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Match Preview - Forfar Athletic
Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Forfar Athletic.
East Fife host Forfar Athletic at the newly named MGM Timber Bayview Stadium this weekend. The Fifer’s are coming off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Stranraer last weekend, whereas Ray Mackinnon’s Loons drew 1-1 away at Bonnyrigg on Tuesday night. Forfar are sat 5th in the cinch League Two table with 34 points after 25 games. The Fifers are hot on their tale, in 7th place with 33 after 26.
Form
In Forfar’s last 6, they have recorded 12 points, winning 3 and drawing three. However, the Loons are without a win in their last three, sharing the spoils in their last three outings.
East Fife’s fluctuating form has recorded them 7 points in their last 6, with the highs of a 2-0 victory against league leaders Dumbarton, but the lows of defeat against Stranraer (twice), as well as Annan Athletic.
The cinch League Two Table:
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Points |
GD |
|
Dumbarton |
25 |
50 |
14 |
|
|
Stirling Albion |
23 |
45 |
20 |
|
|
Annan Athletic |
26 |
37 |
5 |
|
|
Stenhousemuir |
26 |
35 |
-1 |
|
|
Forfar Athletic |
25 |
34 |
-3 |
|
|
Elgin City |
25 |
33 |
-3 |
|
|
East Fife |
26 |
33 |
-6 |
|
|
Stranraer |
26 |
32 |
-8 |
|
|
Albion Rovers |
26 |
27 |
-3 |
|
|
Bonnyrigg Rose |
26 |
24 |
-15 |
Last Week
The Visitors
On Tuesday, it was a late Kieran McGachie goal which denied Forfar all three points, when they faced Bonnyrigg Rose. Ex-Fifer Mark Docherty won Forfar the penalty, which was converted by Ben Armour to give the Loons the lead after 72 minutes of play. This did not dishearten Bonnyrigg who clawed their way back into the tie and levelled the scoring from a free kick with just 3 minutes to play.
The Fife
East Fife succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Stair Park last weekend, when they fell to Stranraer, in a disappointing showing.
The performance and result were a stark contrast to the Black and Gold’s form in recent weeks.
The hosts started quickly, doing lots of damage, forcing Allan Fleming into a tricky save within 90 seconds of play. There was more for the East Fife back line to do five minutes later, as a stramash in the box led to a square ball being cleared by one of the Fifers.
The deadlock was broken by Stranraer after just 13 minutes of action. Anton Brady glided down the left, and floated a cross right along the goal line to be converted by forward Matt Grant.
After the restart, Fife had two half chances, the first coming from Aidan Denholm, who’s header forced a save from the Stranraer keeper, and the second came from Jack Healy. The youngster done well on the left flank to break into the box, but his resulting shot was high and wide.
The half closed with Stranraer on the ascendency again, causing many a problem in the 18-yard box. East Fife had to dig in defensively to only be one down at the break.
Half-Time: Stranraer 1-0 East Fife.
It went from bad to worse for the Fifers at the start of the second half, as the Blues doubled their advantage within 5 minutes of the restart. Killie loanee Aaron Brown done very well to control Ngandu’s pass before laying it off for James Hilton, making it 2-0 in what was an all too easy move.
The game ground to a halt after the second goal went in, as Stranraer were able to settle down, and marshal the play. Fife could not break the Blues down, who were first to every ball in the contest.
The visitors’ best chance came with 10 minutes to go, as Scott Shepherd broke through, although his good shot was met with a better save from Connelly to keep the Stranraer clean sheet intact.
Squad News
Ins: We welcome Connor Young to the Squad from Rangers on loan til the end of the season. The young striker will be available for selection this weekend.
Outs: Unfortunately, Pat Slattery and Aidan Quinn both remain injured ahead of Saturday. Also, Adam Mansouri has joined Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts on loan until the end of the season, so is no longer available.
Previous Encounter
The last time the two sides met was all the way back in October, when the Fifers were in a rich vein of form under then interim boss Greig McDonald.
The game started bitty, with neither side able to really get the ball on the ground and play, although Fife looked the better outfit in the contest. The match also allowed youngster Ryan Schiavone to open his goalscoring account. The striker took the game by the scruff of the neck and pounced on a chance to open the scoring after 42 minutes. He wasn’t content with one either, as he popped another one past the keeper thanks to a fantastic Alex Ferguson pass in first have stoppage time, doubling the Fife’s lead and his goal tally.
Half Time: Forfar Athletic 0-2 East Fife.
After the interval, ex-Fifer Mark Docherty got involved in the action, however, not the action he had perhaps planned, as he fired a low cross into the back of his own net to make it 3-0 for the Fife.
Despite the game being a forgone conclusion, Kevin Hanratty was not prepared to give up as he lashed a terrific long-range effort into the bottom left corner, beating Allan Fleming on the way past. That was the final opportunity for Forfar though, and East Fife left Station Park with three points and 3 goals too.
Team Colours
East Fife are back in their home kit this week, donning the tartan shirt with black shorts and socks. The ‘keeper will wear the all turquoise kit for the tie.
The away side will be clad in all white for the tie, with black shorts. The Loons Goalkeeper will be dressed in all purple for the match.
Officials
Our on-pitch official for Saturday will be Steven Kirkland. His two assistants running the lines are Douglas Ross and Steven Reid.
Match Tickets
There will be no cash turnstiles for the game this weekend, and we encourage supporters to purchase their tickets online in advance. You can also get tickets from the club, either in person, or over the telephone at 01333 426323. Parent and Child tickets must be bought directly from the club office.
Season tickets will be valid for the game.
Turnstiles will be open from 2pm.
Prices Below:
Adult- £18
Concessions- £14
U16s- £5
*Parent & Child- £21
*Parent & 2 Children- £24.
*Tickets must be purchased in person
All child members of EFCFC & EFG&WFC have been granted free admission with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all of our home league matches this season! Tickets for this are organised through EFCFC. We hope to see as many of you present as possible, to help support the team.
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.
Refreshments
Due to the high number of customers using our hospitality, we will be opening “Jim’s Bar” downstairs from 12.15pm for pre-game refreshments. The pie stalls will open prior to kick-off and will also be open at half time. Both cash and card are accepted at the pie stalls. The club shop will open at 1.30pm this afternoon.
Programme
The Bayview Programme issue 18 is available from vendors outside of the stadium for £2.50. Also, half time draw tickets will be available pre-match.
East Fife Football Club announces partnership with MGM Timber
East Fife Football Club is delighted to announce a three-and-a-half-year deal with MGM Timber for the naming rights to Bayview Stadium.
As of Saturday 4th March, at the club’s home game vs Forfar Athletic, the stadium will be called ‘MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.’
Commercial Manager Lee Gillies said “This is a historic moment for East Fife FC as this partnership brings a welcome cash injection into the club and the largest commercial deal in the club’s history. It was important that whoever we brought in for this opportunity was the right company and we feel we have found that in MGM Timber. They had to have the same ethos as us, a passion for football and for the community. MGM Timber and the Donaldson group are steeped in the history of East Fife FC and have supported us in the past and it feels like the perfect match.”
The deal sees the name change from its current iteration ‘Locality Hub Bayview Stadium,’ which was sponsored by the late Dave Marshall. MGM Timber will also be the shirt sleeve sponsor for the East Fife Girls & Women’s first team squad for season 2023/24.
Chairman Jim Stevenson said: “We are delighted to announce this fantastic partnership with MGM Timber. The Donaldson family have a long-established relationship with East Fife Football Club and to have them on board with us will hopefully see this will continue well into the future. We look forward to welcoming MGM Timber to our club and developing a close working partnership over the next 3 1/2 years and beyond. I would like to put on record my board and I’s thanks to our commercial team of Lee Gillies & Scott Young for the tremendous work they have done over the last 6 months in not only securing this partnership, but the many others they have achieved in such a short space of time."
Graham Johnston, CEO of the Retail & Distribution division of Donaldson Group, which includes MGM Timber, said: “As part of the Donaldson family of businesses, MGM Timber is proud to be partnering with East Fife FC and we are delighted to have our brand associated with this famous stadium. We have only succeeded over the years by investing in our people and the local communities we serve. East Fife is a truly community-orientated club, and we are excited to be working closely with them.”
Andrew Donaldson, Donaldson Group CEO, said: “The Donaldson Group began business in Fife 163 years ago, and has for many years had operations just around the corner from Bayview and continues to grow and support the Levenmouth area. MGM Timber is one of our businesses deeply connected to this community, in which we want to create a positive future for all.”
MGM Timber is part of the Donaldson Group, which includes businesses such as Donaldson Timber Engineering, Kitchens International, Stone Care, and James Donaldson Timber. With 14 branches across Scotland and an ecommerce website, MGM are experts specialising in not just timber, but bathrooms, doors, fencing, decking and a dedicated kitchen brand, MGM Kitchens.
East Fife TV sat down with MGM timber, East Fife Chairman Jim Stevenson & Commercial Executive Lee Gillies to find out more: https://eftv.info/mgm-timber-interviews/
Graham Johnston, Chief Executive Officer Donaldson Group Retail and Distribution, and Steve Galbraith, Managing Director for MGM Timber.
Match Report - Stranraer
East Fife took the camel trek down to the bottom corner of the country to take on 8th placed Stranraer at Stair Park. Prior to the weekend, Stranraer have picked up 6 points in their last six games whereby East Fife had collected 7 points in their last 3 games. Last weekend East Fife won an excellent three points at Bayview against league leaders Dumbarton thanks to a bullet header from Aaron Steele and a late tap in from Alex Ferguson to secure a 2-0 win. Stranraer and East Fife have already met twice this season. The first ended in a 2-2 draw at Stair Park after a late Jack Healy screamer and the second finished 3-1 win for the visitors at Bayview.
Greig McDonald made two enforced changes to the team that beat Dumbarton last time out as Jonathan Page and Kieran Millar taking the place of the injured duo of Aaron Quinn and Pat Slattery who both picked up knocks last weekend.
After a couple half chances for both sides, along with a penalty claim for this visitors for a foul on Aidan Denholm, Stranraer took the lead when a low cross from Brady managed to evade everyone on its way to Matty Grant who tapped in at the back post to give the home side an early lead.
Straight after taking the lead, Stranraer had the chance to add a quick fire second when Brown picked up the ball in the middle of the East Fife half, took a couple touches, and from around 25 yards attempted a long-range effort but the ball narrowly sails over the bar.
In the 26th minute of the game, East Fife have their first real chance when Healy is played in on the wing and cut inside but his effort flies well over the bar much to the disappointment of the travelling East Fife support.
With five minutes remaining of the half, Stranraer had a penalty claim of their own when a free kick is partially cleared and picked up by Brown who goes down under Steele challenge, but the referee was uninterested.
HALF TIME: Stranraer 1-0 East Fife
After only four minutes of the second half, Stranraer doubled their lead when Ngandu who skipped past Millar in midfield and feeds Brown in behind the East Fife defence who in turn squares the ball to Hilton who passes the ball into an empty net doubling their lead and giving the Fifers having a mountain to climb.
A minute after scoring a second, East Fife had an opportunity at the other end to get one back. Steele played the ball over the top of the Stranraer back line for Healy, putting him in a 1-on-1 with Connelly but, with a heavy touch, and the keeper is off his line quickly, the ball is gathered by the Stranraer stopper.
In the 66th minute, Healy attempted to add another to his goal of the season contenders with an audacious effort. Shepherd is played through and does well to gather the ball, on the edge of the area, passes to Schiavone who sends a very nicely placed cross towards Healy at the back post, but his acrobatic effort is well off target.
With the minutes remaining Shepherd had a chance to set up a nail biting finish when substitute, Taylor Steven did very well to wrestle the ball away from his man to play a well-timed through ball to Shepherd but was denied by Connelly with a good save with his feet.
FULL TIME: Stranraer 2-0 East Fife
A disappointing result for the Fifers puts them into 7th, dropping 3 places in 90 minutes, which highlights the tightness of the league with only 3 points separating 4th to 8th. Next up for the Fifer is a home match against in-form Forfar Athletic.
Stranraer Team: Connelly, McIntosh, Robertson, Ross, Watt, Grady, Brady, Gallagher, Hilton (Duffy 88’), Ngandu, Brown (Walker 85’)
East Fife Team: Fleming, Steele, Denham, Newton, Page, Denholm (Shepherd 59’), Trouten, Millar (McManus 59’), Ferguson, Healy (Walls 70’), Schiavone (Steven 78’)
Referee: Barry Cook
Attendance: 425
Report by Andrew Laing
Ticket Info v Forfar Athletic
Tickets for our cinch League Two match against Forfar Athletic on Saturday 18th February at the Locality Hub 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.
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.
Full and half-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.