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Match Report - Stranraer

Lyon proves to be the ‘Mane’ Event, as East Fife come from behind to salvage yet another three points under Dick Campbell and co.

East Fife 2-1 Stranraer, Saturday 23^rd March 2024

MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, cinch League Two

The Fifers came from behind on Saturday afternoon to beat Stranraer at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. Another slow start from us handed the Blues the lead in the opening exchanges, before James Lyon and Jack Healy both grabbed their first goals of the season to complete the turnaround.

Stranraer bagged the opener after 10 minutes, when a defensive mix-up led to a deep free-kick sailing in from range. Matthew Grant was the scorer and it was helped in massively by the wind, as Allan Fleming was deceived by its trajectory.

Fife struggled to get into the game, and chances were hard to come by. We came closest through James Lyon, who rattled the side netting after 20 minutes, while Jacob Blaney had a headed chance following a free kick which was just over the bar.

We were undeniably the better team in the first half, holding much more of the ball than our opposition. However, possession doesn’t win you games, goals do, and we were one down at the break.

We started the second half much better though, and the deficit didn’t stay in place for long. After 10 minutes of the second period, it was loanee James Lyon who pulled us level. He tried to tee up Trouten, but fantastic defending saw the ball blocked. It was back into his path though, and the creative midfielder bagged his first in Black and Gold, converting the rebound.

Lyon kept on performing too, and he popped in a devastating cross shortly after the restart, which landed in the 6-yard box, though sadly there were no takers.

East Fife should have had a penalty after 70 minutes too, when Trouten was blatantly fouled in the box. The referee wasn’t interested however and the score remained level.

The winner eventually came with 5 minutes to go though, as Jack Healy leathered a fantastic volley into the back of the net, past a stranded Budinauckus. Ryan Schiavone’s cross was well placed, for a leaping Healy, who finally opened his account in the league this season. You could have stuck two men in the goals for it, and Healy would have still been wheeling away in celebration, his volleyed effort was nestled right into the bottom corner, marking another fantastic turnaround.

We saw the game out, and even looked to double our advantage, though it wasn’t to be. The score remained 2-1 to the Fifers, and The Campbell Express was able to stay on track.

Results elsewhere in the division see the Fifers close the gap to the playoff places to just 6 points with 6 games to go, while Stranraer fall to within just 2 points of the relegation zone.

Report by Oli Anderson

East Fife – Fleming, Newton (Docherty 70’), Easton, Murdoch, Blaney, McManus (Slattery 70’), Trouten, Lyon (Hamilton 84’, Millar, Healy, Shepherd (Schiavone 72’). Subs not used: Beveridge, Murray, Nicol, Ramsay

Stranraer – Budinauckas, Ross, Girvan, Ecrepont, Robertson (Gilmartin 88’), Fleming, Gallagher, Grant, Dolan (Johnston 89’), Orr (Lang 65’), Armour (McIntosh 84’). Subs not used: Downie, Williamson, McQueen, Miller, Hawkshaw.

Referee – George Calder

Attendance - 578