Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stranraer
East Fife remain at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium this weekend, as we host Stranraer in the league. The Fifers are now at three games without a win and are hoping to improve on the result the last time they faced the Blues at Stair Park too. Stranraer are also looking for progress as they fell 1-0 to Elgin City at Borough Briggs last week.
In Memoria
There will be a minute silence to mark Remembrance Day ahead of this afternoon’s game. We kindly ask that supporters be in their seats to observe this.
William Hill League Two Table
Team | Pld | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Fife | 11 | 16 | 23 |
2 | Elgin City | 11 | 8 | 23 |
3 | Peterhead | 11 | 6 | 21 |
4 | Stirling Albion | 11 | 1 | 19 |
5 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 11 | -3 | 14 |
6 | Edinburgh City | 11 | -3 | 12 |
7 | The Spartans | 11 | -4 | 10 |
8 | Stranraer | 11 | -6 | 9 |
9 | Forfar Athletic | 11 | -7 | 9 |
10 | Clyde | 11 | -8 | 9 |
Last Week’s Results
Clyde 2-2 Bonnyrigg Rose
East Fife 1-1 Stirling Albion
Edinburgh City 2-0 Forfar Athletic
Elgin City 1-0 Stranraer
Peterhead 2-1 The Spartans
This Week’s Fixtures
Bonnyrigg Rose vs Elgin City
East Fife vs Stranraer
Edinburgh City vs Clyde
Forfar Athletic vs The Spartans
Stirling Albion vs Peterhead
The Form
The Fifers
East Fife’s last six games have seen three wins, two draws, and one loss.
The defeat came in incredibly disappointing fashion, as we slumped out of the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle for the fourth year running, as we lost 1-0 at home to Banks O’Dee.
Our draws have also been in recent weeks, with a goalless draw against Forfar Athletic, and a 1-1 draw with Stirling Albion coming in both of our most recent league games.
When our wins have come, they have been spectacles. The first win was against Peterhead when we beat the then-league leaders at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The routine display saw Alan Trouten and Stewart Murdoch both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win. The following week, Nathan Austin scored the only goal in a 1-0 win away to The Spartans, a result which saw us climb to the top of the league. The following week, East Fife showed their cutting edge, burying five against a 10-man Bonnyrigg Rose side. Alan Trouten bagged a hattrick, with Andrew Tod making it on the scoresheet for the first time in his professional career.
Our Opposition
Stranraer have won two, drawn one, and lost three of their last six. Their three losses came against Forfar Athletic, Stirling Albion, and Elgin City where they fell 2-1, 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
Their draw was a goalless affair with title challengers Peterhead.
The wins have come against Edinburgh City in William Hill League 2, as well as a 3-2 win over Threave Rovers in the Scottish Cup. The Threave game was not as easy as the Blues perhaps assumed however, with the non-league side running Stranraer all the way to the last kick of the game, where Ryan Edgar completed the turnaround, coming back from 2-0 behind. The match has been largely remembered for Deryn Lang’s wonder goal.
Previous Encounter
Stranraer 2-1 East Fife
14th September 2024, Stair Park
East Fife were met with a frustrating day at the office when Stranraer hosted the Methil Milan. Mark Russell opened the scoring with a wonder strike from Stranraer, capitalising on a string of defensive errors from the Fife. We pulled ourselves back into the game through Alan Trouten, before moments later Russell regained the lead for the Blues. The dying embers saw two sending-offs for the Fifers, with goalkeeper Liam McFarlane and manager Dick Campbell both seeing red before the end of the game
Squad News
Outs: Liam Newton continues to miss out due to a long-term knee injury. Alan Trouten hasn’t yet fully recovered so misses out this afternoon too.
A couple of players will have their fitness assessed pre-kick-off today.
Ins: Logan Briggs and Masson Winn keep their place in the senior squad for today’s game.
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 tickets online in advance where possible. Our online ticketing system now accepts both Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Tickets can also be purchased (cash and card) from the matchday reception for those unable to do so.
Please note, that parent & child tickets must be purchased in person from the matchday reception.
Turnstiles will be open from 2:00pm this afternoon.
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. There is no live-streaming option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.
Club Colours
The Fifers will don the MPH-sponsored home kit this afternoon. They will wear the traditional black and gold striped shirt, with black shorts and socks. The Fife goalkeeper will be clad in yellow for the match.
Stranraer will also be in their traditional colours of a blue shirt with white shorts and blue socks, with the Blues goalkeeper in red this afternoon.
Officials
The referee today will be Ryan Lee with his assistants Elliot Husband Powton and Terry Ormiston running the lines.
Catering
The stadium bar will be open from 12.15pm this afternoon and again after the full-time whistle for post-game refreshments.
Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 2:00pm this afternoon. Both cash and card are accepted.
Misc
The Bayview issue 12 will be available to purchase at today’s game for £3. This week’s edition features an interview with Under 20s Head Coach Roy Barnes. If you can't make it to today's game, programmes can also be purchased online for home delivery.
The club shop will open at 1:45pm today.
Mon the Fife!
We're looking for an enthusiastic videographer to join our East Fife TV team and help promote East Fife FC.
Key Responsibilities:
Previous experience in filming and editing is preferred but not essential, as full training can be provided. Transport to away matches will also be available.
All camera equipment can be provided, along with access to video editing software however the successful candidate will require their own laptop or computer for editing.
Like many clubs at this level, all positions on the media team are voluntary. However, we offer support and opportunities for you to develop your skills and build a portfolio. Both current and former members of our media team have gone on to pursue greater opportunities after starting with the club, and we are excited to welcome the next generation aboard.
If you would like to get involved, please email us to highlight your skills and motivation for the role: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
East fife 1-1 Stirling Albion, William Hill League 2, Saturday 2nd November 2024, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
We unfortunately had to settle for a draw against Stirling Albion on Saturday at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, after a slow start hindered Dick Campbell’s men.
The visitors started the much stronger of the two sides, testing Liam McFarlane on numerous occasions in the opening 20 minutes. McFarlane, who was making his first appearance for the Fifers since September, made four strong saves to deny the Stirling attack, though that did not stop the Binos from taking the lead. Defender Erik Sula was the name on the score sheet after the centre half smashed his header home from a corner on the quarter-hour mark.
Stirling Albion should have made it two just moments later, when they hit the crossbar twice in thirty seconds, while the Fifers were lost at sea.
That chance appeared to be the wake-up call that the Methil Milan needed, and slowly but surely, we crept into the contest, before finally grabbing the equaliser through Andy Munro. The summer signing leapt to meet a deep free kick, delivered by Gordon Walker, and nodded his header into the bottom corner, leaving the Stirling Albion goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
East Fife were the team in the ascendency in the second period and should have taken the lead after 70 minutes of football. Some tidy team play from Walker and Kieran Millar found Scott Shepherd in the penalty area. East Fife’s number 9 held the ball up before laying it off to Andrew Tod. The youngster, on loan from Dunfermline Athletic, looked destined to score, though his effort was well saved by Gaston which saw the score-line stay level.
With just five minutes to go, Nathan Austin squandered the chance of the game, denying East Fife all three points. The ball was put on a plate for ‘Fash’, with it being drilled across the face of goal. However, the striker got himself tangled up and tripped over his feet, seeing the chance go awry.
Despite East Fife having the majority of the chances in the second half, it was our opposition who had the best opportunity of the game. Some quick counter-attacking football saw the Binos advance down the left-hand side of the park before the ball was cut inside and fired goalward. Liam McFarlane was called upon again, and produced a top, top quality save, to deny Stirling Albion and ensure that the two sides shared the spoils.
The result sees East Fife remain atop the league two table, albeit on goal difference, while Stirling Albion remain in fourth place, just four points behind the league leaders.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Liam McFarlane.
That. Save.
East Fife – McFarlane, Easton, Peggie (Healy 83’), Munro, Millar, McManus, Tod (Norey 79’), Walker (Docherty 82’), Shepherd (Laaref 86’), Austin. Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Slattery, Winn.
Stirling Albion – Gaston, McGeachie, Sula, Harkness (Davidson 68’), Crane, Kerr, Ferguson, Brown, Waugh, Carrick (Roy 85’), Hilson (McKinlay 68’). Subs not used: Cant, Featherstone, Howe, Weir, Wright, McLean.
Referee – Gavin Duncan,
Attendance – 728
Report by Oli Anderson
Photographer by East Fife Media
Tickets for our William Hill League 2 match against Stranraer at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday 9th November 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
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 purchase online.
Please note, that parent and child tickets must be purchased directly from the club office.
Supporters outside the UK and Ireland can also watch via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live stream option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.