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Match Preview - Albion Rovers

Oli Anderson previews tomorrow's match against Albion Rovers.

The Standings

East Fife currently find ourselves in seventh in the cinch League Two table boasting 27 points after 23 games played. Albion Rovers are hot on our tail however, as they sit in ninth, on 24 points, with a game in hand. We are also only 4 points shy of the playoff places, so there is every chance that a promotion push is on, should we string together some good performances and results.

In Albion’s last 6, they have recorded 7 points to East Fife’s 5. This run has saw them string together back-to-back 4-0 victories, firstly against Bonnyrigg Rose and then the following week against Stranraer.

Despite a much-improved performance against Stirling Albion, we were unable to come away with the win, and now have only 1 win in the last 11 games.

Last Week

The Hosts

Albion Rovers made the trek up north to Elgin last weekend, where they played out a 1-1 draw at Borough Briggs. It was the man in form who opened the scoring, when Charlie Reilly put the Rovers 1-0 up after 22 minutes of action. The game was then back and forth, no side doing any damage, until the 73rd minute when Reilly went from Hero to Zero, dragging Angus Mailer down inside the box. Russell Dingwall converted from the spot, ensuring that the game finished as a draw.

The Fife

East Fife played incredibly well last week but were unable to grab all 3 points against 10 man Stirling Albion.

Greig MacDonald made a whole host of changes, which came up trumps, as Ryan Schiavone and Pat Slattery both returned to the starting line-up, with the latter putting in perhaps one of the performances of the season so far.

The first half had a real lack of any chances, and apart from a fantastic Allan Fleming save at the East Fife end, and new signing Aidan Denholm being denied a stonewall penalty, there was no action to report.

The second half, however, was quite the opposite. The opening goal of the game came just two minutes after the start of the second period. Ex-Fifer Greig Spence hit his free kick, which took an enormous deflection, dumbfounding the keeper as it bounced goalward.

This never stopped East Fife though, as it had in previous weeks, as they pushed for the equaliser. Youngster Alex Ferguson bombed at the backline just four minutes later, and was brought down by Binos’ full back Cammy Clark, who was sent to the stand after picking up his second yellow for the challenge.

Fife were incredibly unlucky from the resulting free kick, as Healy stood over it, and cannoned his shot off the post, there was a stramash in the box for the second ball, but no Fife player could convert.

The Black and Gold capitalised on their man advantage well, as they penned in Stirling, and they were eventually well rewarded, when after 66 minutes, Jack Healy done what Jack Healy does, rocketing a magnificent, curled effort from almost 30 yards out, adding another wonder goal to his tally for the season.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Stirling Albion were incredibly fortunate to still be level, a lovely passage of play saw East Fife have the ball in the 6-yard box, but no one could get any decent connection on the ball, and it was eventually gathered up by the Stirling ‘keeper.

All credit has to go to Stirling who valiantly held on for the last 10 minutes, at times even looking like they may have gone on to nick a winner. With 5 minutes to go, loanee Aiden Quinn dunted his back pass into the ground, forcing Fleming to win a foot race against former Fifer Aaron Dunsmore, which he did.

Speaking with manager MacDonald after the game, he said: “We’ve had a couple of body blows the last couple of weeks, against Stranraer and Annan, and today we could’ve gone under, instead when we went a goal down, we got the ball went up the park and created another chance. When we eventually got the goal, we kept going as well. It’s a hard thing to do, to play with intensity from the first to the final whistle, but the boys managed today, and this is the benchmark for our performances for the rest of the season.”

Squad News

Skipper Stewart Murdoch and Taylor Steven both remain out this week due to muscular injuries. Kieran Millar is also still unavailable as he is serving the second match of his suspension following his red card at Annan two weeks ago.

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met, it was an absolute goal fest at Bayview, however the Fife walked away empty handed, due to a last-minute penalty costing the Fifers any points. The game was end to end, and both sides went at it from minute one.

The game was not without controversy however, as on the 6th minute mark, referee Chris Fordyce sent Aaron Steele off, accusing him of kicking the Albion attacker in the face, while lunging for the ball.

Despite being a man down, the Black and Gold went a goal up, thanks to a touch of class from Hibs loanee Joao Balde. The Portuguese maestro played an excellent diagonal pass to Mercer from the halfway line to the edge of the penalty area, before making a bursting run into the penalty area to nod home the captain’s cross. A fantastic way to open his East Fife scoring account.

Charlie Reilly equalised for the visitors soon after when Healy’s scuffed pass was intercepted. The forward drove the ball up the park and weaved through the defence, firing a shot which beat Fleming at his near post.

East Fife started to go again, creating a few half chances, and looking like the better team, but it was the Rovers who went into the break with a lead after Blair Malcolm slid the ball over the line, making it 2-1 to the visitors’ minutes before the interval.

East Fife fought valiantly in the second half, playing with fire in their bellies and a spring in their step. They were fast on the attack; with Healy redeeming himself causing the Albion full back many an issue.

The Methil side were creating lots of chances, but just didn’t have anyone who was able to use their end product. Up stepped man of the moment Joao Balde, whose goals were only comparable to London Buses as two came at once, firing home from another cross, as confidence oozed from him.

There were still twenty-five minutes on the clock and 3 minutes after equalising Fife were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead for the second time in the match. The Albion Rovers’ ‘keeper Jack Leighfield wiped out Shepherd in the box. However, since he made a play for the ball, the ‘double jeopardy’ rule was enforced, and the stopper only saw a yellow. Balde stepped up, but failed to convert, keeping the score level at 2-2.

The game looked destined to finish in favour of East Fife who played excellently, particularly in the 2nd half, but it was not to be, as Newton committed a foul in the box, giving Albion a penalty of their own. Charlie Reilly stepped up, firing at Fleming, who parried it into the net. Albion nicked a win with the last kick of the ball.

Team Colours

East Fife will be clad in their white and green away kit for the game this weekend, accompanied by the matching white socks and shorts. The man in between the sticks will don the turquoise goalkeeper kit.

Albion Rovers will be in all black for the affair, with the keeper in yellow.

Match Tickets

Admission will be PATG for the game this weekend. Cash and Card are both accepted at the turnstiles.

Prices below:

General Admission: £14

Concession: £10

Under 14s: £3

Carers go Free.

Live Stream

Unfortunately for our fans in the UK and Ireland there will be no Livestream for the clash this weekend. However, for our global audience, the game can be watched on EFTV with a monthly or Season pass.

Officials

Scott Lambie will be the on-park official. His assistants running the lines will be Graham Chambers and Paul McAvinue.

Admission Prices v Albion Rovers

Admission for our cinch League Two match against Albion Rovers on Saturday 11th February at the Reigart Stadium is via pay-at-the-gate. Turnstiles accept both cash and card.

Admission prices

Adults - £14

Concessions* - £10

Under 14s - £3

*Senior citizens, Students, 14–17-year-olds

There is no live stream available for viewers within the UK & Ireland this weekend, however overseas supporters can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.

There are still seats available on the 1903 Travel club’s bus to Coatbridge on Saturday. The bus will depart Leven at 12.00pm, with pick-ups at Methilhill Bowling Club (12.05pm) and the Lomond Centre (12.15pm). The bus will be stopping at Cue Here pre-match for snacks and drinking before arriving at the stadium around 2.30pm. The cost of the bus is dependent on the final numbers travelling. Anyone interested should contact Ian Lowson to book their seat.

Match Report - Stirling Albion

East Fife were Back at Bayview, this time to host ex-manager Darren Young and his Stirling Albion team. Stirling were on good form and sitting in second in the table prior to kick off whilst East Fife were on a poor run and sitting in 7th. The two sides had met twice previously this season, both ending in Stirling wins, 3-1 at Forthbank and 2-1 at Bayview. Last weekend, East Fife suffered a devastating 3-0 defeat to Annan Athletic at Galabank.

Greig McDonald made two changes to the team that were humbled against Annan last weekend as Pat Slattery and loan singing Aiden Denholm replaced Scott Shepherd and Kieran Millar, who was serving his suspension after his red card last weekend. Stewart Murdoch and Taylor Steven missed out completely carrying knocks. 

East Fife got the game underway, however it was Stirling Albion who had the first chance of the game in the 18th minute when Copper lifts a pass over the East Fife defence for former Fifer Greig Spence, but his effort was well saved by Fleming who was off his line quickly. 

On the half hour mark, Healy had a golden chance to put East Fife into a deserved lead. Newton laid the ball for Ferguson in acres of space, who lined up to shoot but, fooling the Binos defence, played a clever pass through to Healy inside the area but his effort is skyed well over the bar. 

Shortly after Healy’s attempt, the Methil men had another chance when Trouten played an incredible ball through to new signing Denholm, a 1-on-1 with Currie, but Clark just did enough to usher him off the ball under heavy protests for a penalty from those in the home end. 

With four minutes remaining of the first half, the away side had a chance go in front when Leitch effortlessly finds Cooper with a toe poke however his effort is well saved by the diving Fleming who comfortably gathered.

HALF TIME: East Fife 0-0 Stirling Albion 

Two minutes into the second half Stirling won a free kick right on the edge of the box when Ferguson tripped up Leitch. Spence stepped up to hit a clever free kick, low under the wall, which was deflected out of the reach of Fleming and into the back of the net, putting Stirling Albion 1-0 up early in the second half.

Only four minutes after taking the lead, the Binos were made to pay for an error at the back when Ferguson’s touch took him through the middle of McLean and Clark and was sandwiched between the two and Clark, already on a booking, was sent off after receiving a second yellow for the challenge. Healy stepped up to take the resulting free kick and hit an outstanding attempt that rattled off the post and back into play however none of the East Fife men can get a foot on the ball and Stirling Albion clear for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Denholm sent in a looping cross, finding Steele inches in front of the goal whose header was on target but blocked and on to the crossbar before the whistle goes for a foul on the keeper.

With 25 minutes left, East Fife were eager to get a goal and is duly came when Healy stepped up to perform his usual magic. Newton, on the left side, played a short pass to Healy who took a touch inside and, with everyone anticipating the spectacular, he curls yet another screamer into the top corner of net before running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of his home fans. 

With the game into the final twenty minutes, East Fife were heavily pressuring the Binos goal and carved out another opportunity with a free kick on the edge of the box that reached Quinn, but he could only direct his header off target. 

With little time left, Stirling had a massive chance to steal the three points when Dunsmore latched onto a short pass back from Quinn but once again Fleming was off his line very quickly to make the block.

FULL TIME: East Fife 1-1 Stirling Albion 

After a sensational performance against high flying Stirling Albion, East Fife had to settle for a point despite deserving all three. The Methil men currently sit in 7th and next up is an away fixture against 9th placed Albion Rovers at the Reigart Stadium. Hopefully the team can pick up that first win in 11 games. 

East Fife: Fleming, Steele (Walls 77’), Denham, Quinn, Slattery (Shepherd 86’), Healy, Newton, Denholm, Ferguson, Schiavone, Trouten

Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, Clark, McLean, Banner, Davidson, Leitch, Denholm (Dunsmore 70’), Cooper (Moore 70’), Spence (Duffy 53’), Thomson (McGregor 87’)

Referee: Ross Hardie

Attendance: 533

Report by Andrew Laing