as more chances fell the way of the Fifers. In the 28th minute, Shepherd took the ball round McGregor and drove into the box and fired in a a shot although the Stirling ‘keeper got down well at his near post to stop East Fife from pulling a goal back 

With five minutes left of the half, the pressure finally paid off for the Fifers. Newton plays in Ferguson who reaches the by-line to cut the ball back for Trouten in the middle of the box who taps it past Currie. 

HALF TIME: Stirling Albion 2-1 East Fife 

The East Fife pressure continued into the second half with a good passage play, starting from Fleming, saw the ball fall to Shepherd in the box whose shot had the power taken out of it by McLean and Currie was able to collect. 

Against the run of play, Stirling broke up the field and had a chance to put the game to bed when Carrick picked up the loose ball on the edge of the area and lays off to Cooper, but his shot is comfortably saved by Fleming to the centre of the goal. 

As the match was drawing to a close, East Fife ramped it up the ante searching for the equaliser. Substitute Steven took the ball out wide and crossed for Ferguson whose header dropped wide of the post. 

In the second minute of injury time, Stirling managed to kill the game with a quick break up the part from East Fife’s corner with the Binos finding themselves with two forwards against Fleming. Fleming did incredibly well to save the initial one-on-one against Fotheringham however Dunsmore collected the rebound and finds the net, capping off a game whereby both had strong spells of control, but it was the home side who claimed the three points.

FULL-TIME: Stirling Albion 3-1 East Fif

After a week’s break due to Scottish Cup matches, the Methil Men are back at home for three consecutive matches, the first being versus 8th positioned Annan Athletic.

 Report by Andrew Laing

Stirling Albion Team: Currie, McGregor, Dunsmore, McLean, McGeachie, Banner, Leitch (Clark 64’), Fotheringham, Denholm (Moore 76’), Davidson (Cooper 64’), Carrick (Burns 90+4’)

East Fife Team: Fleming, Mercer, Denham, Murdoch, Newton, Millar, Balde, Ferguson, Healy (Steven 70’), Shepherd, Trouten

Referee: Alan Newlands

Attendance: 893 (170 East Fife fans)

Match Preview - Stirling Albion

The Black and Gold journey to Forthbank this weekend for an encounter against Stirling Albion at the sharp end of the table. The Binos sit second in the cinch League Two table and have mirrored Fife’s results for the last 5 weeks, having lost last weekend 2-0 at home to Albion.

The Fifers will be hoping to replicate their second half performance, after fighting valiantly against Albion Rovers last week, falling to a last-minute penalty.

Squad News

Aaron Steele will serve this 1 match suspension after his early dismissal against Albion Rovers. Youngster Ryan Schiavone remains sidelined along with the long-term injuries: Conor McManus, Brogan Walls, Rabin Omar and ‘keeper Scott Gallacher.

Team Colours

East Fife will don their green shirts, with white shorts and socks, with the goalkeeper in all yellow.

The home side will be in their home colours, with a red top and shorts, alongside their red and white striped socks. Their goalkeeper will be clad in turquoise.

Previous Encounter

East Fife hosted Stirling Albion on 1st October, in what was Greig MacDonald’s first game as East Fife Interim Manager. The visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck, and after a flurry of saves, Fleming was beaten inside 6 minutes, giving Stirling the advantage.

Fife were given a lifeline, when Trouten scored a penalty just after the half an hour mark. It was all for naught though as Darren Young’s men re-took the lead in injury time.

Fife defended well in the second half to stop the score line being further stretched but struggled going forward last time out.

East Fife Team:

Fleming, Murdoch, Steele, Denham, Murdoch, Healy (Schiavone 61’), Ferguson, Slattery (Steven 61’), Baldé, Trouten, Shepherd.

Stirling Albion Team:

Currie, McGeachie, McLean, McGregor, Clark, Fotheringham, Leitch (Clark 78’), Banner (Denholm 85’) Moore (Dunsmore 27’), Thomson, Carrick (Davidson 85’).

Match Tickets

East Fife fans will be housed in the East Stand this weekend. Tickets are pay at the gate, and the turnstiles take cash only. They will be open from 2pm. Prices Below:

Adults: £15

Over 65s: £10

U17s: £5

U12s go free with a paying adult.

Parking

For fans travelling by car- there is free, unallocated parking outside of the East Stand.

Officials

Alan Newlands will be the on-pitch official at the weekend. His assistants running the lines will be Steven Traynor and Barry Reid.

Live Stream

There will be no Live Stream for British and Irish viewers, however for those outside the UK & Ireland, the game can be watched on EFTV with a monthly or season pass.

Catering

It has been confirmed that Forthbank’s speciality pie for the week will be Steak and Sausage! This can be bought at the pie huts inside the stadium grounds. These will be cash only.