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East Fife make the long journey to Stair Park to face Stranraer tomorrow, keen to get their league campaign back on track following a disappointing defeat at home to Forfar Athletic last week.

Manager Darren Young was left frustrated after losing all three points, particularly at the loss of the avoidable second goal for the visitors. The Bayview boss has brought in no fewer than four new faces to the squad in the last few days with defender Adam Livingstone, midfielder Connor McManus and strikers Matthew Knox and Robert Jones all available for selection tomorrow. Right sided defender Aaron Dunsmore also returns, after serving a one game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Conversely, Stranraer have hit an impressive run of form, winning each of their last three games against Airdrieonians, Raith Rovers and Albion Rovers. One man to watch is forward Angus Beith who has hit the target five times in the last four outings, including a double in the 3-1 success at Cliftonhill on Saturday. The men from Stair Park have also been active in the transfer market during the January window, bringing in Ross Lyon, Dylan Dykes, Cameron Macpherson and Dean Hawkshaw in respective loan deals with Rangers, Ross County, St Mirren and Kilmarnock.

Stranraer have had the better of the two previous meetings between the teams this season, with Jamie Hamill scoring the only goal of the game on the opening day of the league campaign at Stair Park and Ryan Wallace equalising Chris Duggan’s opening goal in the return encounter at Bayview Stadium in December to earn his side a 1-1 draw. 

Match Poster Stranraer

Ladbrokes League 1

Saturday 3rd February 2018

Stair Park

 

Stranraer 0

East Fife 2 (Linton 58’ (P), Lamont 61’)

 

Stranarer XI: Currie, Robertson, Neill, McGowan, Hamill, Woods (Anderson 64’), Agnew (Hawkshaw 64’), Turner, Beith, Dykes (Lyon 64’), Okoh

Subs: McLaren, MacPherson, Barron, Thomson

Booked: McGowan

East Fife XI: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Kane, Page, Linton, Lamont (Watson 76’), McManus, Millar, Livingstone, Duggan (Jones 41’), Smith (Slattery 86’)

Subs: Wilson, Mutch, Knox, MacKenzie

Booked: Page

 

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 383

 

East Fife made the long trip down to Stair Park to face Stranraer and returned to Bayview with all 3 points after picking up their first win on the road since November. Manager Darren Young made 5 changes to the side that lost to Forfar Athletic last time out with new-signing Connor McManaus and Adam Livingston, Kevin Smith, Kieran Millar and Aaron Dunsmore, free again after the last game through suspension, replaced the injured trio of Mark Docherty, Kyle Wilkie and Craig Thomson with Pat Slattery and Craig Watson dropping to the bench.

East Fife should have taken the lead on 11 minutes when a good break by Livingstone picked out Smith in the middle of the park, Smith lifted the ball over the top for Chris Duggan who put the ball past on-rushing ‘keeper Max Currie only for the flag to be raised for offside – replays showing that Duggan was in fact well onside when the ball was played. Stephen Okoh fired over from close range on 14 minutes for the home side before Currie saved comfortably from Jonathan Page’s header on 21 minutes at the other end.

East Fife rode their luck a bit in the first half and a combination of Ryan Goodfellow and Chris Kane were required to keep out a goalmouth scramble on 23 minutes. Duggan should have done better when he broke free from his marker to get on the end of Linton’s free kick on 31 minutes but didn’t get enough on the ball and it flew wide. Livingstone registered the visitor’s first shot on goal on 32 minutes when his left-footed volley was saved by Currie.

Angus Bieth curled a shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post for the home side on 37 minutes after being played in by Scott Robertson. New-signing Robert Jones came on for his debut 5 minutes before the break as a replacement for Duggan who picked up a dead leg after a challenge from Morgyn Neill and almost gave the visitor’s the lead in bizarre circumstances. With a Stranraer player down injured play ground to a halt but without the referee stopping play, McManus was invited to play on and fed Jones down the left who drove into the box and forces Currie to turn his shot behind.

There was little between the sides at the break who both teams struggling to find their passing game on a pitch that was struggling after harsh weather conditions.

Linton sent a right-footed shot wide of the post shortly after the re-start before Stranraer had a penalty shout waved away by referee Colin Steven on 49 minutes when Beith’s shot appeared to hit the arm of Page – replays showing that it was the correct decision as his arms were in front of his chest. Currie spilled a shot from Jones on 53 minutes but was able to recover quickly with Smith waiting to pounce.

East Fife were awarded a highly debatable penalty of 56 minutes when Kieran Millar broke through the Stranraer defence and raced in on goal only to be brought down by Chris McGowan as he was about to shoot. Stranraer argued that McGowan played the ball first but replays have proved to be inconclusive but the fact the challenge came from behind is what probably swayed the decision in East Fife’s favour. With regular penalty taker Mark Docherty missing through injury, Scott Linton stepped up to give East Fife the lead with his 3rd goal of the season.

It was 2-0 shortly after when Mark Lamont won a footrace against McGowan to latch onto Millar’s through ball and slot past Currie for his 4th of the season. Jones was next to get in behind the Stranraer defence but dragged his shot just wide of target on 66 minutes. Lamont went close to adding a second with 20 minutes to play but flashed his shot over from the edge of the box.

Beith blasted over from 10-yards for the home side on 72 minutes after Grant Anderson’s cross was only partially cleared before Okoh just failed to get on the end of Anderson’s knock down as the home side looked for a way back into the game.

It wasn’t to be however as East Fife held on for a thoroughly-deserved first League win on the road since a 1-0 victory against Airdrieonians in September and will look to build on that performance when Queen’s Park are the visitors to Bayview on Saturday.

It’s been a bust transfer window at Bayview with no fewer than 13 transfers taking place over the last month. Check out the comings and goings below

In

Craig Thomson was Darren Young’s first signing of the window. The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a deal following his release from St. Johnstone earlier in the month. Craig started his career at local side Kennoway United before joining the Premiership side’s youth academy in 2008, turning professional in 2011 and going on to make 27 first team appearances. Craig also completed two loan spells with Elgin City and Stranraer. Craig made is debut for East Fife as a second half substitute against Brora Ranger before making his full debut a week later against Forfar Athletic.

Goalkeeper Ben MacKenzie was next to join on a development loan from St. Johnstone. Ben has been St. Johnstone’s development side first choice 'keeper this season and joined up with the squad prior to last weekend’s game v Forfar Athletic.

Matthew Knox was the first of two development loan signings on transfer deadline day after joining from Championship side Livingston. The 18-year-old became the West Lothian side’s youngest ever player when he made his debut at the age of 16 and had already attracted attention from several top clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool.

Adam Livingstone was the second signing on deadline day when he joined on a development loan from Motherwell. The 19-year-old defender has been with the Premiership side since he was 8 and has made two substitute appearances for the Premiership side's first team this season.

Connor McManus was the first of two to put pen to paper on a deal yesterday (1st Feb). The 21-year-old midfielder signed on at Bayview after leaving Greenock Morton. Connor’s previous clubs include Queen of the South and Alloa Athletic after coming through the ranks at Celtic’s Academy.

Robert Jones was the 6th, and final, signing of the transfer window. The 22-year-old forward was most recently with Lowland League side BSC Glasgow and signs on at Bayview after appearing as a trialist.

Welcome to Bayview Guys!

Out

Nathan Flanagan returned to St. Mirren at the start of the month following the completion of his loan spell. Nathan joined the club in July 2017 from the Championship side, making his debut against Peterhead in the Betfred Cup and going on to make 21 appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal – the 2nd in a 3-2 win v Arbroath at Gayfield in August. However, it was his man-of-the-match performance in a 3-0 win v Forfar Athletic at Bayview in September that stands out as a particular highlight of his time at East Fife – the Angus side finding him almost unplayable that day.

Jordan Piggott returned to Dundee following the completion of his loan spell. Jordan signed on an emergency loan in October and went on to make 10 appearances for East Fife following his debut against Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park, after which Manager Darren Young described his performance as “outstanding”, adding that “he’s probably got a big future in the game.

Greg Hurst joined East Fife in August and made his debut against Stranraer that month before going on to make 19 appearances. Greg found the net 5 times for East Fife including the winner against Alloa Athletic but will be remembered most for his brace in the dramatic comeback against Albion Rovers in October. Greg returned to parent club St. Johnstone in the middle of January but has since joined fellow League 1 side Forfar Athletic on loan until the end of the season.

Ben Reilly departed Bayview to join League 2 side Cowdenbeath on the 12th of January. Ben joined the club in February 2017, making his debut in a 3-2 win v Brechin City that month before going on to make 19 appearance for the club.

Goalkeeper Mark Hurst returned to parent club St. Johnstone after completing his second loan spell at Bayview. Mark returned to East Fife in August, having previously completing a successful loan spell last season, and went on to take his tally of East Fife appearance to 37 which included 10 clean sheets. Highlights of his time at Bayview include a terrific double save against Livingston in March 2017 and a sensational stop to ensure East Fife claimed a point against Stranraer back in September.

Goalkeeper Thomas Cordery left Bayview to join Junior side Penicuik Athletic. Thomas signed on at Bayview in July and made his debut against Dunfermline Athletic in the Betfred Cup in July and made one further appearance against Peterhead in the Irn Bru Cup.

Paul Willis departed East Fife for League 2 side Berwick Rangers on transfer deadline day. Paul signed on at Bayview for a second spell in June 2017 and took his tally of East Fife appearance to 63 and scoring the winner against Elgin City in the Betfred Cup to take his East Fife total to 6 goals.

The club would like to put on record it’s thanks to all player who have left over the last month and wish them all the best for the remainder of the season and beyond.

Name: Scott Wotherspoon

Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California

East Fife

How long have you been an East Fife supporter and what was your first game?

I have been following the Fife since 1977 and my first game, I believe, was against Hearts when we won 2-1 (or 3-1 I think!)

Most memorable moment following East Fife?

It has to be beating Hibs at Old Bayview…the crowd was electric and the players, including Marshall and Burgess, were world class!

Least favourite moment following East Fife?

Every time we lose to the Rovers…

Favourite player (present)?

Pagey! Loyal, always puts in a shift and seems to honestly care about the club.

Favourite player (all-time)?

Brian ‘Zico’ Jenkins

Best East Fife goal you’ve seen?

Paul Hunter’s goal v Cowdenbeath in 1989.

Pick your all-time East Fife 11

GK: Gordon Marshall

DF: Brian Jenkins, Davie Clarke, Jim McLaren and Gary Naysmith

MF: Tom McCafferty, Kyle Wilkie and Stevie Kirk

ST: Paul Hunter, Gordon Durie and Gavin Murray

Scotland

Favourite Scotland game?

Scotland 1-0 England, Hampden Park, 1985, Richard Gough.

I was there! Jim Bett ran the show!

Favourite Scotland player (all-time)?

Roy ‘The Bear’ Aitken. No nonsense defender, the ultimate hardman.

When do you think Scotland will next qualify for a major tournament?

I’d like to stay positive and say 2020, but a lot depends on the manager.

General

Ronaldo or Messi?

Messi all day long!

Favourite away ground?

Dens Park

If you could change one football rule what would it be?

Indirect free kicks….what is the point?!