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Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stenhousemuir

We return to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium this weekend after a double gameweek away from home saw us all the way down in Stranraer at Stair Park on Saturday, before travelling to the Kilmac Stadium to play the SPFL Trust Trophy 2nd Round. We scraped a draw against the Blues in the nether regions of the country, before overcoming the Young Dees on penalties to progress in the cup.

Our opponents, Stenhousemuir also faced a double game week last week, though they were not as well off as the Fifers though they too drew in the league, sharing the spoils with the team who got the better of us on matchday 1 Peterhead. Sadly for the Warriors, they crashed out of the SPFL Trust Trophy midweek, losing to Rangers B. The Young Gers struck in the dying embers at Ochilview, thanks to a 91st minute goal from ex-Millwall Starlet Zak Lovelace.

The Standings:

Position

Team

Played

Pts

GD

1

Peterhead FC

2

4

3

2

Bonnyrigg Rose

2

4

2

3

Stranraer FC

2

4

1

4

Dumbarton FC

2

2

0

5

The Spartans

2

2

0

6

Forfar Athletic

2

2

0

7

Stenhousemuir

2

2

0

8

Elgin City

2

1

-1

9

Clyde FC

2

1

-2

10

East Fife

2

1

-3

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met was in March this year when goals from Alex Ferguson and Scott Shepherd completed the second half turnaround for the Fife. Greig McDonald’s men were slow out the blocks and it was the Warriors who imposed themselves on the game in the early stages.

Nat Wedderburn and Michael Miller controlled the midfield battle and never let any of the Fife midfielders get time on the ball. Stenny looked at their most dangerous from set pieces and came close after 15 minutes when Sean Crighton’s driven shot blew over following a short corner.

The deadlock was broken after 32 minutes, with the hosts putting themselves in front. Miscommunication between Allan Fleming and Jonathan Page led to Stenhousemuir getting a needless corner kick. The Warriors capitalised on the opportunity, with Ross Forbes linking up with Matty Yates, who coolly slotted the ball through Allan Fleming’s legs. 1-0 Stenhousemuir.

The half-finished in scrappy action, with Stenhousemuir still on the ascendency, though the Warriors couldn’t capitalise and only went in at the break with the one goal advantage.

Half Time: Stenhousemuir 1-0 East Fife.

The Fifers came out for the second period with fire in their bellies and a spring in their step. They were rampant, and pushing for the goal, with Schiavone and Healy on the wings starting to cause bother.

They created two half chances but nothing of note until the 52nd minute when Jack Healy beat Jacob Blaney on the wing, before cutting inside and firing a low cross into the box, which Alex Ferguson was able to convert. 1-1.

The Fife never stopped and spent the rest of the half trying to put Stenhousemuir to the sword. They even had the ball in the net after 70 minutes after a stramash in the air following a corner, but the referee pulled play back for a foul on Warriors’ keeper Jay Cantley.

The winner came a further 10 minutes later, when Ryan Schiavone turned Callum Yeats on the wing, and lofted a cross in which met the head of Brogan Walls, who nodded the ball back across the face of goal where Scott Shepherd converted for his first goal since September 2022 to hand East Fife all three points.

Squad News

Outs: Slattery and Murray both still miss out due to previous injuries, Gregor Nicol also joins the injury list this week.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the traditional black and gold top, matched with black socks and shorts on Saturday, while the goalkeeper will be clad in all blue for the tie.

The visitors will also be in their classic kit. Wearing maroon and white for the affair. The Warriors’ goalie will be in all yellow for the clash.

Match Tickets

Season Tickets are valid for our league campaign, with prices below:

Adults- £18

Concessions (Over 65s/Disabled)- £14

Under 16s- £5

Parent and 1 child- £21

Parent and 2 children- £24

Like last season, EFCFC players Under 16 years of age will be admitted for free!

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office.

Please note, parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be bought directly from the club office. 

Live Streaming

There is no live stream available for viewers within the UK or Ireland however game will be available on East Fife TV for our international fans. This can be accessed through a monthly or season pass. Your commentators for this afternoon, will be Stephen Mill and the returning Pat Slattery

Officials

The on-pitch official on Saturday will be Dan McFarlane, while his assistants running the line are Andrew Mather and Chris Hughes.

Refreshments

The stadium bar will be open from 12:15pm pre-kick off on Saturday! We welcome you to join us for a drink before the match. The bar will be open again after the full-time whistle for post-match refreshments.

Pre-Match Collection

There will be a collection outside the ground pre-match organised by Alex - The Leukodystrophy charity. Alex TLC provides invaluable support and information for all those affected by leukodystrophy. Established in 2004 as ALD Life, Alex TLC are an internationally recognised centre of excellence for those affected by adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN).

There are more than 100 different known types of leukodystrophy, including some so rare they only affect one or two individuals. The charity changed its name in 2019 to become the only charity in the UK that provides support for all those with leukodystrophy.

Programme

Issue Number 3 for the 23/24 edition of The Bayview will be available from vendors outside the ground pre-match.

If you can’t make today’s match, programmes can also be bought online for home delivery.

MON THE FIFE!

Tickets for our cinch League Two opener against Stenhousemuir on Saturday 19th August at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium are now on sale and can be purchased here. 

Admission Prices

Adults - £18

Concessions* - £14

Under 16s** - £5

Parent & Child** - £21

Parent & 2 Children** - £24

*Over 65s/Full-Time Students/Disabled – proof of age/eligibility may be requested

**Proof of age may be requested.

Supporters who haven't yet collected their season ticket card can do so right up until kick off.

All member of East Fife Community Football Club & East Fife Girls & Womens’ Football Club who are under 16 go free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all cinch League Two matches at Bayview this season. Tickets for this are arranged through EFCFC.

Season tickets are valid for this match.

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office.

Please note, parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be bought directly from the club office. 

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. 

You have until 12noon to get a ticket for this week's Goldmine Lotto.

The jackpot is £100.

Good luck everybody.

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Dundee B 0-0 East Fife (3-5 penalties), SPFL Trust Trophy R2

Tuesday 15th August 2023, Kilmac Stadium

East Fife managed to progress to the next round on penalties on Tuesday night in the second round of the SPFL Trust Trophy, just sneaking over the line against Dundee B at the Kilmac Stadium. The goalless draw took the game to spot kicks and the Fifers took advantage winning 5-3 in the shootout.

A much-changed line-up for the Fifers, with McDonald changing everyone that he could, and only Trouten, Millar, and Newton retaining their place, along with Gregor Nicol on the wing.

The game started slowly, with both teams’ formations cancelling the other out, and the play being largely out on the wings, bringing little success. East Fife’s opening chance came after 10 minutes of play, when McManus got an opportunity on the edge of the area, however his lasered attempt was deflected wide.

10 minutes later, East Fife had another chance, this time from a corner kick. Hambrook laid the ball off to Nicol, the youngster then found a pass to Philp in acres of space on the edge of the area, but he took two touches too many and the pressure was piled on him, making his shot much less threatening.

Five minutes later, the Fifers had another half chance, this time through Millar who also had his shot blocked. Hambrook then hit the first shot on target, which was swallowed by Ruaridh Lynch. Aside from another McManus blocked attempt, there was no other action from the Fifers.

The home side had the best opportunity of the 45 though, when a free kick was lifted into the box, the young Dees all misjudged it though, as did Reece Beveridge, who aside from this moment had a stellar game. The net was gaping, but Mutale could not capitalise, and Beveridge’s recovery was enough to keep it 0-0.

Half Time Dundee B 0-0 East Fife.

In the second period, both sides went hell for leather, sacrificing their backline at times to try and grab the opener.

Big saves from both Beveridge and Lynch kept it goalless in the early stages, and every other opportunity in the early stages of the second half were squandered.

There was some incredible football played by both sides in the second 45, with nice one touch passing from both the Fifers and Dundee in the build-up, though neither team was prepared to pull the trigger. Youngster Jude Black went closest for East Fife and was unlucky to see his 25-yard drive deflected onto the bar.

Sean Docherty went down injured with 10 minutes still on the clock, before being replaced by Stewart Murdoch. The mentioned Murdoch put in a crunching challenge inside the box with seconds left on the clock that had the home side claiming for a penalty however Murdoch did take the ball out first, so no foul was given.

The referee then blew his final whistle, so we were taken to a penalty shootout for the third time so far this season.

First to step up was Murdoch who sent the ‘keeper the wrong way, taking the lead.

Dundee were denied the chance to equalise when Jamie Richardson’s spot kick was kept out by Beveridge.

Conversions then from Shepherd and Healy, and a reply from Callum Lamb left East Fife 3-1 up and it looked like Beveridge had wrapped it up too for the Fifers as he guessed the right way from Barnett’s pen, though it just snuck through his grasp.

We were not left to rue that however, as successful penalties from Newton and Walls wrapped it up, allowing the Black and Gold to progress.

Heads now turn to later in the week, when we see the Third-Round draw on Thursday, before this weekend’s clash with Stenhousemuir at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday.

Dundee B – Lynch, French, Graham, Sweenie-Rowe, Lorimer (Allan 63’), Murray, Robertson, Richardson, Wilkie, Mutale (Lamb 63’), Mohammed (Barnett 72’). Subs not used: McKelvie, Crowther, Craik, Mitchell, Donald

East Fife – Beveridge, Newton, Docherty (Murdoch 81’), Comerford, Millar (Black 45’), McManus (Walls 45’), Trouten (Shepherd 45’), Nicol (Healy 45’), Philp, Schiavone, Hambrook. Subs not used: Taylor, Ramsay, Fleming

Referee – Greg Soutar