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Match Preview - Elgin City

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Elgin City

A sore defeat to St Johnstone last Saturday left us out of the last 16 in the Premier Sports Cup. It has since become of paramount importance for us to look toward the league campaign, where we first travel deep into the highlands to face Elgin City at Borough Briggs. With both sides failing to qualify for the knockout rounds of the League Cup, we will both be looking to start well tomorrow.

Group F Final Results

Saturday 13/07: East Fife 3-0 Greenock Morton @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Tuesday 16/07: Alloa Athletic 0-0 (5-3 on penalties) East Fife @ The Indodrill Stadium

Tuesday 23/07: East Fife 4-0 Brechin @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Saturday 27/07: St Johnstone 5-1 East Fife @ McDiarmid Park

Group F’s Final Standings

The Form

The Fifers

The League Cup campaign provided an opportunity to look further into our squad and better prepare for an exciting league season ahead.

The first game was against championship outfit Greenock Morton, which saw the Methil Milan recording a 3-0 win over the second-tier side. Alan Trouten was a great contributor in securing the three points, bagging a hattrick on the day, and a place in the “Premier Sports- Team of the Group Stage” as a result. The Fifers found their rhythm after ten minutes into the game and never looked back, having an exemplary five minutes, which led to a 2-0 lead at half time. This trend continued into the second half, both going forward, as well as at the back, with Trouten scoring an absolute stunner at one end, and Slattery, and McFarlane both contributing to great blocks and saves, keeping the clean sheet intact.

The second fixture came against Alloa Athletic, at Recreation Park. Despite a valiant fight against another higher tier opponent, we could not capitalise on chances created, and the game was forced to a penalty shootout. Munro stepped up first for Fife and had his effort saved, before all eight of the following penalties were converted, which ended up reading a 5-3 scoreline in favour of the Wasps, which gave our opponents the bonus point on the day.

Penultimately, the Fifers ran out 4-0 winners over Highland League runners-up Brechin City. An even quarter of an hour blew wide open after Liam Newton opened the scoring with a great header. Nathan Austin showed his striker’s instincts five minutes later, to pounce on Reis Peggie’s cross that was headed goal bound. Just before the break, Scott Shepherd capitalised on some nervy goalkeeping, to round the goalie and slot home for the Fifers. Within 60 seconds of the start of the second half, Austin grabbed his brace, following some fantastic work on the left-hand side from Healy and Newton. The performance matched the result and it arguable could’ve been more on the day.

Last Saturday, St Johnstone showed the levels between the two sides, as they came out 5-1 winners against us at McDiarmid Park. The scoreline was perhaps an untrue reflection on the game, as East Fife, who trailed 3-0 at half time, pulled a goal back, and squandered a great chance to get ourselves well and truly back in the tie. Alas, it was not to be, and two late goals from the Saints inflated the scoreline.

Our Opponents

Elgin City finished bottom of Group C in the Premier Sports Cup, with 2 points and a staggering -11 goal difference.

The campaign started in horrid fashion for City, as they fell 5-0 to Hibernian. They were clearly outmatched on the day, failing to register a shot on target against the Hibees. A Dylan Vente hattrick matched Trouten’s matchday one feat, before goals from Marvin Ekipeta and Martin Boyle completed Hibs’ steamrolling of Elgin City.

Elgin bounced back at Borough Briggs in their next fixture, when they recovered from being a goal, and a man behind, to draw 1-1 with Kelty Hearts, before beating them on penalties. It was Jake Dolzanski who saw red on the half-hour mark, and Michael Dangana who pulled City into the tie. Scott Allan’s miss for Kelty made the difference, as Elgin converted all five spot kicks.

They were back in action against Peterhead, on the 20th of July, where the Blue Toon ran out 4-2 winners at the Balmoor Stadium. Ben Armour scored the only goal of the first half, before goals from Murray and Golding saw Elgin lead with just twenty minutes to go. Goldie brought Peterhead back level, before Jason Brown scored twice in the last ten to secure the win for the Highland side.

Elgin City’s last game ended in a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Queen’s Park. A Roddy MacGregor first half brace was matched by Dom Thomas and Joshua Scott in the second half, as the Spiders cruised to victory.

Previous Encounter

30th March 2024- East Fife 2-0 Elgin City @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.

The last time these two sides met, East Fife ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over Elgin City.

The Fifers started fast, with Jack Healy testing the goalkeeper and Scott Shepherd rattling the crossbar from a free kick, both within the first ten minutes. Shep’s free kick was agonisingly close.

Despite the missed chances, we kept the pressure up and took the lead after 22 minutes. Jack Healy flopped a lovely cross into Alan Trouten, who directed his header over the head of the stranded Elgin goalie. The lead was deserved, and despite Elgin creating more in the latter stages of the first half, we made it to half time in the lead.

Healy continued his dominance after the restart, placing in another two tidy crosses. Unlike for Trouten’s opener, the Black and Whites managed to clear their lines. Jack misplaced a pass just moments after though, and Elgin had their best chance of the ninety, though Dangana slid his effort wide of the post.

After the break, East Fife kept their foot on the gas, with Shepherd failing to convert a couple of chances to double the lead.

The man who did step up, did so the week before too too. James Lyon converted for the second week on the spin, and was also set up by Jack Healy, who gave the Fife faithful a performance to celebrate today. Lyon got on the end of Healy’s cross and leathered his volley into the back of the net, inevitably killing the contest.

The Methil Milan had a chance to make it three in the dying embers following a stramash in the box, though it was not to be, and we had to settle for just the 2-0 win.

Squad News

The Campbells have a full squad at their disposal once again, allowing us to hopefully start the season with a bang.

Match Tickets

Please find match ticket prices below. Tickets can be purchased on Elgin’s Fanbase page, or at the turnstiles today.

Adult- £16

Concessions- £10

Under 16-Free with a paying adult.

Live Stream

For our International Fans, live Streaming for today’s game will be available on EFTV, using a Monthly, or Annual Gold Pass. Today’s commentator will be Stephen Mill.

Club Colours

The Fifers will don the new, Back Onside sponsored away kit. They will wear the Argentina-esque sky blue and white striped kit, with white shorts and socks. The Fife goalkeeper will wear yellow for the match.

Elgin will be in their traditional colours of a black and white shirt, with black shorts and socks. The Elgin ‘keeper will be clad in turquoise for the clash.

Officials

The referee today will be Duncan Williams, with Ross Anderson and Michael Bonner running the lines.

This is a great opportunity to start the season well, which I trust we are more than capable of doing.

Mon the Fife!

Match Tickets - Elgin City

Tickets for our William Hill League Two opener against Elgin City at Borough Briggs are now on sale. Tickets can be bought online or at the turnstiles.

Admission Prices

Adults - £16

Concessions* - £10

Under 16s** - Free with a paying adult

*Proof of age may be requested

For those who can’t make the game, a live stream is available to overseas supporters via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live streaming option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.

There are still a few seats left on the 1903 Travel Clubs bus for this weekends match. Contact Ian Lowson if interested.

Match Report - St. Johnstone

St. Johnstone 5-1 East Fife, Saturday 27^th July 2024

Premier Sports Cup Group F MD5, McDiarmid Park

Facing defeat for the first time this season, East Fife’s final game in the Premier Sports Cup most certainly did not go to plan, as they fell 5-1 to Premiership side St. Johnstone.

A strong start from the Fifers could not be maintained, as the floodgates slowly but surely opened for the Saints. Results from elsewhere in the group meant that St. Johnstone leapfrogged us, and Alloa Athletic, to top the group after the resounding win.

East Fife had a half chance early door when Healy broke behind St. Johnstone’s defensive lines. He whipped a decent ball in, though it was no match for Rae in the Saints goal.

St. Johnstone took the lead after a quarter of an hour through Sibideh, who took advantage of some space in the box to head home from close range.

It was two just ten minutes later, when Benji Kimpioka tapped home for the Saints. Andre Raymond’s pass was deadly, and the forward made no mistake in doubling their advantage.

With just minutes left in the half, Alan Trouten rattled the crossbar, which would prove to be a decisive moment, as St Johnstone would go down the other end and slot home number 3 through Sidibeh following a ball in behind the East Fife defence.

The second half was a tetchy affair, with East Fife making a very positive start to the second period. Scott Shepherd had a great shot, which was spilled by Joshua Rae, giving Alan Trouten the chance to tap home, giving the Fifers a lifeline.

Slowly but surely, East Fife started to edge into the game more and more, and with just five minutes to go, Andy Munro could have made it two for East Fife, if it weren’t for the heroics of the Saints’ goalkeeper.

The sucker punch came just minutes later when Kirk stepped up for St Johnstone, handing back the Saints’ three goal lead, which they would go on to further extend in the dying embers.

It was Kimpioka who grabbed the fifth, and closed out the scoring, after a tough day at the office for East Fife.

Reporter’s Man of the Match: Alan Trouten.

A solid opening to the game made me hopeful that we would have had much to celebrate come Friday evening, though St. Johnstone showed their class and controlled proceedings. With that being said, one man who still found himself in the chances was Alan Trouten, with the creative player bagging East Fife’s only goal, and causing Rae to be put under some pressure at crucial points in the game, such as him rattling the crossbar.

St. Johnstone – Rae, Raymond (Franczak 73’), Cameron, McClelland, Keltjens, MacPherson (Kucheriavyi 56’), Steven (Carey 85’), Wright, M Smith, Sidibeh (Kirk 74’), Mbunga-Kimpioka 90+1’). Subs not used: Sanderson, Sinclair, C Smith, Sprangler, Parker.

East Fife – McFarlane, Murdoch, Easton, Peggie, Munro, Newton (Nicol 80’), Millar, Norey, Healy (Laaref 76’), Shepherd (McManus 76’), Trouten. Subs not used: Fleming, Slattery, Docherty, Murray, Ramsay.

Referee – Don Robertson

Attendance – 2,424