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Fifers up to third after fine win at Coatbridge

Ladbrokes Scottish Football League 1, The Exsel Group Stadium, Saturday 22^nd April 2017

Albion Rovers 0

East Fife 1 (Kerr 63’)

Man of the Match: Jason Kerr

Albion Rovers XI: Stewart, McCann, Reid, Fisher, R Dunlop, M Dunlop, Ferry (Lightbody 80’), Shields (McBride 74’), Wallace, Willis, Ferguson (T Archibald 74’)

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Potts, P Archibald

Booked: Ferry, Fisher

East Fife XI: Hurst, Slattery, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Curran, Penrice, Duffie, Austin (Smith 88’), Paterson

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Cooper, Lamont, Mutch, Reilly

Booked: Duggan

Dismissed: Duggan

Referee: Alan Newlands

Attendance: 488

East Fife recorded their first win in seven games with a 1-0 victory over Albion Rovers at the Exsel Group Stadium thanks to a 63^rd minute Jason Kerr strike. East Fife made two changes to the side that lost to Peterhead last time out with Alex Cooper and Mark Lamont making way for Jordan Austin and Chris Kane who made a return to the side after a suspension.

The first chance of the match fell to the home side when former Fifer Ryan Wallace was fouled by Kieran Duffie on the edge of the area. Wallace took the free kick himself but sent the ball sailing way over. The visitors suffered a scare on 13 minutes when Mark Hurst misjudged the bounce of the ball and just managed to keep the ball out and behind for a corner. East Fife’s first attack of the game saw Jesse Curran break free down the right and played in Chris Duggan but the striker couldn’t connect cleanly and Rover’s ‘keeper Ross Stewart was able to collect.

Wallace latched onto a long ball on 17 minutes but his attempted lob was well wide of the target. Albion Rovers should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Conor Shield’s broke forward at pace and left himself with only Hurst to beat but sent his shot straight at the ‘keeper. The home side were looking the better side and Wallace had another opportunity on 25 minutes when he ran across the East Fife box before unleashing a shot that was deflected behind for a corner. Three minutes before the break Gary Fisher whipped in a cross from the right for Paul Willis at the back post however Ross Brown just did enough to prevent him from connecting. East Fife were unlucky not to be ahead on the stroke of half time when Nicki Paterson’s free kick hit the post before Jordan Austin put his follow-up wide from a couple of yards.

Things took a while to get going after the break with neither side able to string together any decent possession, however the game burst into life just after the hour mark with a bit of quality from Jason Kerr. The defender stole the ball inside his own half and raced upfield, laying the ball off for Duggan before sending the return pass past Stewart into the back of the net for his 8^th goal of the season. Albion Rovers were presented with a great opportunity for an equaliser on 65 minutes when Wallace capitalised on a miscommunication between Hurst and Duffie to have a crack at goal but Hurst was more than up to the challenge.

East Fife best chance to extend their lead came on 73 minutes when Chris Kane narrowly headed over from Paterson’s corner. Duggan tried his luck from 25-yards on 78 minutes but his strike was easily held by Stewart. Duggan was then sent for an early bath by referee Alan Newlands four minutes later when he picked up a second yellow for simulation; his first coming after an altercation with Mark Ferry midway through the first half.

The home side sensed an opening and piled forward at every opportunity. First Mick Dunlop saw his header comfortably saved by Hurst before the ‘keeper pulled off an outstanding save to deny Wallace low down to his left with three minutes left on the clock. The final chance of the match fell to Scott McBride who could only send the ball narrowly wide after getting on the end of Alan Reid’s cross.

A first win in seven games sends East Fife back into the play-off spots with only two games to play level on points with next week’s opponents Airdrieonians, Brechin City and Queen’s Park albeit with a superior goal difference which may yet come in handy.

After the match, Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:

“The boys worked so hard and delighted for them because the work that they always put in, we’ve never really questioned that since I’ve came in. In terms of getting in the right areas and defending I thought they were excellent and a bit of quality wins the game. He [Jason Kerr] started it off and finished it which is brilliant but on the other side of that he defended excellently. When they threw the big boy up front he’s went and matched him, he’s got his body in the way which is what he’s there for. He’s a defender but if he can add a goal in, which is what he’s done the past few weeks, it’s a bonus for us.”