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Match Preview - Bonnyrigg Rose

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Bonnyrigg Rose.

Death. Taxes. Alan Trouten scoring a penalty. Those are life’s certainties.

East Fife returned to winning ways through the vice captain’s spot kick, as we overcame The Spartans at Ainslie Park. This week, we are sent back to the wooden fortress, as we host Bonnyrigg Rose at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The Rose are coming off the back of a valiant fight against Peterhead, where they narrowly lost 4-3 in a back-and-forth contest.

William Hill League 2 Table

	Team	Pld	GD	Pts
1	East Fife	24	28	48
2	Peterhead	24	9	44
3	Elgin City	23	9	40
4	Edinburgh City	24	2	37
5	Stirling Albion	24	-6	30
6	The Spartans	22	-2	29
7	Clyde	24	-9	26
8	Bonnyrigg Rose	24	-11	25
9	Stranraer	23	-8	24
10	Forfar Athletic	22	-12	16

Last Week’s League Results

Bonnyrigg Rose 3-4 Peterhead

Clyde 2-0 Stranraer

Forfar Athletic 0-1 Edinburgh City

Stirling Albion 3-1 Elgin City

The Spartans 0-1 East Fife

This Weekend’s Fixtures

East Fife vs Bonnyrigg Rose

Edinburgh City vs The Spartans

Peterhead vs Clyde

Stirling Albion vs Forfar Athletic

Stranraer vs Elgin City

A message from the management team

Speaking with East Fife TV before today’s game, assistant manager Ian Campbell said:

“As usual we will give Bonnyrigg the utmost respect and we know that this will be a difficult game. However, we have had a great week of training, and the boys are up for their work.”

The Form

The Fifers

East Fife bounced back from defeat against Elgin, having won five of the last six games, accumulating 15 points from a possible 18 in the league.

Midweek victory over Edinburgh City showed the squad’s character, with a quick double countering Connor Young’s first half strike, before three goals in the last ten minutes saw the game wrapped up 4-2 in East Fife’s favour.

A commanding second half performance then saw us claim a 3-0 victory over Darren Young’ Clyde side, before our dominant first half display against Stranraer made it five wins in five.

Three weeks ago, 15 minutes of pure quality blew Edinburgh City out of the water. Eighty minutes of mediocrity drew null and void, as Nathan Austin, Adam Laaref, Reis Peggie and Alan Trouten all found the back of the net in the dying embers of the contest. Edin Lynch saw red too, in what was a shambolic end to proceedings for the Citizens, who compete well in the majority of the match.

Kyle Girvan scored the only goal in a 1-0 defeat against Elgin a fortnight ago, before Trouten got East Fife back to winning games last Saturday.

Our Opposition

Bonnyrigg Rose have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six games, totalling 7 points from the available 18.

They have faced two heavy away defeats, losing 3-0 to Stirling Albion at Forthbank, and Elgin City at Borough Briggs. Their other defeat came at home last week to Peterhead, where a late winner capped off a seven-goal thriller for the Blue Toon.

They drew 2-2 with the Spartans at New Dundas Park back in January.

Their two wins have both come at home, against teams also in the bottom four. Firstly, Bonnyrigg beat Stranraer 3-1 before they overcame Clyde three days later 2-1 at New Dundas.

Previous Encounter

Bonnyrigg Rose 1-1 East Fife

Saturday 30th November 2024, New Dundas Park

Jess Norey was on the scoresheet for the Methil Milan back in November, as the Fifers came from a goal behind to take a point back to Bayview. Lee Currie’s early free kick looked to be the difference maker, before Norey scored in the final fifteen minutes.

Squad News

Gregor Nicol is our only confirmed absence today as he remains out long term. Stewart Murdoch is making good progress, though this Saturday comes too soon for the club captain.

Liam Newton has returned from illness and is available for selection.

Match Tickets

Season Tickets are valid for our league campaign, with prices below:

Adults- £18

Concessions (Over 65s/Disabled)- £14

Under 16s- £5

Parent and 1 child- £21

Parent and 2 children- £24

Like last season, EFCFC players Under 16 years of age will be admitted for free!

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview, so supporters are encouraged to buy their ticket online in advance where possible. However, ticket can also be purchased (cash and card) from the matchday reception for those unable to do so. Our online ticketing system supports both Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Please note, parent & child ticket must be purchased in person from the matchday reception.

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 Daniel Hughes.

Club Colours

The Fifers will don the MPH Group sponsored home strip, wearing the famous black and gold stripes, with black shorts and socks. The East Fife goalkeeper will be wearing yellow for the tie.

There are no confirmed colours for Bonnyrigg Rose as of yet.

Officials

The referee today will be Stewart Luke with his assistants Calum Doyle and Kenny Brown running the lines.

Misc

The Bayview issue 18 will be available pre-kick off for £3. This week’s edition features an interview with Kallum Higginbotham. It can also be purchased in the club shop which will be open from 1.45pm.

Mon the Fife!

Ticket Info v Bonnyrigg Rose

Tickets for our William Hill League 2 match against Bonnyrigg Rose at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday 15th February are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Admission Prices

Adults - £18

Concessions* - £14

Under 16s* - £5

Parent & Child - £21

Parent & 2 Children - £24

*Proof of age may be requested

Full- and half-season tickets are valid for this match.

All members of East Fife Community Football Club & East Fife Girls & Womens’ Football Club who are under 16 go free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all William Hill League 2 matches at Bayview this season.

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick-off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office for those unable to buy online.

Please note, that parent and child tickets must be purchased directly from the club office.

There is no live streaming option this weekend for viewers with the UK and Ireland however overseas supporters can watch the game live via East Fife TV with an annual or monthly subscription.

Match Report - The Spartans

The Spartans 0-1 East Fife, Saturday 8^th February 2025, William Hill League 2, Ainslie Park

East Fife returned to winning ways on Saturday, making amends for last week’s 1-0 defeat to Elgin City, with a close win over The Spartans at Ainslie Park.

There were three changes to the lineup that faced defeat a week past Saturday, with Jess Norey and Jack Healy returning to the first eleven after starting on the bench at Elgin, whereas Nathan Austin picked up his first start since November. Kallum Higginbotham and Scott Shepherd dropped onto the bench, while captain Stewart Murdoch missed out through injury, causing Kieran Millar to fill in at right back, where he was very steady. This resulted in a slight change to the shape, as East Fife looked fluid in the attack, with McKenna behind a partnership of Trouten and Austin through the middle.

The Spartans forced Liam McFarlane into some action early doors, firstly when Bradley Whyte’s header was straight down the through of the goalkeeper, before ‘Big Liam’ as he is affectionately named, pulled off a great diving save to deny Cammy Russell from range.

The Fifers had chances of their own too, with Alan Trouten’s volley was over the crossbar, following some tidy build up play between him and Fash, the closest we came to opening the scoring.

East Fife grew into the half, though couldn’t find the opener, with Jack Healy and Andy Munro both came close in the final ten minutes of the first half, to no avail.

Bradley Whyte opened the second half with a shot, though it was well over the crossbar.

The best chance of the contest came bang on the hour mark. McManus lofted a ball into the penalty area, which was flicked over Carswell’s head by Fash. Alan Trouten looked on hand to convert, though he was bodied in the box, with the referee waving play on, pointing for a goal kick.

Being more aggressive in the attack left East Fife somewhat vulnerable at the back, and Reis Peggie looked outnumbered, as he was left alone in defence with two Spartans attackers bombing towards him. The full back showed experience beyond his years however, marshalling the forward into a mistake, clearing the ball, denying the Spartans in the process.

This seemed to give East Fife a boost, and just five minutes later, Healy won a penalty for the Methil Milan. He cut into the box from the left wing, and danced by two defenders, the second of whom clipped him on the way past, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. And with Alan Trouten standing over the ball, the outcome was never really in doubt. East Fife 1-0 The Spartans.

The Spartans threw the kitchen sink at us in the final ten minutes, although this allowed the Fifers to hit on the break, with substitute Scott Shepherd having a couple of half chances from tight angles, one of which forced Carswell into a great diving save.

East Fife held on, and with Peterhead’s late winner at Bonnyrigg, Saturday’s victory could prove vital in our season.

Reporter’s Man of the Match: Brian Easton.

Take your pick to be honest. Completely valid shouts for the whole back four and the goalkeeper, but I have opted for Easton, who marshalled talisman Blair Henderson completely out of the game on Saturday.

The Spartans – Carswell, Booth (Ritchie 87’), Waugh, Sonkur, Preston (Walls 78’), Watson (Morgan 78’), Scott (Dishington 45’), Craigen (Stowe 78’), Whyte, Henderson, Russell. Subs not used: Laing, Hunter, Denholm, Meek.

East Fife – McFarlane, Millar, Easton, Peggie, Munro, McManus, Norey (Higginbotham 69’), Trouten, Healy, McKenna, Austin (Shepherd 68’). Subs not used: Fleming, Slattery, Laaref, Jones, Bah.

Referee – Ryan Lee

Attendance - 630