East Fife travelled to Forthbank to take on league leaders Stirling Albion who hadn’t lost a game since December 3rd, so it was going to be a tough task for the Fifers. This was the fourth between the sides this season and the Fifers were without a win against the Binos, having lost 2-1 and 3-1 earlier in the season before playing out a 1-1 draw at Bayview in the last encounter. Last weekend the Methil men lost late on against playoff rivals Annan Athletic as Aiden Smith struck in the final minutes to win the game 1-0 for the Galabankies.
Greig McDonald made two changes to the starting XI that were beaten by Annan with Jack Healy and Ryan Schiavone both brought back into team at the expense of Connor McManus and Aiden Denholm.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors when, in the 3rd minute, the Binos’ defence failed to clear the ball effectively and it was picked up by Walls on the edge of the box, but his strike trickled just wide of the post.
In the 15th minute East Fife took the lead thanks to a sublime finish from Healy. Alex Ferguson effortlessly skipped past two Binos men on the right wing to create some space for himself to whip in a cross towards the back post where Healy, on the volley, side footed the ball into the bottom corner chance.
Not long after the Fifers took the lead, Stirling piled on the pressure and claimed an equaliser. A cleared corner was lofted back into the box and was picked up by McLean who dinked the ball over the heads of everybody to pick out the unmarked Dale Carrick who heads the ball from very close range.
As the half hour mark passed, the hosts took the lead through the prolific Carrick. McGeachie’s long throw into the box finds the head of McGregor who flicked the ball into the danger area where Carrick sent an audacious overhead kick into the back of the net.
With five minutes left of the first half, the Methil men had a chance at an equaliser when a free kick from Trouten was delivered deep into the penalty area and flicked on into the path of Steele who’s shot clipped the top of the crossbar.
HALF TIME: Stirling Albion 2-1 East Fife
After only 7 minutes of the second half, East Fife claimed a deserved equaliser. Trouten’s long free kick was headed clear by Stirling but only as far as Newton who chipped the ball back into the danger zone where it was met by Steele who’s header flew over the head of Currie.
Less than two minutes after equalising, East Fife had an opportunity to take the lead when Trouten dispossessed the Binos in midfield and drove forward before playing the ball out wide to Healy who cut inside and fired in an effort which forced Currie into a good save.
With 15 minutes left of the game, Trouten picked up a controversial red card. The first of the two yellow cards came earlier on through an accidental handball when challenging for the ball with Thomson. The second yellow card came around 20 minutes later when he was again adjudged to have deliberately handled the ball when fired at him from a yard away.
With five minutes left of the game, East Fife had one more chance when cheekily chipped free kick from Ferguson found the unmarked Shepherd, however he couldn’t get enough on the shot to guide it past.
FULL TIME: Stirling Albion 2-2 East Fife
A well-earned point against top of the league and with Forfar and Stenhousemuir failing to pick up points East Fife remain in fifth and only a point behind fourth place Forfar. Next up is a home fixture against 7th placed Stranraer.
Stirling Albion Team: Currie, McGregor, Clark, McLean, McGeachie, Leitch (Hamilton 63’), Moore, Denholm (Dunsmore 63’), Davidson, Carrick, Thomson (Spence 73’)
East Fife Team: Fleming, Denham, Steele, Murdoch, Newton, Healy, Walls (Denholm 73’), Schiavone (McManus 77’), Ferguson, Trouten, Shepherd
Referee: Ross Hardie
Attendance 937 (180 East Fife Fans)
Report by Andrew Laing