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On-Form Fifers Face Hampden Test
East Fife head to Glasgow on Saturday to face Queen’s Park hoping to continue where they left off after last week’s impressive 6-1 victory against Airdrieonians.
Although the Methil men will be approaching this game with confidence, they will be aware that the Spiders inflicted a defeat in the earlier encounter this season at Bayview Stadium back in September. Hampden has also not been the happiest of hunting grounds in recent years for the Fifers, with just one win since 2004 in their favour.
Manager Darren Young was understandably delighted with his side’s last outing with some terrific build up play on display, coupled with clinical finishing in another entertaining game for the home support. The Bayview gaffer was also heartened at being able to list a full squad for the first time in several weeks, with only Scott Linton and Pat Slattery likely to miss out tomorrow through injury.
It would be fair to say that Queen’s Park have not enjoyed the best of starts to the campaign but Gus McPherson will be determined to steer his team clear of the relegation zone and start climbing the table. Last Saturday saw them give a good account of themselves at Stark’s Park against promotion challengers Raith Rovers before going down to two second-half goals.
Travelling fans should be aware that the new Queensferry Crossing will be closed to southbound traffic, with the possibility of delays for vehicles using the alternative route via the Forth Road Bridge.
The Bayview | What's Going On At Bayview
Six months ago, if East Fife weren’t at home, nothing much was happening at Bayview.
Since September, 3 × 7-a-side and 3 × 5-a-side pitches are being used every night of the week with youngsters and adults playing or training. The pitch is used by East Fife Youth Academy, East Fife Girls and Ladies, Kennoway Star Hearts, St Andrews United, Walking Football and Over 35s as well as several block private bookings and regular new enquiries.
A week past Sunday (19th November) Fifers For The Community (FFTC) and East Fife hosted the second CEFSSA fun 4's and super 5's festival and from 10am – 2 pm more than 300 youngsters played on the new pitch and 300-400 parents and families enjoyed food and drink in the club lounge. Teams from East Fife, Glenrothes Athletic, Kennoway, Glenrothes Lions, Real Fife, Kelty Hearts, Strollers, Thornton Locos and Templehall took part.
Last Sunday (26th November), a charity match in remembrance of Owen Nisbet, a local 11-year-old who passed away recently from a short illness. Ex-players from all four Fife teams took part including Paul McManus, Craig Lumsden, Gilbert Allan, Andy Tod and Mark McCulloch took part. Prior to the main match, a couple of 7-a-side games between East Fife Youth Academy and Kennoway teams, with which Owen had been associated, took place. FFTC offered use of the pitch, and East Fife FC the changing rooms, free of charge.
Walking Football takes place at Bayview every Wednesday night from 7-8 pm. Walking Football is a slow-paced version of the game designed to help people maintain an active lifestyle, as well as getting those who have stopped playing, for various reason, back into the game. If you’re interested in taking part, or are looking for more information, email Allan Duthie This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Bayview | League Cup Winners 1947 Part 2
This year marks the 70th anniversary of East Fife’s first League cup triumph in the 1947-48 final. Part 2 of the League Cup winners story was featured in The Bayview on Saturday.
The eight qualifiers along with East Fife for the quarter-finals were Aberdeen, Falkirk, Rangers and Hearts from Division A and also Hamilton Accies, Leith Athletic and Stenhousemuir from Division B. The founders’ intention was that teams from the top division would meet teams from lower division over two legs with the winners progressing to the semi-finals. That had happened in 1946-47 but because of post-war exigencies it was decided that the quarter-finals in 1947-48 would consist of only one meeting.
As in the previous season, the Fifers were drawn against Hearts. The match was at Tynecastle on 27th September. It turned out to be a cracking game. The major change in the Fife side from the sectional ties was the return of George Aitken at left half.
Dougie Davidson opened the scoring in the fifth minute with former Bayview Youth Club player, Ken Currie, equalising for Hearts five minutes later. Davie Duncan put the Fifers ahead again in the 75th minute from a penalty. Two minutes from time Currie restored equality, his late goal necessitating extra-time. Archie Kelly who had guested for east Fife during the War put the maroons into the lead for the first time in the 98th minute. Skipper Tommy Adams was the Fife hero, his two late goals producing a 4-3 victory. Hearts – Paton, McSpayden, McKenzie, Laing, Parker, Dougan, McFarlane, Currie, Kelly, Urquhart, Williams. East Fife - Niven, Laird, Stewart, Philp, Finlay, Aitken, Adams, D Davidson, Morris, J Davidson, Duncan. Twelfth man – Gilmour.
The win took East Fife through to the semi-finals in which their opponents were Aberdeen at Dens Park on 11th October. Not surprisingly Scot Symon selected the same eleven but with Jimmy Canavan as twelfth man. In a hard-fought game the only goal came in the 80th minute courtesy of arch-marksman Henry Morris. Aberdeen – Johnstone, Cowie, McKenna, McLaughlin, Waddell, Taylor. Kiddie, Harris, Williams, Baird, Millar.
The other winning semi-finalists were Falkirk who had defeated Rangers, also 1-0, at Hampden which was the venue for the final on 25th October. Again, East Fife were unchanged with Canavan as twelfth man. Jerry Dawson, the ex-Rangers keeper and future East Fife manager, was the Falkirk custodian with Archie Aikman, a Bayview guest during the War, at centre forward. The attendance was 52,781. Dawson and his Methil counterpart, John Niven, were the star-performers of the afternoon with both keeping clean sheets throughout the 120 minutes.
Falkirk – J Dawson, Whyte, McPhie, Bolt, R Henderson, Whitelaw, Fiddes, Fleck, Aikman, J Henderson, K Dawson.
The sides met again the next Saturday, 1st November. Once more Scot Symon was happy to name the same twelve players with Canavan the man left out. The Bairns made two changes with Gallacher and Allison replacing Whitelaw and Fleck respectively. The attendance this time was 30,664.
East Fife began strongly with Tommy Adams finding the net in the 8th minute. Davie Duncan added a second some ten minutes later. Aikman reduced the leeway on the half-hour. Duncan notched his second in the 79th minute and completed his hat-trick with three minutes left on the clock. So, Tommy Adams was presented with the cup which came to Methil for the first time with Davie Duncan entering the history book as the first player to score a hat-trick in a League Cup Final.
Jim Stewart
Back to Bayview for Fighting Fifers after Cup Success
Tomorrow afternoon Airdrieonians make their first visit of the season to Bayview Stadium. After reaching the play-offs in May, the Diamonds have got this campaign off to a slower start than they would have hoped for, although their cause has not been helped by the transfer of striker Andy Ryan to Dunfermline Athletic. There have also been changes off the park to contend with; the departure of Mark Wilson in the summer, former East Fife manager Willie Aitchison taking over on a temporary basis, before the appointment of current manager Stevie Findlay at the end of September.
Nonetheless, the Lanarkshire men have demonstrated that on their day they are a match for anyone in this division, as Stranraer found to their cost in their last league outing two weeks ago when a Ryan Conroy double helped earn a fine 2-0 win. They have also been one of the few teams to date to take points from league leaders Ayr United.
Bayview boss Darren Young will be happy to be back on home “turf” after three consecutive games on the road. Although disappointed by the defeats at Raith Rovers and Forfar Athletic, there were some good spells of possession from his side in both games. Last week’s Scottish Cup victory against Clyde at Broadwood saw the Fifers take their opportunities in front of goal, while equally importantly, denying their opponents at the other end of the park.
Better news too for the Bayview faithful on Saturday was the return of captain Kevin Smith to the starting line-up and the appearance of defender Craig Watson as substitute after several weeks absence through injury.
Recent encounters between the sides have been difficult to predict, with both teams performing better away from home. The only meeting this season saw the Fifers come out on top thanks to a Mark Docherty penalty, while Airdrieonians secured an impressive 4-0 victory on their last visit to Methil with the aforementioned Andy Ryan hitting a hat-trick.
Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the stadium bars before and after the game.
