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Match Report - The Spartans

The Spartans 0-1 East Fife, Saturday 28^th September 2024, William Hill League 2, Ainslie Park

East Fife climbed to the summit of the William Hill League 2 on Saturday after a brilliant away win at The Spartans.

A slow start from the Fifers saw Allan Fleming (who retained his place in the starting lineup following an excellent performance at home to Peterhead) forced into a strong save from Hamish Ritchie in the opening five minutes.

On top of this, skipper Stewart Murdoch’s afternoon came to a rather abrupt halt as he had to be substituted early doors due to injury. This, however, opened the door for Jess Norey to come back into the fold following his spell out of the team.

Chances then started to flow for the Fifers after we settled back into the game, with Trouten challenging Carswell from the edge of the box. Five minutes later, Nathan Austin stood over a free kick which was just outside of the area. Despite hopes he would match his feats from earlier in the season, this one found the wrong side of the crossbar and the score remained goalless.

The Spartans were not without threat, unfortunately, and just after the half an hour mark, ex-Fifer Brogan Walls set up the chance of the half. He dinked a routine free kick into Ayrton Sonkur, who’s header challenged Fleming. Flem made no mistakes and tipped the ball over the crossbar, with Fleming again called into action to keep out an effort from the resulting corner.

That took the sides in at the break goalless, in what was an incredibly tight game.

During the half time interval, the Fifers made a change which would prove crucial in the contest. Jack Healy came on for Reis Peggie, and he made an instant impact on the game. Jack beat his man on the wing and raced to the by-line. He whipped in a cross for new signing Andrew Tod, though it floated over him, and into the path of Trouten, who launched an effort at Carswell, though the goalkeeper saved with ease.

Healy continued to be a nuisance for The Spartans and created another opportunity bang on the hour mark, this time for Nathan Austin. Jack intercepted a rather sloppy back pass and pinged the ball across to Fash, though The Spartans’ keeper pulled his defence from the gutter with yet another smart stop.

They say things come in threes and that certainly was the case for Healy, and this time it paid dividends! The Fife’s number 11 bombed forward with the ball at his feet before sending a beautiful early cross which looked destined for Trouten. It bounced over Trouts though, and into the path of Fash, who slotted home with a beautiful finish into the bottom corner, securing his tenth goal of the season in all competitions.

Carswell continued to perform for The Spartans, even after East Fife ramped up the pressure. Just minutes after East Fife opened the scoring, we went for two. With Andrew Tod and Alan Trouten both having efforts in quick succession forcing a double save from the goalie.

East Fife continued to push, though we just could not put the game to bed. We had one last chance before the full-time whistle, as Austin found himself through on goal in a one-on-one scenario, though the goalie held firm and denied Fash.

That was the last chance of the game, which saw East Fife walk away with all three points, and due to results elsewhere, saw us go top of the league, somewhere we would like to stay for the foreseeable.

Reporter’s Man of the Match: Jack Healy.

It is not often that we a see a substitute walk away with the man of the match award, though Healy completely changed the game last Saturday. Not only was he pivotal in setting up the only goal of the contest, but his introduction in the match put The Spartans to the sword, as he created numerous chances, and caused all sorts of bother at Ainslie Park. It was a Saturday to remember for Healy.

The Spartans – Carswell, Waugh, Denholm (Hunter 89’), Sonkur, P Watson, Dishington (Whittaker 89’), Ritchie (K Watson 71’), Walls (Stowe 71’), Craigen, Whyte, Henderson. Subs not used: Scott, Wylie, Meek.

East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch (Norey 8’), Newton (Slattery 71’), Munro, Walker (Docherty 80’), Millar, McManus, Trouten, Peggie (Healy 45’), Tod (Shepherd 80’), Austin. Subs not used: Laaref, McFarlane.

Referee – Alastair Grieve

Attendance - 589