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Match Report - Bonnyrigg Rose

Bonnyrigg Rose 4-2 East Fife, Tuesday 21^st November 2023

New Dundas Park, cinch League Two

East Fife could not match their result from last weekend on Tuesday night, as we faced another defeat, this time at the hands of Bonnyrigg Rose, at New Dundas Park. Set pieces proved to be our downfall on Tuesday, conceding 3 of them, though Allan Fleming’s saves in open play kept the score respectable for the most part.

We started the Bonnyrigg game in the same manner as we finished the Clyde game, as we adopted a 3-5-2 shape, to try and go man to man with the Rosey Posey. There were two changes to the line-up which sealed an emphatic win at New Douglas Park last weekend, as Scott Shepherd and Connor McManus made way for Gregor Nicol and Kieran Millar, allowing McDonald to more effectively apply the desired tactics, with Nicol as a makeshift wing back position, putting in a shift during his time on the park.

Both sides had chances in the early exchanges, with Trouten firing a volley over the bar, and Osolador heading wide for the home side inside the opening 15 minutes. However, it was the hosts who struck first, as the aforementioned Osolador made no mistakes with his second chance of the game. Lee Currie whipped a nice ball into the feet of the Bonnyrigg striker, who was somehow given enough time in the area to take a touch and compose himself, before lashing the ball past Fleming, putting Bonnyrigg 1-0 up after 19 minutes.

We bounced back quickly though, and just 5 minutes later, had a chance to pull level. Schiavone was the first to Gregor Nicol’s wicked delivery and he nodded it across goal. Unfortunately, there were no takers, as the ball trickled right along the 6-yard line.

We then failed to capitalise on another great chance, as Schiavone was so close to converting another Nicol free kick on the half an hour mark, but it slipped past the post.

Thankfully for us, all good things come in threes, and we bagged our much-needed goal. Nathan Austin capitalised on a mistake from the Bonnyrigg centre half, heading past an onrushing ‘keeper to bring the sides level.

We made it into half time arguably the better of the two sides and could’ve been ahead had Austin’s second header of the game not been ruled out for a foul. However, in the second period there was no debates as to who the better team were, as Bonnyrigg responded fantastically to their half-time team talk.

They started quick, and from the start of the second period it became evident that a goal was inevitable. Sadly, it came after 51 minutes, when Lee Currie, already boasting an assist, re-gave the Rosey Posey the lead. He hit a deep free kick, from over 35 yards out, and with what was undeniably supposed to be a cross, managed to restore Bonnyrigg’s lead. The ball bounced into the area and no defender could get anywhere near it, Fleming anticipated contact one the ball, and therefore was wrongfooted by the deep-set piece.

On the hour mark, it went from bad to worse too, after a stramash in the box led to a very soft penalty given against the Fifers. Neil Martynuik stepped up, and doubled the Bonnyrigg lead, putting us under some real pressure.

We responded quickly though, and after being substituted on just 5 minutes before, Connor McManus made it 3-2 with a lovely left footed strike.

Despite our looks at rejuvenation, our fightback was short-lived, as on the 80-minute mark, the Fifers gave away a second penalty, which was equally as soft as the first. Like the first, Martynuik sent Fleming the wrong way, restoring a two-goal lead for Bonnyrigg, killing the game.

While the score line was separated by Martynuik’s penalties, it must be stated that even if the decisions were given in the Fife’s favour, and the penalties were not given, Bonnyrigg would have still more than likely ran out winners in the match. Their attacking threat in the second half was simply too much for us, and Allan Fleming had a fantastic game, despite conceding 4, and without him, it could have been nearer 7 or 8. Bonnyrigg’s forward men ran rampant at New Dundas sadly.

We have a break in the calendar, due to the third round of the Scottish Cup, though will contest a closed-door friendly fixture with Glenrothes FC this weekend, and next week we look forward to hosting The Spartans at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.

Bonnyrigg Rose - Martin, Mailer, Martyniuk, Young, Peggie, Stewart (Barrett 70’), Currie, Connelly, Doan, Osadolor (McGachie 77’), Sutherland (Watson 70’). Subs not used: Jarvis, Buchanan, Faye, Grigor, Andrews.

East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch, Page, Easton, Millar (McManus 63’), Trouten, Nicol (Shepherd 54’), Docherty, Walls (Healy 80’), Schiavone (Mitchell 63’), Austin. Subs not used: Slattery, Murray, Rollo, Comerford.

Referee – Greg Soutar

Attendance - 630

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Obituary - Billy McPhee

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of club legend Billy McPhee.

Born in Methil in June 1949, the son of an East Fife supporting father, he watched his older brother Bobby turn out in the black and gold for two years. 

In October 1966 Rangers manager Scot Symon signed McPhee from Bowhill Youth Club. After three first team outings for the Ibrox club, peculiarly all against Partick Thistle, McPhee returned to Fife, putting pen to paper for his home town club in July 1970. Manager Bill Baxter had high hopes that the squad he had assembled would be the one to bring topflight football back to Bayview for the first time in thirteen years. McPhee made his debut in a League Cup sectional tie at Queen of the South and opened his goal scoring account in the same competition against the familiar opposition of Partick Thistle at Firhill. With East Fife flying high at the top of the league it came as some surprise when Bill Baxter controversially resigned to join rivals Raith Rovers in October, although the Methil men had the last laugh as they secured promotion at the end of the campaign under the stewardship of Pat Quinn, finishing six places above the Kirkcaldy side. McPhee finished top scorer with 26 goals, mostly delivered via a left foot that was fast becoming a lethal weapon.

The Fifers took time to adjust to life in the First Division but rallied to put in some spirited performances, none more so than the 2-1 defeat of a multi-talented Hibernian side in January 1972. McPhee opened the scoring with a trademark curling free-kick to set up a memorable victory in front of an 8,000 Bayview crowd. Another long-range strike in the penultimate game at St Johnstone gave the Methil men a precious victory, before the Houdini act to avoid relegation was completed the following week with a 1-1 draw at Motherwell. 

1972-73 saw a more confident East Fife side emerge, reaching the League Cup quarter finals after knocking out holders Partick Thistle and finishing in a commendable ninth position in the league to earn a place in the Texaco Cup against their English counterparts. The season will also be remembered for a remarkable 2-2 draw at Bayview with Jock Stein’s Celtic. McPhee put the Fifers 2-1 ahead from the spot just after the break and helped them withstand a green and white siege, with keeper Ernie McGarr saving three penalties, until a late Dixie Deans equaliser earned the Parkhead men a draw. McPhee was ever present in a campaign that saw him find the net on 19 occasions.

Unfortunately, the following season was to prove a disappointment. Pat Quinn was replaced by Frank Christie as manager after a poor start but despite some good results on the road, including an astonishing 1-0 win at Ibrox, the Fifers’ home form deserted them. East Fife were left to rue those points shipped at Bayview when Clyde gained unlikely draws against Hibernian and Hearts to consign the Fifers to relegation and the Second Division on goal difference.   

McPhee, having finished top goalscorer in four consecutive seasons (he shared this honour with Kevin Hegarty in 1973-74), was to suffer a serious setback to his football career in November 1974. Returning to Fife from a 1-0 win at Hamilton Accies he was involved in a car accident which left him out of action for five months with a dislocated hip. In his absence the Fifers achieved their goal of qualifying for the newly formed First Division although they dropped from league leaders to a more modest fifth position.

The following season, with McPhee back in the starting berth found East Fife in the lower reaches of the table. In the Spring Cup, a competition for teams outwith the topflight, a McPhee bullet helped defeat runaway First Division winners Partick Thistle and earn a place in the quarter finals. It was to be his last goal for the club. 1976-77 saw him operating in a midfield role in a season disrupted by injuries. The Fifers found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle with St Johnstone and Raith Rovers which went down to the last game of the season. 

With Falkirk already relegated East Fife went to Boghead knowing a win would secure their First Division status. McPhee, who had earlier been given a free transfer came on from the bench knowing that this would be his farewell appearance. The Fifers were trailing 2-1 with just over 20 minutes left on the clock but goals from Billy Gillies and John Huskie put them in front. The drama continued when Dumbarton scored again with five minutes remaining to level matters at 3-3. On reaching the dressing room however news came through that Raith Rovers had lost 4-3 at home to Morton. East Fife were safe, for another season at least, but McPhee had played his last game for the club after seven years sterling service. 

After a year at Berwick Rangers McPhee became manager of Leven Juniors. He later returned to East Fife as club secretary and has remained in the Levenmouth area as mine host in various licensed premises. He continued to attend Bayview on a regular basis, always taking time to sit down and chat to supporters, sharing stories about his footballing career.

Billy McPhee scored 72 goals in 233 appearances for East Fife and in 2008 was voted into the post 1970’s All Time Greats team, a fitting tribute to a Bayview legend.     

East Fife Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Billy’s family and friends at this sad time.