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East Fife Welcome Loons to Bayview
Forfar Athletic are the visitors to Bayview Stadium tomorrow as East Fife look to build on last week’s win against Airdrieonians.
The Fifers were buoyed last week by the return of talisman Jonathan Page who made his first start in six months following an injury picked up during a 1-0 win over Livingston back in March and Manager Darren Young should have the same squad to pick from this weekend with only Captain Kevin Smith missing as he continues his recovery.
The visitors have not had the best start to their league campaign following promotion via the play-offs last season with their only points coming from a 2-1 win against Airdrieonians on the opening day of the season. However, they will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s painful 5-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Arbroath – a result that spelled the end for Manager Gary Bollan.
The last league meeting between the sides was back in March 2014 when goals from Liam Buchanan and Nathan Austin fired East Fife to a 2-1 win at Station Park, current Fifer Chris Duggan netting for the home side. The game will be remembered, however, for an impressive solo run from Kevin Smith when he picked up the ball on the edge of his own box and left three Loon’s defenders in his wake on route to setting up Austin for the winner.
The Fifers triumphed by the same scoring in the last meeting at Bayview in January 2014 when Marc McKenzie (with more than a little deflection off Forfar defender Darren Dodds) and Stephen O’Neill both scored on their debut.
Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the stadium bars before and after the game.
All to Play for in Kingdom Derby
It’s derby day at Bayview Stadium tomorrow afternoon as Raith Rovers make the short journey along the Standing Stane Road for the first league meeting between the sides since 2009.
Both clubs have made a satisfactory start to the campaign with the visitors’ one place above the men from Methil in the table after three league games.
East Fife boss Darren Young was a happy man following last week’s 3-2 defeat of Arbroath at Gayfield and is hopeful that his charges can keep up their good form, while acknowledging the task ahead against a Raith Rovers side that saw off Forfar Athletic at Stark’s Park. The Kirkcaldy club have made several new signings following their relegation from the Championship via the play-offs last season, notably two strikers who impressed last year, Greig Spence and ex-Fifer Liam Buchanan.
The man in charge at Raith is also no stranger to Bayview of course, with Barry Smith taking over in the summer following a six month spell as East Fife gaffer.
Meetings between the old rivals have been few and far between in recent years with the clubs only finding themselves in the same league twice in the last 40 years before this season, the last being 2008-09 when Raith held the upper hand with three wins and a draw.
Supporters are reminded that tomorrow’s clash is all-ticket and will be on sale at the stadium tomorrow depending on availability. The club would also like to advise fans that the upstairs lounge is fully booked for hospitality packages, meaning only the downstairs bar will be open before and after the match for refreshments. It is anticipated that the bar will be busy because of the larger than usual crowd and we would advise supporters to arrive in good time.
Mark Hurst returns to Bayview
Goalkeeper Mark Hurst has returned to Bayview on loan from St Johnstone FC until January.
Darren’s Boys Aiming to Bounce Back
Queen’s Park are the visitors to Bayview Stadium tomorrow afternoon as East Fife look to get their campaign back on track after going down heavily to local rivals Raith Rovers two weeks ago.
Manager Darren Young will be hoping for a positive reaction, but can expect a tough game from a side looking for their first win of the league season. Gus MacPherson’s men have posed more problems than most opponents for the Fifers in recent years, particularly here in Methil, and you have to go back to January 2009 to find the last time East Fife secured three points at home to the Spiders. A Stevie Crawford double and goals from Greig McDonald and Chris Templeman helped earn a 4-2 victory on that occasion.
It remains to be seen if the Bayview boss will make changes to his starting line-up but there are certainly options available as the injury situation continues to improve with Chris Kane the latest to return to the squad. Numbers were also boosted last week with the return of goalkeeper Mark Hurst on loan from St Johnstone.
The men from the south side of Glasgow made several new signings during the summer, including Michael Bailey from Yoker Athletic and ex-Greenock Morton youngster Thomas Orr, who both featured in the 2-2 draw with Stranraer at Hampden a fortnight ago, with Queen’s Park fighting back from a two goal deficit to salvage a point.
Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the stadium bars before and after the game.
