East Fife ventured west to Ochilview to take on Stenhousemuir in the second round of the Scottish Cup. The last match between the two teams in the league was a 2-1 win for the Warriors despite a Jack Healy wonder goal, for the Fifers at Bayview earlier this season. The Methil men won last weekend with an emphatic 4-1 victory against Bonnyrigg Rose.
Three changes were made to the team that beat Bonnyrigg Rose with Reece Beveridge replacing the absent Allan Fleming. Scott Mecer and Joao Balde both missed out through suspension and were replaced in the starting line-up by Jack Healy and Taylor Steven.
East Fife ball got rolling however it was Stenhousemuir who were quickest to threaten when Ewan O’Reilly’s shot forced Beveridge into a save. From the resulting corner, Yates found Adam Corbett who stabbed the ball home at the second attempt.
However, East Fife weren’t behind for long. Healy picked up the ball on the right side, with Forbes and Philp standing tall in front of him, he knocked the ball through the middle of the two to get into the box and score with the inside of his boot.
In the tenth minute, an earlier substitution was enforced on the Fifers as Stewart Murdoch made way for Liam Parker.
Quickly after Healy’s goal, he had another chance to put the Fifers 2-1 up when he skipped past Wedderburn to get his shot away on the edge of the box, however the ball is dragged narrowly wide of the post.
As East Fife seriously began to pile on the pressure, Liam Newton was played through by Scott Shepherd however a last-ditch tackle from Miller cleared the ball but only as Millar on the right-hand side of the box who dinked the ball onto the head of Schiavone, however his headed effort was wide of the upright.
On the half hour mark, the Warriors regained the lead when a low cross from Adam Brown
Was turned in at the back post by an unmarked Matty Yates.
Towards the end of the half, Forbes forced Beveridge to pull off an important diving save to keep the deficit to one heading into the break.
HALF TIME: Stenhousemuir 2-1 East Fife
3 minutes into the second half, Taylor Steven had a chance to equalise for the visitors when he took the ball past Corbett and his shot forces Brennan to tip the ball around the post and out for a corner.
O’Reilly went close with another effort, but Sam Denham was able to put in a crucial block to put the ball very closely wide of the net.
With fifteen minutes left, Alan Trouten replaced Taylor Steven. A short free kick was played by Ferguson to Healy and from around 30-yard he unleashed an effort that Brennan tipped over the bar to prevent another Jack Healy stunner.
The home side had a moment to kill the game but Beveridge was able to pull off another top save to deny Forbes from close range.
After six minutes of injury time the referee brough an end to proceedings. A very scrappy and uneventful second half came to an end securing the third-round entry for the Warriors.
The Fifers have a home match against Elgin City up next as the team will hope to put the woes of the cup behind them and try to secure maximum points against the black and whites.
FULL TIME: Stenhousemuir 2-1 East Fife
Andrew Laing
Stenhousemuir Team: Brennan, Jamieson (Alker 90+4’), Higgins, Corbett, Forbes, Wedderburn, Philp, Miller, Brown (Anderson 58’), O’Reilly (Orr 80’), Yates
East Fife Team: Beveridge, Murdoch (Parker 10’), Denham, Steele, Millar (L Williamson 85’), Healy, Newton, Shepherd, Schiavone (Cunningham 85’), Ferguson, Steven (Trouten 65’)
Referee: George Calder