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Ladbrokes League 1

Saturday 2nd December 2017

Hampden Park

 

Queen’s Park 2 (Donnelly 18', 51')

East Fife 1 (Duggan 15')

 

Queen’s Park XI: White, Summers, McGhee, Iredale, Burns, McVey, Fotheringham, Leitch (Duff 70’), Galt, Mortimer (McLennan 86’), Donnelly (Docherty 77’)

Subs: Cummins, Gibson, Brady, Whelan

Booked: Summers, Fotheringham, Galt

East Fife XI: M Hurst, Dunsmore, Kane (Linton 68’), Page, Piggott, Docherty, Lamont (Flanagan 83’), Smith, Wilkie, Millar (G Hurst 68’), Duggan

Subs: Goodfellow, Watson, Wilson, Willis

Booked: Dunsmore, Piggott

 

Referee: Stephen Finnie

Attendance: 506

 

East Fife travelled to the national stadium to face Queen’s Park in Ladbrokes League 1 but left empty-handed after a performance that was in stark contrast to that which had put Airdrieonians to the sword last weekend. For the first time this season Manager Darren Young was able to name an unchanged starting line-up with the only change being fit-again Scott Linton replacing Ben Reilly on the bench.

The home side had the first opportunity of the match on 6 minutes when Sean Burns found an opening down the left and curled in a shot but it was an easy take for East Fife ‘keeper Mark Hurst. At the other end, Kevin Smith picked out Mark Docherty on the left-hand side of the penalty box but his cross was deflected into the arms of Michael White.

Queen’s Park had had the better of the opening exchanges but it was the visitors who found themselves in front on 15 minutes. Chris Duggan latched onto a long-ball over the top from Aaron Dunsmore and lifted the ball over the ‘keeper for his 8th goal of the season. East Fife weren’t ahead for long, however, after Billy Mortimer worked some space for himself down the left and cut the ball back for Luke Donnelly who found the back of the net from 18-yards. The home side could have been in front a few minutes later but Donnelly failed to take advantage of a promising position after David Galt’s initial shot was blocked.

Docherty sent in a free kick from 40-yards for East Fife on 30 minutes which Smith managed to get on the end of but his back header was collected by White. Smith had another chance 5 minutes later when he got on the end of Docherty’s cross from the left but was unable to find the target.

East Fife weren’t at the races in the opening 45 minutes and big improvements were needed in the second period.

The visitors were awarded a free kick 25-yards from goal shortly after the re-start. Smith stepped up and cleared the wall but his strike didn’t have enough power behind it to trouble White. Queen’s Park took the lead on 50 minutes when Robbie Leitch sent in a cross from the left with the outside of his foot which East Fife failed to deal with which allowed Donnelly to claim his second of the afternoon with a strike from 15-yards.

The home side were well in the ascendency and should have added to their lead just before the hour mark with Gregor Fotheringham got on the end of a free kick but his shot rebounded off the crossbar before the whistle went for a foul on the ‘keeper. Mortimer was next to go close the home side when he was sent through 1-on-1 with Hurst but was unlucky to see his shot come back off the post.

East Fife were looking for a way back into the game and were close to an equaliser on 74 minutes when a free kick from near the corner flag was cleared by the Queen’s Park defence but only as far as Docherty on the edge of area but his goal-bound effort was deflected behind by Burns. The visitors had one last chance to salvage something from the game inside injury time but Jonathan Page was denied by a point-blank save from White but, in truth, the equaliser would have been far more than East Fife deserved for the game.

East Fife had, quite rightly, taken a lot of praise for their performance against Airdrieonians but were unable to reach the same standards this week as Queen’s Park ran out deserved winners.

League Cup 1

This year marks the 70th anniversary of East Fife’s first League cup triumph in the 1947-48 final. The competition had come into existence in 1946-47 as successor to the wartime Southern League Cup played throughout the hostilities only by teams in the Southern League.

When the war finished the two leagues were resurrected but as Divisions A and B. given the popularity of the Southern League Cup it was decided to retain it but open it up to all clubs in the two divisions of the league. Season 1946-47 began with league games on 14th August and the first matches in the League Cup on 21st September. East Fifer entered the record books in that first season as the first team to go through their section without conceding a goal in any of their six games.

Double-legged quarter-finals followed with East Fife meeting Hearts at Tynecastle where they won 1+0 on 1st March only to lose 5-2 at Bayview four days later. The semi-finals were played on 22nmd March with the final, in which Rangers defeated Aberdeen 4-0, on 5th April.

Season 1947-48 opened with matches in the league cup sections on 9th August. Midweek league games were played with the cup clashes on the Saturdsys, Knockout matches were held on the Saturdays with the final on the last Saturday of the month.

East Fife were drawn in Section D of the Division B clubs along with Ayr united, Kilmarnock and Stirling Albion. On 9th August, the Fifers opened the new season entertaining Stirling Albion at Bayview and beating them 3-2 with two goals from Henry Morris and one from Davie Duncan. The team was; Niven, Laird, Stewart, Philp, Finlay, Gilmour, D Davidson, Morris, Bain, Duncan. Twelfth-man W Fleming.

During the next midweek East Fife went through to Edinburgh to play Leith Athletic in a league match. A goal from Davie Duncan was enough to produce a 1-0 win. The second League Cup tie was against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 16th August. Manager Scot Symon made only one change from the team that played the week before introducing jimmy Canavan at the left-half for George Gilmour who was the twelfth-man. It ended 0-0.

League Cup 2

The third match of the campaign was against Ayr United at Somerset Park on 23rd August. That venue, which has never been regarded as one of East Fife’s favourites, saw the visitors secure a 5-2 victory. Again, the manager made only one change from the previous week with William Fleming replacing Ian Bain ay inside left. The incomer started the Fifers on the road to success with their opening which equaliser the home side’s first. Both Henry Morris and David Duncan score in the first-half to give a 3-1 interval lead. Both scored again in the second-half to ensure the comprehensive win. Again, George Gilmour was the twelfth-man.

In midweek the league visitors to Bayview were St Johnstone whom the host beat 2-0 with goals from Dougie Davidson and William Fleming. The return league cup fixtures began on 30th August with Fife travelling to meet Stirling Albion at Annfield. There were no changes from the team that had beaten Ayr United but Ronnie Mitchell was twelfth-man this time. The Fifers recorded another 5-2 victory with two goals each from Henry Morris and Tommy Adams and one from Davie Duncan.

Kilmarnock visited Bayview on 6th September and put a pole in the Fifers wheel with a decisive 3-1 win, Henry Morris netting the consolation goal. For that game the manager brought in Danny McLennan at left-half and moved Jimmy Canavan to inside left to the exclusion William Fleming who was twelfth-man.

The final match of the section at Bayview on 13th September against Ayr United was crucial for both teams as each had seven points and so the winner would win the section. Given that the manager’s changes to his side had been at left half and inside left, it was no surprise that he had gone into the transfer market to sign Jack Davidson from Dundee United. He was to join brother Dougie at inside left in the forward line. To accommodate him, Jimmy Canavan was restored to left half with Danny McLennan twelfth-man.

The Fifers were in devastating form winning 5-0 with Henry Morris notching a hattrick and both Tommy Adams and Dougie Davidson also finding the net. East Fife were section winners.

Part 2 will feature in this weekend's (25th November) edition of The Bayview (Issue No. 9) for Saturday's game v Airdrieonians

For the third Saturday in succession East Fife are on their travels, this time in the Scottish Cup, where they take on Clyde at Broadwood Stadium.
The home side have had a challenging start to the campaign but will be rejuvenated following the appointment of Danny Lennon earlier in the week. The former Cowdenbeath and St Mirren boss has a wealth of experience both as a player and manager and will be keen to get his time in Cumbernauld off to a good start.
Bayview manager Darren Young was left frustrated last Saturday, as his side failed to capitalise on controlling large periods of the game and returned pointless from this to Forfar Athletic. Tomorrow’s game does however provide the Fifers with an opportunity to enjoy a run in the cup, with the possibility of earning a money-spinning draw should they progress.
Broadwood was the scene of a title party on the Methil men’s last visit in April 2016 following a 0-0 draw, but you have to go back a further seven years to find the last time that a win was recorded there. Paul McManus with a double and Bobby Linn were the men on target in a 3-1 success on that occasion.
The sides have been paired three times before in the Scottish Cup with Clyde progressing in 1935 following a 2-1 victory at Bayview Park. In 1967 the Bully Wee once again came out on top, winning 4-1 at Shawfield, while ten years later it was the Fifers turn to triumph courtesy of a 2-1 win in Methil.
There was some better news on the injury front last week with the return of Chris Kane to the squad after several weeks’ absence, while midfielder Kyle Wilkie will be available for selection tomorrow after serving a two game suspension.

Match Poster Clyde

Kindly provided by Clyde FC.

Clyde v East Fife

Kick-off: 3pm

Match Sponsor: WILLIAM HILL

Admission: Season tickets are not valid. Entry prices are; adults £13, concessions £8, Under-12s from both clubs go FREE (when accompanied by an adult). Free un-der-12 tickets should be collected from the Clyde Matchday Office, situated in the Pod to the south end of the Main Stand, before entering via the turnstiles.

Visiting Supporters: Fans of East Fife should enter by;

Turnstile A for Adults

Turnstile B for concessions

Both turnstiles are located at the south end of the Main Stand

Refreshment facilities for East Fife fans fans will be situated in Kiosk 2 on entry to the stadium through turnstiles A and B

Car Parking: Access to the Main Stand car park will be restricted to those with ac-creditation; players, staff and officials, visiting directors, Executive Club members, hospitality guests and those with disability parking badges.

Home Fans

As usual, home fans will be directed to the parking spaces behind the south stand

Visiting Fans

Car parking provision for East Fife fans will be provided at the nearby St Maurice’s school.

Car parking in and around the Broadwood campus is free of charge, including St Maurice’s School

The Clyde View: No programme will be published for this match

Teamsheets: Available from the Clyde Matchday Office approximately 30 minutes before kick-off and charged at 20p per copy.

Bar 58: Open for both sets of fans, both pre-match from 1pm to 2.45pm and post match 5pm to 5.45pm. Entrance is via the turnstiles from 2pm onwards, and via the main reception door of the Main Stand until 2pm.

For Post match entry to Bar 58, fans should leave the ground and enter via the main reception door. Please note, Bar 58 is not available at half-time.

Smoking Areas: Open at half-time only, in the designated area at the North end of the Main Stand for Clyde fans, and at the South End of the Main Stand for East Fife fans.