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Match Preview - Bonnyrigg Rose

Oli Anderson previews tomorrow’s match against Bonnyrigg Rose.

The Fifers are back on the road this week as they travel to New Dundas Park to face bottom of the League Bonnyrigg Rose and the Black and Gold will be hoping to replicate the result from their last visit in September. Greig McDonald’s men recorded yet another comeback victory last weekend with second-half goals from Alex Ferguson and Scott Shepherd, handing East Fife their first win against Stenhousemuir this season. Bonnyrigg are coming into this weekend’s tie after a devastating 91st minute goal denied them of any points against Stirling last week. Calum Connolly put the Rosey Posey ahead, but the title chasers clawed their way back into the game.

Form

Bonnyrigg have recorded 7 points from their last 6 games, despite being in last place in the league. They have also recorded two wins in that time, both on the road, at Stranraer and Elgin. The Rosey Posey also recovered a point in their game against Forfar a few weeks back thanks to an 87th minute equaliser from Kieran McGachie.

East Fife are currently enjoying their finest form of the season so far, having hit a real purple patch. The Methil outfit have recorded 13 points in their last 6 games. They are currently averaging 2.2 points per game. This is an incredible increase on the form for the rest of the season where they have averaged just 1.1 point per match. The disappointing game against Stranraer 3 weeks ago is the only blemish on what has been a stellar run since the beginning of last month.

The cinch League Two Table:

Last Week

The Hosts

Bonnyrigg fell to Stirling Albion last week, as the Binos had a strong second half to take all three points at Forthbank. The scoring was opened by Calum Connolly giving Bonnyrigg an unexpected lead into half time. Their performance was all for naught unfortunately, as a wonder strike from youngster Flynn Duffy and an injury time winner from Jack Leitch completed Stirling’s turn around, moving them into just two points behind Dumbarton, with a game in hand.

The Fife

East Fife continued their stellar form, in a comeback victory over Gary Naysmith’s Stenhousemuir side. Goals from Alex Ferguson and Scott Shepherd completed the second half turnaround. The Fifers have now recorded 13 points in their last 6 matches.

Greig McDonald’s men were slow out the blocks and it was the Warriors who imposed themselves on the game in the early stages.

Nat Wedderburn and Michael Miller controlled the midfield battle and never let any of the Fife midfielders have time on the ball. Stenny looked at their most dangerous from set pieces and came close after 15 minutes when Sean Crighton’s driven shot blew over following a short corner.

The deadlock was broken after 32 minutes, with the hosts putting themselves in front. Miscommunication between Allan Fleming and Jonathan Page led to Stenhousemuir getting a needless corner kick. The Warriors capitalised on the opportunity, with Ross Forbes linking up with Matty Yates, who coolly slotted the ball through Allan Fleming’s legs. 1-0 Stenhousemuir.

The half finished in scrappy action, with Stenhousemuir still on the ascendency, though the Warriors couldn’t capitalise and only went in at the break with the one goal advantage.

Half Time: Stenhousemuir 1-0 East Fife.

The Fifers came out for the second period with fire in their bellies and a spring in their step.

They were rampant, and pushing for the goal, with Schiavone and Healy on the wings starting to cause bother.

They created two half chances but nothing of note, until the 52nd minute, when Jack Healy beat Jacob Blaney on the wing, before cutting inside and firing a low cross into the box, which Alex Ferguson was able to convert. 1-1.

The Fife never stopped and spent the rest of the half trying to put Stenhousemuir to the sword. They even had the ball in the net after 70 minutes after a stramash in the air following a corner, but the referee pulled play back for a foul on Warriors’ keeper Jay Cantley.

The winner came a further 10 minutes later, when Ryan Schiavone turned Callum Yeats on the wing, and lofted a cross in which met the head of Brogan Walls, who nodded the ball back across the face of goal. Of all people, it was Scott Shepherd who converted to hand East Fife all three points.

Squad News

There are no fresh injury worries ahead of tomorrow's game. Unfortunately it looks like the will come too soon for Aidan Quinn to make a return to the squad but Kieran Millar may be available after recovering from the back injury that's kept him out of the last 2 matches.

Previous Encounter

East Fife played out their first goalless draw of the season when they hosted Bonnyrigg Rose on match day 17 of the cinch SPFL League Two calendar. The game had broken the trend of high scoring clashes between the two sides, where we saw 8 goals in their last two meetings.

The Rosey Posey started the game on the offensive, and the first five minutes were largely played in and around the Fife 18-yard box. When the Fifers got the ball, they moved fast and with purpose, firing the ball to Scott Shepherd, who drew a foul intelligently.

The best chance of the first 45 came courtesy of Shepherd, who, as he does every week, worked his socks off, chasing down a long ball. He latched onto it and looked to have it over stranded Bonnyrigg ‘keeper Michael Andrews, but the stopper got a fingertip to it, and saw it out for a corner. The set-play that followed was very reminiscent of the Dutch free-kick in the World Cup quarterfinals, lovely one touch passes, before a drilled effort low and hard, which was only kept out by an extraordinary Andrews save.

The first half teetered out, with Jonathan Stewart being booked for a cynical foul acting as the only other action of note.

Similar to the first 45, Bonnyrigg started fast, and had their best chance of the game shortly after the restart. Kieran Mitchell powered down the left side, and broke into the box, firing a curled effort goalwards. Fleming showed his experience, and produced an excellent diving save from close range.

There were only a couple of half chances to show for very defensive game of football, and the only other shot on target came for Fife’s front-man Shepherd, who once again chased down a loose ball, and struck it well, from a tricky angle, Andrews once again denied him though.

With twenty minutes still to play in the game, the Rosey Posey captain was sent to the stands after a second bookable offence, hauling Trouten to the ground when on a counter.

The sending off marked the end of the game for both sides, as Bonnyrigg subbed on another two defenders, shoring up the backline, playing for the draw. The visitors got what they were after though, and the two sides split the points.

Match Tickets

Admission will be pay at the gate on Saturday, with cash and card accepted at the away entrance (Gate D). Prices below:

Adults: £12

Concession: £7

Children under 12 with a paying adult: Free!

Note- The card readers at New Dundas Park do not accept prepaid cards such as GoHenry. Please advise your child to take out cash if they use these cards so that they do not attempt to use these in the ground.

Away supporters are asked to enter through Gate D. Those requiring disabled access can enter through the double gates (Gate C).

Away Supporters will be housed in areas 5 & 6. These are on the right-hand side of the dugouts, filtering round to behind the goals on the terracing.

Parking

There will be strictly NO parking at New Dundas Park on the day of the game. There will be stewards on site to ensure that parking is reserved for players and officials, except for those who have booked a disabled parking space in advance. There is a large car park at Lasswade High School which is a 5–10-minute walk from NDP, which you can use on matchday.

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 home kit this weekend, tartan top accompanied by black socks and shorts. The goalkeeper will don Turquoise for the tie.

Bonnyrigg Rose will wear their classic Red and White hooped shirt, with red shorts and white socks. The Rosey Posey’s ‘keeper will be clad in neon green for the affair.

Officials

Daniel Graves will be the on-field official for the clash this weekend. His two assistants running the lines will be Alastair Mather and Thomas Denholm.

Match Report - Stenhousemuir

East Fife made the trip to Ochilview to take on Stenhousemuir for a fifth and final time this season (unless the sides meet in playoffs). Despite playing Stenhousemuir four times already this season, East Fife had yet to win a single one, losing 2-1 twice (once in the cup and once in the league) and drawing 2-2 and 1-1 in the other two meetings. Last weekend, Alan Trouten’s leaping header snatched the three points for the Methil men, as East Fife won 3-2 against Forfar Athletic. 

No changes were made to the starting squad that overcame Forfar last weekend, however Pat Slattery did returned from injury to take a place on the bench. 

The first chance went the way of the visitors when a floating corner from Alex Ferguson was cleared by Jamieson but only as far as Brogan Walls who’s controls the ball and, from distance, forces Lyle into a good save.

On the half hour mark, Stenhousemuir had a good chance to take the lead after a strong spell with the ball. Reilly drove down the right-hand side, before cutting the ball across to Wedderburn who tried his luck from 25-yards, but his attempt sailed over the bar and into the stand behind the goal. 

After a period of good possession for the Warriors, the home side took a deserved lead when poor communication from the back line resulted in Page giving away a cheap corner. The short corner from Forbes finds Matty Yates in the middle of the box who fires home through the legs of Allan Fleming.

Straight after the Warriors took the lead, Shepherd was gifted a chance to quickly level. A combination of Schiavone’s putting pressure on Yeats and a poor headed back pass from Crichton puts Shepherd in through in goal inside the penalty area however he couldn’t get the ball under control and Lyle picks up the pieces 

HALF TIME: Stenhousemuir 1-0 East Fife

East Fife came out at the second half all guns blazing in search for an equaliser. Trouten, in the centre of the park, fed the ball out to Healy on the left side who skips past Blanley into the penalty area before going down under the defender’s challenge, but no penalty kick was awarded. 

A few minutes after the penalty shout East Fife grabbed a deserved equaliser. Good passing play in the middle of the Stenhousemuir half from Schiavone, Walls and Trouten ends with the ball at Healy’s feet. Healy dances down to the by-line and cut the ball back across face of goal where Ferguson tapped the ball into the empty net, pulling the Fifers level. 

In the 65th minute, East Fife had an opportunity to take the lead after some sustained pressure. Schiavone played through to Shepherd, but his first-time shot is well saved by substitute Cantley in the Warrior’s goal. 

With only 9 minutes remaining, East Fife secured a deserved win with an incredibly well worked team goal. A one-two between Denholm and Ferguson saw the ball played out to Schiavone on the wing who’s cross was headed back across goal by Walls into the path of Shepherd to tap home sparking celebrations in the away end.

FULL TIME: Stenhousemuir 1-2 East Fife

An incredible three points for the Fifers, saw them jump up to 4th in the table and only a point behind 3rd placed Annan Athletic. Next up is a trip to bottom of the league Bonnyrigg Rose, however this will be no easy task as the Rose have picked up 7 points out of their last 6 games. 

Stenhousemuir Team: Lyle (Cantley 45’), Blaney (Anderson 87’), Crighton, Jamieson, Yeats (Lowdon 87’), Yates, Miller, Wedderburn, Brown )O’Reilly 68’), Reilly, Forbes (Orr 76’)

East Fife: Fleming, Steele, Page, Denham, Newton, Walls (McManus 85’), Ferguson, Trouten, Healy (Denholm 73’), Schiavone (Omar 90+3’), Shepherd (Young 85’)

Referee: Scott Lambie

Attendance: 474

Report by Andrew Laing

Admission Info v Bonnyrigg Rose

Admission prices for our cinch League Two match against Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday 18th March at New Dundas Park have been confirmed as follows:

Admission prices

Adults - £14

Concessions - £9

Under 16s - £5

Admission is via pay-at-the-gate. Cash and card payments are available at the away entrance (Gate D).

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.

The 1903 Travel Club’s bus to Bonnyrigg Rose is currently full. A second bus has been added however there are only 6 seats remaining. The bus will depart Leven at 12:00PM with pick-ups at Methilhill Bowling Club (12:05PM) and the Lomond Centre (12:15PM). The cost of the bus is £12/person. Anyone interested in travelling on the bus should contact Ian Lowson (phone number available on request).