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Match Preview - Stirling Albion

Oli Anderson previews tomorrow’s match against Stirling Albion.

A devastating last-minute winner from Aidan Smith at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium in East Fife’s playoff clash against Annan Athletic, brought the Fifers’ 4 game unbeaten run to an end, last Saturday. This week, the Black and Gold face an arguably harder challenge, as we prepare to travel to Forthbank to face Stirling Albion, who with a win this weekend could put one hand on the cinch League Two trophy. As previously mentioned, the Methil Men succumbed to a 91^st minute goal to sink them against Annan Athletic, a result which saw us fall back out of the playoff places. In the last 4 days, Stirling have played Elgin twice, firstly at the weekend, before playing out their game in hand on Tuesday night. The Binos romped to a 3-0 win on Saturday, before managing just and no more to get over the line just and no more in a much more even contest midweek. A goal in first half stoppage time from Dale Carrick was all that separated the two sides.

Form

Stirling are currently on an amazing run of form, picking up some crucial wins in recent weeks. In their last 6 games, Darren Young’s men have amassed 14 from a possible 18 points. They remain unbeaten since the opening week in December of last year and have recorded 4 wins and two draws, including the aforementioned demolishing(s) of Elgin City in their last 6 matches. They also had a hugely important draw with second placed Dumbarton, in a match which kept the Sons at arm’s length of Stirling, as they maintained their lead at the top of the league. One of their other wins came against playoff challenging Forfar Athletic, as they overcame the Loons 2-0. Their final win came against relegation threatened Bonnyrigg Rose, beating the Rosey Posey 2-1. Surprisingly, Stirling Albion could only draw with 7^th placed Stranraer when the two sides met recently.

East Fife too remain on their strong run of form, despite last week’s loss, recording 10 points from their last 6 games, only dropping 8 points in the process. Those came in the form of a 1-1 score draw against now 8^th placed Bonnyrigg Rose and a 2-0 loss away to Stranraer back in February, as well as last week’s loss to Annan Athletic. McDonald’s men have recorded 3 wins in their last 6, first striking at the death through Alan Trouten to put Forfar Athletic to bed, before then scoring late against Stenhousemuir to record another comeback victory. The game at Ochilview Park saw Scott Shepherd return to the score sheet as he got onto the end of Brogan Walls’ headed cross to tap in the winner. Most recently, the Fifers showed their danger from set pieces, as Aaron Steele’s corner header, paired with Alan Trouten’s penalty was enough to bed a struggling Elgin City side.

Last Week’s performance

The Fifers were back at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium to host playoff rivals Annan

Athletic last Saturday. East Fife dropped all three points in an incredibly close encounter, which looked destined to finish a draw. A last gasp winner from Aidan Smith put a dent in the Fifer’s promotion push, seeing them slip out of the playoff zone with just 5 games to go.

It was a game full of physicality and ill-discipline too, with referee Jordan Curran handing out 10 yellow cards over the proceedings, each side enjoying 5-a-piece.

Real chances were hard to come by over the ninety minutes, as most of the football was played in the middle of the park, rather than either team’s final third. Particularly in the first half, the game was played at the visitor’s tempo.

The Methil men sat deep for the majority of the first half trying to halt Annan’s rampant attack. The only relief the Fifer’s got was temporary, as the on-form Chris Johnstone was subbed off after 25 minutes due to an injury. However, the winger was replaced by the equally dangerous starlet Josh Galloway.

The best chance of the first half came for the visitors, after around 30 minutes of play. Wullie Gibson fired in an early cross, from deep down the right flank, which was met by Tony Wallace, though the ex-Fifers header was only good enough for the crossbar.

That sent the two sides into the interval with the game still goalless at 0-0.

McDonald’s men responded well to their half time team talk and came out in the second half playing with a higher line, to take the game to the Galabankies. The additions of Jack Healy and Ryan Schiavone after 55 minutes injected a needed dose of pace and width into the team.

Jack was not on the park for very long before he was in the referee’s book for a high challenge. However, the young lad composed himself and he eventually created Fife’s best chance of the match. He jinked past Galloway on the right, before completely outpacing a tiring Wullie Gibson. Jack then cut inside, looking for his vintage curled effort into the top corner, though he was sliced to the ground by Benjamin Luissint.

Shepherd stood over the resulting free kick. Unfortunately, he could not better the feat of Wallace in the first half, and his shot from almost 25 yards cannoned off the crossbar.

The last minute of the ninety saw East Fife’s day end miserably. A free kick was whipped into the box from the halfway line, which was then nodded towards a waiting Aidan Smith. The front man’s looping header was enough to beat a stranded Allan Fleming, who was off his line.

The everchanging cinch League Two Table:

Squad News

There are no new updates this week, as Aidan Quinn remains our only player out of action. Saturday will come too soon for him, though the Montrose loanee is making steady progress and is close to a return to the squad.

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met, the Fifers picked up a well-deserved point, as they drew 1-1 at Bayview.

Greig McDonald made a whole host of changes, which came up trumps, as Ryan Schiavone and Pat Slattery both returned to the starting line-up, with the latter putting in perhaps one of the performances of the season so far.

The first half had a real lack of any chances, and apart from a fantastic Allan Fleming save at the East Fife end, and new signing Aidan Denholm being denied a stonewall penalty, there was no action to report.

The second half, however, was quite the opposite. The opening goal of the game came just two minutes after the start of the second period. Ex-Fifer Greig Spence hit his free kick which took an enormous deflection, dumbfounding the keeper as it bounced goalward.

This never stopped East Fife though, as it had in previous weeks, as they pushed for the equaliser. Youngster Alex Ferguson bombed at the backline just four minutes later, and was brought down by Binos’ full back Cammy Clark, who was sent to the stand for a second bookable offence.

Fife were incredibly unlucky from the resulting free kick, as Healy stood over it, and cannoned his shot off the post, there was a stramash in the box for the second ball, but no Fife player could convert.

The Black and Gold capitalised on their man advantage well, as they penned in Stirling, and they were eventually well rewarded, when after 66 minutes, Jack Healy did what Jack Healy does, rocketing a magnificent, curled effort from almost 30 yards out, adding another wonder goal to his tally for the season.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Stirling Albion were incredibly fortunate to still be level, a lovely passage of play saw East Fife have the ball in the 6-yard box, but no-one could get any decent connection on the ball, and it was eventually gathered up by the Stirling ‘keeper.

All credit has to go to Stirling who valiantly held on for the last 10 minutes, at times even looking like they may have gone on to nick a winner. With 5 minutes to go, loanee Aidan Quinn dunted his back pass into the ground, forcing Fleming to win a foot race against former Fifer Aaron Dunsmore, which he did.

Team Colours

East Fife are back in their home kit this week, donning the tartan shirt with black shorts and socks. The ‘keeper will wear the all green kit for the tie. 

The home side will be clad in their traditional red and white for the tie, with red shorts. The Galabankies Goalkeeper will be dressed in all turquoise for the match.

Match Tickets

The game at Forthbank this weekend will be EXCLUSIVELY Pay at the Gate (cash only), and our supporters will be welcomed in through Gates 9 and 10. Segregation will be in place, please see prices below:

Adults- £15

Seniors (65+)- £10

Students (with valid ID)- £5

U12s go free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Officials

Our on-pitch official for Saturday will be Ross Hardie His two assistants running the lines will be Colin McAlpine and Andy Taylor.

Live Stream

Unfortunately for our British and Irish-based supporters, the match is not able to be watched to UK blocked hours. Luckily for our International support, the game can be watched on EFTV with a monthly or season pass!

Refreshments:

Forthbank’s “Pie of the Week” this week is a South Indian Garlic Donner Pie. This will be available at the pie stalls in the stadium.