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Match Report - Stranraer

Stranraer 2-1 East Fife, Saturday 14^th September 2024

William Hill League 2, Stair Park

A disappointing day at the office for the Fifers saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat to Stranraer at Stair Park.

A slow start meant that the Blues gained control as East Fife were slack, and second to each ball, allowing Stranraer to cause bother on numerous occasions.

East Fife struggled to play their effective ball over the top of the back line due to the adverse weather conditions, which gifted opportunities for Stranraer to build from their midfield.

The game changed in the 23rd minute, after new signing Gordon Walker was bundled down inside the 18-yard box for what looked to be a stonewall penalty. Alas, referee Andy Gamble did not share the same opinion and waved play-on.

From there, Stranraer bombed down the pitch, and following some muddled defending from the Fifers, Mark Russell unleashed a fantastic, curled effort which cannoned in off the cross bar to give the hosts the lead.

The remainder of the first half was then controlled by the Blues, who pushed on in an attempt to double their advantage prior to the half time whistle. They were unsuccessful and the scoreline remained 1-0 at the interval.

East Fife clearly received the proverbial rocket at half time and came out of the changing room with fire in their bellies and a spring in their step, attacking the second period with vigour.

Two good opportunities were squandered by the Fifers, before Max Guthrie hit the corner flag from his drilled effort, which really should have burst the net.

From there, the Black and Gold men chipped away and dug deep, finally grabbing the equaliser with twenty minutes on the clock. Gordon Walker should have scored from his header, after some great work from Adam Laaref on the left, before Trouten buried the rebound.

Devastatingly, our equaliser didn’t count for much, as three minutes later Russell bagged his second following some poor defending from East Fife.

It went from bad to worse for East Fife in the dying embers as goalkeeper Liam McFarlane saw red for possibly handling the ball outside of the penalty box (with replays showing he was still inside the area), or denying a goalscoring opportunity for double handling, , leading to a minor altercation of words between manager Dick Campbell and the refereeing team, resulting in the gaffer also seeing red.

It was a poor end, to a poor game of football for the Fifers who were well below the standards we’ve seen so far this season, with the hosts coming out with all three points.

Reporters Man of The Match: Kieran Millar

It was a difficult day for the Fifers but Millar still put in another solid performance in the middle of the park.

Stranraer – Pizikas, Brinddley, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont, Grant (Woods 69’), Gallagher, Dunlop, Russell, Hawkshaw (McKnight 87’), Guthrie (Edgar 90+3’). Subs not used: Adam, Broun, Lang.

East Fife – McFarlane, Newton (Laaref 64’), Easton, Munri, Walker (Docherty 73’), Millar, McManus, Healy (Shepherd 64’), Peggie, Trouten, Austin (Slattery 83’). Subs not used: Fleming.

Referee – Andy Gamble

Attendance – 413

Report by Oli Anderson

Photograph by East Fife Media