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Match Preview - Stranraer

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stranraer

This week sees the first of two back-to-back camel treks, as we venture to Dumfries and Galloway to play Stranraer at Stair Park this afternoon. We’re still holding on to our unbeaten start to 2024, although we have drawn both last two games. Sadly, we took the lead in both of those, most recently conceding a gut-wrenching equaliser against Peterhead, Scott Ross scoring with the last kick of the ball, sending the Blue Toon up the road with a share of the spoils.

Our hosts are coming off the back of a tight loss against league leaders Stenhousemuir, as a first half own goal from centre back Kyle Girvan handed the Warriors all 3 points as they continue their remarkable run.

The cinch League Two

Position	Team	Played	Pts	GD
1	Stenhousemuir	21	52	25
2	Peterhead	21	36	12
3	The Spartans	18	32	10
4	Dumbarton	19	31	10
5	Bonnyrigg Rose	19	23	-1
6	East Fife	20	22	0
7	Stranraer	20	22	-14
8	Forfar Athletic	20	20	-6
9	Elgin City	19	18	-20
10	Clyde	19	13	-16

Last Week’s Results

East Fife 2-2 Peterhead.

Stenhousemuir 1-0 Stranraer

This Week’s Fixtures

Elgin City vs Dumbarton @ Borough Briggs

Forfar Athletic vs Bonnyrigg Rose @ Station Park

Peterhead vs Stenhousemuir @ Balmoor Stadium

Stranraer vs East Fife @ Stair Park

The Spartans vs Clyde @ Ainslie Park

The Form

The Fife

We have recorded 5 points from our last 6 league games, in recent form. Despite the low total, we haven’t lost in our last 4 games, and our 2 losses have come some time ago, most recently on the 23^rd of December, as we lost 3-0 to Bonnyrigg at Bayview. Our other loss was perhaps unfair, as we played exceptionally well in the second half against league leaders Stenhousemuir. Unfortunately, our first half performance seriously let us down, and Austin’s stoppage time goal proved merely a consolation.

Our first draw came against Forfar a fortnight ago. A wind, and rainswept Station Park proved too much for the Methil Milan, who could not capitalise on their man advantage, which they had for a large portion of the game, leading to the sides playing out a goalless affair. Our penultimate draw came last week in a disappointing contest with Clyde, the Fifers never got going in the second period after a fast start, and that led to the spoils being shared, sadly. The most recent of the draws came last Saturday, where it was a true 2 points dropped situation, as we conceded at the death, ensuring the spoils were shared against Peterhead.

Our win came in truly emphatic fashion. It was three weeks ago against Dumbarton, where Kieran Millar’s first half strike, paired with Walls’ second half wonder finish was enough to bed the Sons at the Rock. We bossed the game from the first whistle to the last, in my humble opinion, and the despite Dumbarton equalising in the game, we were the only side that looked like they would take all three points.

The Hosts

Stranraer have recorded 7 points from their last 6 league games, seeing 3 losses, a draw and 2 wins.

Their first of two wins stretches back to the 16^th of December too! Stranraer overcame Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 at Stair Park. They looked comfortable in the contest, cruising 3-0, with Bonnyrigg scoring in the last minute of the game.

Their second victory came against Dumbarton a fortnight ago, where they toppled the Blue Toon 2-0, also at Stair Park. It was a two-punch knockout, as goals from Tam Orr and Chris Johnston either side of the half time whistle bedded the title chasers.

Their draw was courtesy of Clyde, away back on the 9^th of December. It was a 4-goal thriller which saw Craig Ross and James Dolan on the scoresheet for the Blues as they recovered from 2 goals down. This shows the Fifers that there is no room for complacency, as Stranraer are more than capable of a fightback.

Stranraer’s losses have all come on the road, losing 3-0 to Spartans at Ainslie Park, 2-1 at Borough Briggs against Elgin (with Deryn Lang the scorer for the Blues) and 1-0 to Stenhousemuir last week at Ochilview.

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met, we cruised past ex-Fifer Scott Agnew’s Stranraer side, romping to a 4-0 victory on the day, at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The impressive score line was matched with an equally impressive performance, which saw our goals come from all over the park, giving the Fife faithful something to cheer during the adverse weather conditions. The positive result stretched East Fife’s unbeaten record in the League to 4 games and has moved us within 5 points of the fabled spots, and more importantly up to 5 away from the trapdoor.

We started the game well, looking very positive and playing on the front foot. This brough us our first chance on the ten-minute mark, when Nathan Austin made a fantastic run into the box. Unfortunately for ‘Stone Cold’, the pass was slightly overhit, and it rolled out for a goal kick before he could pull the trigger.

That did not deter us however, and the deadlock was broken after 18 minutes, when Millar converted from a well worked free-kick routine. Connor McManus laid the ball off to Healy, before the local lad floated a ball to the back post for Fife’s number 4 to tap home.

Stranraer started warming into the game after the opener and forced Jacob Comerford into some top-quality defending to keep our clean sheet intact.

Any momentum that the Blues were building up was promptly crushed after 40 minutes, when some silky soccer from the Fifers doubled our advantage. Docherty used his blistering pace to latch onto Shepherd’s through ball. The full-back sprayed a ball across the face of goal which was met by none other than Fash. The forward fired the ball into the net, capping off a fantastic team move.

Half Time: East Fife 2-0 Stranraer

Fleming was called into action right after the half time whistle, preventing a guaranteed goal after a defensive mishap gave Stranraer a chance early-doors.

Just before the hour mark, McManus made it three when Newton spun his man on the flank. The full back then fed in the creative midfielder, who carried the ball into the box and converted with a tidy finish which was deemed a goal of the season contender by commentator Daniel Hughes and East Fife Legend Pat Slattery.

Both goalkeepers had their best moments in the late stages of the game. Firstly, Budinaukus did well to keep it at 3 with 20 minutes still on the clock, when a heavy touch from Austin denied the forward his brace. Before up the other end, Fleming did very well to clear up a stramash in the box, ending any threat from Stranraer in the game then and there.

We deserved more than just the 3 goals, and we got just that in injury time when Liam Newton made a darting run from left back to the penalty spot to fire a loose ball home, which kept all three points in the Kingdom.

Squad News

Ins: We have three players off the table, as Brian Easton, Sean Docherty and Charlie Murray all coming back to bolster the back line. We’re also hoping that new loan signing Robbie Hamilton will be available should he recover from an illness.

Outs: Brendan Ramsay has picked up a knee injury and may be out for a couple of weeks. Defender Jacob Comerford and the versatile Pat Slattery also remain sidelined.

A Third Generational Talent

Our newest signing, Robbie Hamilton has made history, just by putting pen to paper this week. He has become the first third generation player at East Fife, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both called Jim!

Robbie

Robbie came through the academy at Hibernian, making a name for himself in the development squad. Primarily playing on the left-hand side of the midfield, he played with the U19 squad before venturing to Forthbank to lift the cinch League Two Trophy while on loan at Stirling Albion. We all hope that Robbie’s experience with success will prove invaluable by the end of the campaign!

Jim Hamilton Jr

Robbie’s dad Jim, signed for the Methil Milan in 2011, featuring 9 times for the Black and Gold, netting his only goal for the club against Ayr United. Jim bagged the opener against the Honest Men in a 4-0 thumping at Somerset Park.

Jim Hamilton Snr

Robbie’s grandad, Jim Senior, has been etched in East Fife folklore for over 50 years now, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox in 1973. What’s more impressive is that the Fifers were managerless at the time! Jim also tested his hand in management, coaching Peterhead while they were in the Highland League (or equivalent) from 1983-1990.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the pink Taxi Centre-sponsored tops, matched with black shorts and pink socks, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the green kit for the tie.

Stranraer will be in blue tops, with white shorts and blue socks, while their goalkeeper will be wearing orange for the clash.

Match Tickets

Admission today is exclusively pay at the gate, prices below:

Adults: £15

Concession: £10

U16: £5

Live Streaming

Live Streaming of the game will be available on East Fife TV for our international fans. This can be accessed through a monthly or season pass. You can access this HERE!

Officials

The on-pitch official today will be Andy Gamble while his assistants running the line are Ross Nelson and Stuart Broadfoot.