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Match Preview - Dumbarton

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Dumbarton

I still cannot believe that that happened last week! We saw 90 minutes of domination, and a second half which will never be forgotten at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, on Saturday past. East Fife’s biggest home win since the 1960s gave them a huge boost in the playoff race, in a game which felt like the Fifers picked up 4 points by overcoming their negative goal difference too. Back in the playoff spots, the Methil Men look forward to this week where they travel to Dunbartonshire to face the Sons. Failure to win this afternoon for Dumbarton will hand Stirling Albion the cinch League Two title regardless of the Binos own result against Annan Athletic. As previously mentioned, East Fife romped to an 8-0 victory last weekend, demolishing a disheartened Stranraer side who were most certainly not at the races. Dumbarton played midweek against the league leaders, and the gruelling encounter finished 0-0. Three points for the Sons would have brought them right back into the title race, though now they need a large point and goal difference swing if they want to have any chance at the title.

Form

Dumbarton are on a poor run of form at the minute, only recording 5 points from their last 6 games, though they have picked up four of them in the last 7 days. Three defeats in a row, against other promotion pushing teams, saw them lose their lead at the top of the table, and plummet into the playoff places. They lost 1-0 at the Rock against Forfar Athletic, before missing out on their own patch again against Stenhousemuir. They finally travelled to Galabank where they were beaten for a third time. Their points came through the aforementioned game against Stirling Albion on Tuesday, as well as a 2-2 draw with the league leaders some weeks ago, and a 3-1 win against Bonnyrigg Rose last weekend.

East Fife remain on a strong run of form, recording 11 from their last 6 games, only dropping 7 points in the process. Those came in the form of a 1-1 score draw against now 9^th placed Bonnyrigg Rose, a 2-2 draw against leaders Stirling Albion, and a 1-0 loss to Annan Athletic. McDonald’s men have recorded 3 wins in their last 6, first scoring late against Stenhousemuir to record another comeback victory this season. The game at Ochilview Park saw Scott Shepherd return to the score sheet as he got onto the end of Brogan Walls’ headed cross to tap in the winner. We’ve also seen a routine victory against Elgin City during our Friday Night Football, before last week’s unforeseen score line, as we ran out 8-0 winners against Stranraer.

Last Week’s Performance

In a truly dominating display, East Fife delivered a score line of a lifetime as they dispatched of Stranraer 8-0, at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. It was the first time since the 1960s that the Fifers have won at home by such a margin. A rampant second half was the difference maker, as the Methil Men scored 6 in the last 45 minutes, against a 10-man Blues side.

It was not all roses however, as East Fife started slowly, and missed a barrage of chances in the first half, with Ryan Schiavone squabbling chances from close range on three separate occasions. On top of this, even though he scored an own goal, which was rather unfortunate, Stranraer goalkeeper Luke Scullion made another 3 great saves across the 90 to keep the score down for the visitors.

East Fife opened the scoring through a Luke Watt own goal after 20 minutes of play, after a killer ball from Connor McManus could not be cleared. Watt converted the cross after trying to block it.

Stranraer’s only chance of the game came 5 minutes later when James Hilton’s chip beat Fleming and the crossbar.

After 40 minutes, the Fife doubled their advantage through Alex Ferguson, whose composed head was able to convert a driven ball that was pinged across the box.

In the first half of stoppage time, Blues defender Scott Robertson was sent off in bizarre fashion after an off the ball challenge on Aaron Steele following a set play.

Half Time: East Fife 2-0 Stranraer.

Five minutes after the restart, Schiavone made up for his missed chances, as he slotted past Scullion to make it 3-0 East Fife. This is when the Black and Gold really took off. The finish also marked Schiavone’s first goal at MGM Timber Bayview this season.

A further ten minutes later saw Shepherd match Schiavone’s feat also scoring his first goal in front of the Methil Faithful this year to make it four, with half an hour still on the clock.

Number five came courtesy of a Luke Scullion own goal, which was created by a fantastic long-range effort from Brogan Walls. The shot ricocheted off the crossbar and hit Scullion before crossing the line.

The sixth was Fife’s easiest of the day, after a very smart run from Sam Denham gave him a free header from a corner, which the centre half converted.

Goals at Bayview have been like London Buses for Scott Shepherd, he has waited all season to open his home tally, and in the penultimate league game at the Timber Fortress, he got two at once, capping off a great team move to make it seven.

The eighth goal was scored in stoppage time, converted by Rangers loanee Connor Young. His shot was so powerful it went through Scullion on its way to rippling the net for his first senior goal.

The win has seen East Fife return to the playoff spots in emphatic fashion, with a performance worthy of promotion.

The everchanging cinch League Two Table:

Squad News

Alan Trouten returns to the squad having now served his suspension. Aidan Quinn also returned to full training this week though it is likely that Saturday has come just too soon for the Montrose loanee.

Previous Encounter

East Fife kept all three points in Methil in the last encounter against Dumbarton after a strong defensive performance allowed the Fifers to overcome the then League Leaders.

It was Dumbarton who had the chances early doors, with Ally Love and Ryan Wallace trying their luck from range, though they were both off target.

Unfortunately for both sides, after 20 minutes, Fife’s Aidan Quinn and Dumbarton’s Gregg Wylde both had to be replaced due to injury. Quinn’s departure allowed room for Kieran Millar to return to the line-up, having missed the previous 2 matches through suspension.

Just 5 minutes later, East Fife broke the deadlock, with Aaron Steele leaping like a salmon and stinging like a bee, to drill his header past Brett Long from Alex Ferguson’s excellent corner kick.

The remainder of the half saw the Fifers contain Dumbarton, not allowing them to put the ball into any dangerous areas. Liam Newton saw his name go in the book, after a challenge on Kalvin Orsi, and in the 45^th minute, Jack Healy went down inside the box, though the referee deemed that he was looking for the penalty, and thus he was shown yellow just before the break.

The second half started as the first half ended, with Dumbarton piling on the pressure, and East Fife remaining firm, and united. Sam Denham was excellent in stopping anything that came in the air or along the ground, and Pat Slattery once again controlled the tempo, marking Ryan Wallace out of the game, rendering the front man useless for the proceedings.

Although they had more of the ball, Fife had the best chance of the first 10 minutes after the restart, with Alex Ferguson’s long-range effort being plucked out of the top corner by ex-Fifer Long.

With 60 on the clock, Dumbarton’s golden chance came, though Fleming was equal to it. Russell McLean’s effort from close range was leathered right into the midriff of the East Fife shot stopper.

The game then died down, with East Fife sponging up pressure, and Dumbarton struggling to find any way to break down the Black and Gold wall. The game deciding moment came in the 89^th minute however, when ex-Fifer Ryan Wallace got his first clear cut chance of the day, standing over a free kick from less than 20 yards out. His effort was only good enough to hit the team bus though, and East Fife survived unscathed.

It went from good to great for the Methil Men in the 93^rd minute too, as they hit the league leaders on the break, Scott Shepherd burst away from his man, and dinked a cross in to youngster Ferguson, whose calm finish was good enough to double their advantage and seal all three points for the second week in a row.

Team Colours

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

The home side will be clad in their away colours too, wearing white for the tie. The Sons Goalkeeper will be dressed in all Grey for the match.

Match Tickets

Note, it is cash turnstiles 1 and 2 in the home end for away entry today. Prices below.

Adults- £15

Seniors (65+)/ Students (with valid ID)- £10

U16s- £5

The Supporters’ Bar will be open from 1.30pm today to both sets of supporters and can be accessed after entering through the turnstiles.

Officials

Our on-pitch official for Saturday will be Ross Hardie His two assistants running the lines will be Scott Anderson and Cameron Stirling.

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!