Home

Match Preview - Stenhousemuir

Oli Anderson previews tomorrow’s match against Stenhousemuir.

This weekend, East Fife make their third trip to Ochilview Park this season to play Stenhousemuir. The Fifer’s are coming off the back of an incredible 3-2 victory when they hosted Forfar Athletic last week. The Black and Gold nabbed all three points at the death through a magnificent looping header from East Fife’s number 10, Alan Trouten. Gary Naysmith’s Warriors are also coming into this game after a win at the death, with Ross Forbes scoring in the 91st minute to topple Annan Athletic at Galabank, in a game which also finished 3-2.

Form

Stenhousemuir have recorded 11 points from their last 6 games, their only loss coming against current league leaders Dumbarton. They have recorded wins against Annan Athletic, Bonnyrigg Rose and Albion Rovers in recent weeks. The Warriors also drew with the Sons at the beginning of February, and with Ray Mackinnon’s Forfar side in their last 6.

The Fife have recorded 10 in their last 6, beating Albion Rovers, Dumbarton and Forfar Athletic in recent weeks. We also split the points with title chasing Stirling Albion. The Fifers have tasted defeat recently too, unfortunately, losing out to Annan Athletic, as well as Stranraer.

The cinch League Two Table:

Last Week

The Hosts

Stenhousemuir overcame Annan Athletic last weekend in a back-and-forth encounter. Annan broke the deadlock after 4 minutes through Tommy Goss, though Stenny levelled just 2 minutes later thanks to a Nat Wedderburn strike.

Annan started the second half quick too, with Dom Docherty putting the Galabankies back in front after 50 minutes. It was Stenhousemuir who would have the chance to celebrate however, as the Warriors struck after 70 minutes through Matty Yates, and then right on the full-time whistle with a great goal from Ross Forbes.

The Fife

The Fifers bounced back from their blip at Stranraer last week to overcome Ray McKinnon’s strong Forfar Athletic side, scoring the winner at the death, at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.

It looked to be a repeat of the dismal display at Stranraer to start with, as the Fifers could not get off the blocks, going 1-0 down after 10 minutes courtesy of a Finn Robson tap-in.

This did not dishearten the Black and Gold though, and rather than going under, they bounced back with venom, with Brogan Walls rattling the post after 20 minutes of play.

Going a goal down lit a fire under East Fife, who started to dominate, and eventually got their equaliser through Brogan Walls, who fired his shot into the roof of the net from close range. The Fifers kept pushing and should have taken the lead after 31 minutes, when there was a stramash in the box, but nobody could pull the trigger and beat the stranded ‘keeper. Trouten, Shepherd and Schiavone all had a chance but none could tuck it away.

Half Time: East Fife 1-1 Forfar Athletic.

East Fife were rampant at the start of the second half, they never gave any space at all as they pushed for the goal to put them ahead. After lots of hard work, and good football, it eventually came in the 69th minute, through an own goal, as Craig Slater’s header changed the course of the ball, and it bobbled past Marc McCallum for 2-1 Fife.

The lead never lasted long though, as the Loons bounced back just 7 minutes through Stefan McCluskey, who rolled his shot into the bottom corner after some great build up play.

East Fife fought to the whistle though, and earned their reward in the 89th minute, as captain Alan Trouten scored the winner. It was a lovely ball whipped in from Alex Ferguson, and Trouten had to leap like his namesake to fire it home. Trouten was instrumental in East Fife’s positive play during the entire match, and his goal capped off an excellent team display.

 Full-Time: East Fife 3-2 Forfar Athletic

Squad News

Outs: Kieran Miller remains out with his back injury, as does Aidan Quinn who is out with a knee knock.

Ins: In-form Pat Slattery returns to the squad this week after his two weeks away through injury.

Previous Encounter

The two sides last met on a Stormy Saturday Bayview in January and played out a 1-1 draw in the league.

The adverse weather conditions more than played a part in the proceedings, as the wind made football practically unplayable at times over the course of the ninety minutes.

The first chance came early for the Fifers when Scott Mercer couldn’t get the ball over the line after a stramash from a corner kick. Set plays were all unreliable during the proceedings as any lofted ball was blown all over the park.

The Black and Gold struck first, when Alan Trouten beat the Stenny offside trap, and with help from the wind, slotted past a stranded Lyle to fire Fife in front.

While Stenny pushed hard for the next five minutes, they couldn’t beat Allan Fleming, who pulled off some crucial saves in the game.

Youngster Taylor Steven found himself beating the defenders to a loose ball after 35 minutes of action, but Jamieson was there to put in an exceptional tackle, in what was a Man of the Match performance.

The half ended with a booking for East Fife, as Trouten was carded for a tackle on Warriors’ Captain Miller.

Despite being the better of the two sides in the first 45, Fife were only one goal up, which proved costly, as Stenhousemuir had grit, and the wind, on their side.

HALF TIME 1-0.

It was clear in the second half that the long ball tactic attempted by Stenhousemuir in the first halfwas going to be much more successful, and it proved to be the case as in the first 5 minutes of the second period, Fleming was forced into a pair of saves after a long ball floated over the back line.

New signing Aidan Quinn was a formidable addition to the backline and made a massive challenge after 55 minutes of play to deny a 1-on-1 situation.

The equaliser came from nothing, after 61 minutes of action. Rangers Academy graduate Matt Yates whipped a ball in from long range, and goalie Fleming misread the bounce, as the ball trundled into the back of the net.

He more than made up for it later in the half though, making an impressive save to keep Orr out, which was just as crucial as a goal at the other end would’ve been.

The last touch of the game brought Fife their best chance of the 90. The corner was whipped in, then headed high into the air. Trouten of all people jumped to get onto it, but his header was plopped over.

Match Tickets

Tickets can be paid for in cash at the gate or online by card pre-match.

Prices below:

Adults- £14

Concession- £9

Child- £5

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.

Team Colours

East Fife will be in their green and white kit this weekend, accompanied by white socks and shorts. The goalkeeper will don Turquoise for the tie.

Stenhousemuir will wear their classic maroon shirt, with white shorts and maroon socks. The Warriors’ ‘keeper will be clad in yellow for the affair.

Officials

Scott Lambie will be the on field official for the clash this weekend. His two assistants running the lines will be David Dunne and Mark Harris.

New Partnership with Beach Coffee House

We're delighted to announce the addition of the Beach Coffee House as one of our new commercial partners.

Beach coffee house is a restaurant/coffee shop located above MSL Leisure on Leven’s promenade with excellent views to go along with the excellent food.

Michael Morris of MSL Leisure said "I’m absolutely delighted to become a commercial partner with East Fife Football Club. The amount of work the club has done with the Community is great and we are delighted to come on board. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration and we are delighted to be part of it."

Scott Young from our commercial team added: "I’m absolutely thrilled to bring in the Beach Coffee House to the club and I’m delighted that they have chosen to partner with and support us. It's definitely worth getting down and grabbing yourself a cooked breakfast from them as they are fantastic."

Zoe Lohoar and Shannon Kinnell from the Beach Coffee House

Match Report - Forfar Athletic

East Fife welcomed Forfar Athletic back to Bayview as the two teams met for the third time this season with both meetings resulting in wins for East Fife, 1-0 at Bayview and 3-1 at Station Park, and the Fifers went into the match hoping to continue that good record. Last weekend East Fife suffered a disappointing end to an otherwise fantastic February with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Stranraer down at Stair Park. 

Greig McDonald made two changes to the side that lost to Stranraer last time out with Brogan Walls and Scott Shepherd making their returns to the starting team in place of Kieran Millar and Aidan Denholm.

It was Forfar who were quickest out of the blocks, and they had some strong early chances, particularly through former Fifer Nathan Flanagan on the right wing. In the 6th minute, Finn Robson punce on a loose ball from a Flanagan block but Ferguson was able to get in a crucial block. The early pressure paid off for the Loons and they opened the scoring in the 10^th minute when Robson slotted home on the half volley from Flanagan’s cross.

Despite going a goal down early on, East Fife showed desire and resilience to get back into the game and almost levelled just 3 minutes after going 1-0 down. Ferguson’s free kick eventually made its ways to Ryan Schiavone who was unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line.

On the 22nd minute, East Fife had another chance to grab an equaliser when Jack Healy did well to snatch the ball back away from Roberto Nditi on the by-line to cut the ball back to Walls who’s rifled strike cannons off the post before being eventually cleared.

The pressure was beginning to tell for the home side, and they were level just 3 minutes later. A long ball over the top to Schiavone who drove down the right wing and played a pass to the edge of the box to the on running Walls who caresses the ball into the bottom corner for his first professional goal.

Nearing the half hour mark the Fifers had a chance to take the lead when Alan Trouten picked up a miss placed pass and fed Scott Shepherd, but the forward was denied by an incredible last ditch block from Nditi. Schiavone managed to keep the ball in play and feed the ball back into the danger zone but no one in a black & gold shirt could stab the ball home after a good old-fashioned stramash.

HALF TIME: East Fife 1-1 Forfar Athletic

The first chance of the second half came in the 54th minute when a whipped cross into the box from Ferguson falls to Aaron Steele who turns his man and, on the half volley, from very close range balloons the ball over the bar. 

East Fife took the lead for the first time in the game in the 68^th minute when a short corner from Ferguson to Healy saw the winger fire in a cross which is turned into his own net by Forfar captain Craig Slater. 

The lead didn’t last too long however as Forfar snatched an equaliser just 8 minutes later. Flanagan picked up the ball inside his own half and breezed past 3 East Fife players before picking out McClusky at the back post to level the match at 2-2.

With the game dwindling away, and two minutes remaking of the 90, East Fife has one last chance to grab the three points which they duly took. Ferguson’s corner was fired toward goal by Page but his effort was blocked on the line and just when Flanagan looked like he would be able to break for the visitors, substitute Connor McManus put in an excellent tackle to win the ball back inside the Forfar half. Ferguson picked up the loose ball and picked out Trouten who sent a looping header into the top corner to win clinch the three points late on.

FULL TIME: East Fife 3-2 Forfar Athletic 

A very well won three points for the Fifers sees them climb up into 5th position, only one point behind 4^th placed Annan Athletic. Next up is a trip to Ochilview to take on 3rd placed, and in form Stenhousemuir.

East Fife Team: Fleming, Steele, Newton, Page, Denham, Ferguson, Trouten, Walls (McManus 77’), Healy (Denholm 77’), Shepherd (Omar 90+2’), Schiavone (Young 83’)

Forfar Athletic Team: McCallum, Nditi (Gillies 73’), Munro, Docherty (Brindley 45’), Hutchinson, Robson (Aitken 73’), Slater, Flanagan, Hutton, Ross (McCluskey 74’), Armour

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 663

Report by Andrew Laing