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Lions Tamed After Late Winner in Livingston
Scottish Football League 1
Saturday 11th March 2017
The Tony Macaroni Arena
Livingston 0
East Fife 1 (Kerr 85’)
Man of the Match: Mark Hurst
Referee: Grant Irvine
Attendance: 773
East Fife travelled to the Tony Macaroni Area to face Livingston in Ladbrokes League 1 and left with all 3 points curtesy of an 85th minute winner from Jason Kerr. Manager Barry smith named an unchanged team to the side that beat Albion Rovers the previous week with new signing Alex Cooper taking his place on the bench.
Livingston signalled their intent as early as the first minute when Scott Pittman fired in a shot that crashed off the crossbar before Rafa De Vita sent the follow-up into the stands. The visitors had ‘keeper Mark Hurst to thank for keeping the score line level when he pulled off a spectacular double save to twice deny Josh Mullin on 9 minutes.
East Fife were struggling to gain a foot-hold in the game with their best chance of the opening 45 minutes falling to Chris Kane whose header from a Nicki Paterson free kick was easily dealt with by the Livingston defence. Nickolay Todorov was causing the visiting defence all sorts of problems with his height and strength, and headed narrowly over on 30 minutes from Mullin’s free kick. Todorov thought he’d opened the scoring 7 minutes before the break when he lifted the ball over Hurst only for Jason Kerr to spoil the celebrations with an excellent clearance on the line.
The home side carried on where they’d left off after the break with some nice play between Danny Mullen and De Vita see the latter shoot narrowly over on 47 minutes. East Fife were growing into the game and had their first chance of the second half on 53 minutes when former Fifer Liam Kelly failed to hold Paterson’s free kick from the touch line however the home defence were able to clear the danger.
Chris Duggan went close for the visitor on 57 minutes when he volleyed narrowly over from a well-worked free kick. At the other end Mullin played a free kick along the 6-yard box on 61 minutes but was able to find a taker when the smallest of touches would have taken the ball past Hurst. Livingston continued to press with Declan Gallagher unfortunate to see his header rebound off the crossbar then have his follow-up was blocked on the line.
It was the visitors who were looking more dangerous as the clock ticked past 70 minutes with Duggan having a couple of chances to get his name of the score sheet when first he worked some space for himself at the back post but couldn’t divert his header on target before he cut inside and was unlucky to see his shot deflected for a corner when it looked headed for the top corner.
The deadlock was finally broken 5 minutes from time when Kelly could only palm down Paterson’s free kick for Kerr to knock the ball in at the front post for his 6th goal of the season. Livingston continued to pile forward but the East Fife defence held firm to record their 8th victory in 13 League games.
After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:
“The boys showed so much commitment, the work-rate was unbelievable and it’s a great three points coming from the league leaders. We take confidence from it yet again and built on it. There’s nine games left of the season we just look at the next one and we just look at the next one, that’s the most important, against Alloa. It’s a great three points for the lads. Based on their attitude, for me, they deserved it in terms of their attitude, their discipline and the positioning.”
League Leaders Challenge for Barry's Boys
East Fife head for the Tony Macaroni Arena for the third time this season tomorrow, hoping to build on an impressive showing last week against Albion Rovers.
Speaking earlier today Bayview boss Barry Smith looked ahead to the clash against a side currently occupying pole position in the table.
"The boys are looking forward to the game and are going into it with a bit of confidence after a good performance and result last Saturday. We are however aware that we are up against a very good Livingston team and know that we will have to be at our best to get a result."
Smith also provided an update on the injury situation at the club, with Pat Slattery a doubt and wide midfielder Mark Lamont set to miss out. There could also be a new signing in the travelling party if international clearance can be obtained in time.
The sides are no strangers to each other this season, having met four times already, with the Fifers winning both meetings at Bayview and a win apiece in the games at Livingston. It promises to be yet another intriguing encounter.
East Fife Return to Winning Ways with Victory Over Albion Rovers
East Fife 2 (Duggan 53’, 59’)
Albion Rovers 0
Man of the Match: Chris Duggan
East Fife XI: Hurst, Kane, Page, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith, Curran (Reilly 80’), Robinson, Penrice, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Goodfellow, Lamont, Insall, Austin, Mutch
Booked: Kane
Albion Rovers XI: Stewart, Gilmour (Sheilds 69’), R Dunlop, M Dunlop, Fisher (Turnbull 69’), Davidson, Stewart, Ferguson (Smith 45’), Wallace, Archibald
Subs Not Used: Potts, McCann, Ferry, Willis
Booked: M Dunlop
Referee: David Lowe
Attendance: 539
East Fife welcomed Albion Rovers to Bayview for the second time this season and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners thanks to a second half brace from Chris Duggan. East Fife made four changes to the side that lost to Alloa Athletic midweek with Mark Hurst, Chris Duggan, Kevin Smith and Nicki Paterson coming in for Ryan Goodfellow, Jordan Austin, Jamie Insall and Ben Reilly.
The visitors should have taken the lead in the second minutes when they stole the ball in midfield and broke up the park with a two man advantage however Ross Stewart’s shot was straight at Mark Hurst. After the early scare East Fife began to exert their authority in the game with an excellent display of passing football. Good play down the right-hand right saw Scott Robinson square the ball along the 6–yard box but it was just behind Kevin Smith who would have been left with a tap in at the back post. Smith had another chance on 24 minutes when he got on the end of Chris Kane’s cross but his header was straight at Rovers ‘keeper Ross Stewart.
James Penrice showed some good footwork to turn his marker and whip in a cross that just evaded Chris Duggan before ‘keeper Stewart had to be alert to turn Duggan drive from distance behind for a corner. At the other end Mark Hurst bravely saved at the feet of striker Stewart in what proved to be the visitor’s best chance of the game. East Fife had been impressive in the first half but the best was still to come.
A quick East Fife break saw Robinson play in Smith but his shot was deflected into the side netting on 52 minutes. Nicki Paterson’s corner was cleared by Mick Dunlop but only as far as Curran who whipped the ball back in for Duggan who scored with a superb volley on the turn; a definite contender for goal of the season. Duggan added a second 5 minutes later when a mix-up between Ross Dunlop and ‘keeper Stewart saw Duggan celebrate before passing the ball into the empty net.
East Fife were in cruise control for the remainder of the match with the a shot by Ross Davidson which was straight at Hurst the closest Albion Rovers came to troubling the score sheet. A thoroughly deserved and comfortable victory which saw East Fife jump to 3rd place in Ladbrokes League 1.
After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:
“We asked for a reaction and I knew I would get one because of the group of boys that I’ve got in that dressing room, a great set of boys. They won the game through a lot of hard work and a lot of good football. Chris (Duggan) showed what he’s capable of for his first goal and just being a striker for his second.”
“The boys are capable of that and it’s probably as good as they’ve been passing the ball today but the more pleasing thing for me is responding in the right manner from Tuesday night and I knew they would.”
Fife Elite Football Academy
THE ACADEMY DINNER
Saturday 18th March 2017 (7.30pm to 12am)
Rothes Halls - Glenrothes
Tickets are £40 (including £10 donation to Fife Elite Football Academy)
Plus Auction and Raffle for Academy Funds
If you wish to purchase tickets please contact East Fife Football Club on 01333 426323 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.