Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Peterhead.
After a scintillating end to the game at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium last Saturday which saw Nathan Austin head home in the 93rd minute against Dumbarton giving us a massive boost in our promotion hunt, we now tee up to take one of the most challenging away trips of the season, that being a hike to the highlands to face Peterhead at the Balmoor Stadium. Last week’s result has put us within 6 points of Dumbarton, and with just 8 ‘cup finals’ to go for the Methil Milan, this would be a golden opportunity to mount the pressure onto the Sons.
Our opposition this weekend, however, are sitting cosy in the playoff places, occupying second place after a win against Scott Agnew’s Stranraer side last week. First half strikes from Conor O’Keefe and Kieran Shanks handed the Blue Toon 3 points, in a weekend where all other playoff opponents failed to win. Their win also ended their sticky run of form, recording their first win since the 27th of January.
A message from the Management Team:
‘Our squad are working extremely hard, and they are taking each game as it comes, the competition for places is really good.’
‘We have immense respect for Peterhead who are well ahead of us in the league, so we are only concentrating on what we are doing as a club.’
- Ian ‘Pink’ Campbell, Assistant Manager.
The cinch League Two:
| Team | Pld | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stenhousemuir | 28 | 21 | 61 |
| 2 | Peterhead | 28 | 14 | 46 |
| 3 | The Spartans | 28 | 11 | 45 |
| 4 | Dumbarton | 28 | 4 | 42 |
| 5 | East Fife | 28 | 2 | 36 |
| 6 | Forfar Athletic | 28 | -2 | 34 |
| 7 | Elgin City | 28 | -20 | 32 |
| 8 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 28 | -4 | 30 |
| 9 | Stranraer | 28 | -12 | 30 |
| 10 | Clyde | 28 | -14 | 24 |
Last Week’s Results:
East Fife FC 3-2 Dumbarton
Elgin City 1-0 Bonnyrigg Rose
Forfar Athletic 2-1 Clyde
Peterhead 2-0 Stranraer
Stenhousemuir 0-0 The Spartans
This Week’s Action (League Position):
Bonnyrigg Rose (8) vs Clyde (10)
Forfar Athletic (6) vs Stenhousemuir (1)
Peterhead (2) vs East Fife (5)
Stranraer (9) vs Elgin City (7)
The Spartans (3) vs Dumbarton (4)
We’ve got another action-packed weekend ahead, with two relegation 6 pointers at New Dundas Park and Stair Park too, as well as every team in the top 6 positions facing off. This is the first game week, of what will be a tantalising end to the 2023/24 campaign.
Previous Encounter:
The last time both sides met, we sadly dropped two points as the Blue Toon nabbed a late equaliser in Methil.
We were left dumbfounded as we squandered a two-goal lead at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, drawing 2-2 with title chasers Peterhead. The Fifers started incredibly fast and were in total control of the first half. However, as has become a recurring theme this season sadly, we were pegged back by our highland compatriots in the second half.
We got out of the traps at a lightning pace, as “Stone Cold” Nathan Austin had an effort deflected into the back of the net. The Peterhead defence were blindsided, although we did deserve the lead, the Blue Toon would not have been aggravated by the way the ball found the net.
Our lead should have been doubled just moments later, after Austin found himself through on goal once more. He danced round the Peterhead goalkeeper, but defender Goldie was back in time to clear Fash’s effort from the tight angle.
We did grab a second after 23 minutes of play however, when Johnny Page was the first responder to a delicious corner, nodding home, putting the Methil Milan two goals to the good.
Three minutes later, Pagey’s surprising goal should have become a surprising brace, as he got on the end of another whipped pass. Somehow however, this was chalked off, as there was a “foul” in the build-up. This was very harsh on the Fifers, and I don’t think that it is unfair to suggest that the 3-goal cushion that this goal would have given us, would have been enough to see the three points over the line.
The controversial decisions did not end there however, as after 39 minutes, Peterhead were awarded a penalty, for what was quite frankly, a fantastic piece of defending, as Page popped the ball away from the Blue Toon forward Kieran Shanks. Thankfully, justice was served, and Allan Fleming got a hand to the spot kick. Hearts were in the mouths of Fife fans at the ground however, as the ball came off both posts before being cleared.
East Fife were truly coasting at the interval, despite that peculiar wobble with 5 minutes to go.
The second period saw the wheels fall off slightly, due to some sloppy defending from the Black and Gold, some tidy Peterhead attacking play, and principally some flabbergasting officiating.
In the 56th minute, Peterhead halved their deficit, with Jordon Brown curling a beauty around Allan Fleming. The visitors, however, should have seen red shortly after, as a last man tackle on goal bound Scott Shepherd was only sufficient of a booking in the man in the middle’s eyes.
His assistants were then under fire sometime later, as Austin made a cracking run, which he was at least two yards onside for, before the lino held up his flag. They say things come in threes, but clearly there’s always room for extra.
In the 95th minute, the wind was knocked out of our sails. Despite holding on for life in the dying embers, showing some resolute defending to try and maintain the lead Scott Ross was in the right place at the right time and nabbed an equaliser for Peterhead with the last kick of the game.
Simply put it was heartbreak for the Fifers.
The Form:
The Fife:
In our last 6 games, the Fifers have recorded 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss, scooping up an impressive 11 points in cinch League Two in the process.
Our only loss came against Elgin City, where we fell 1-0 at Borough Briggs, in what proved to be Greig McDonald’s last game in charge of the club. Brian Cameron scored the only goal, right on the stroke of half time for City.
Our two draws have both come at Bayview, with the earliest of the two being against league leaders Stenhousemuir. A nightmare start for the Fifers seen us go a goal down inside 5 minutes, but Austin got a well-deserved equaliser just before half time, as the two sides shared the spoils. Our most recent draw came a fortnight ago against Forfar Athletic. We trailed after 35 minutes when Matty Allan put the Loons ahead, but in the second half, we found our equaliser through Alan Trouten, who is on a rich vein of scoring form, as he slotted home from the spot.
Our wins have come in very different fashion, with our first coming against Bonnyrigg Rose. Despite a well fought first half hour, the Fifers came into control and dominated proceedings. The goals came in a flurry, and the strikes from Easty and Trouts proved just too much for the Rosey Posey to compete with.
The second came a fortnight, as we took revenge on The Spartans, winning 3-1 at Ainslie Park. Blair Henderson scored for the Spartans inside 3 minutes, and despite a slight period of dominance from Spartans, East Fife bounced back, and grew into the game, more and more eventually equalising through Alan Trouten. After the first went in, we never looked back, dominating proceedings running out 3-1 winners in the end, with Fash and Trouten on the scoresheet, with the latter bagging a brace.
Last week we made it 2 wins on the spin, recovering a 2-1 deficit to defeat Dumbarton at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. ‘Stone Cold’ was at hand to gift us the opener inside 3 minutes, in what was definitely a ‘glass shattering start’. We were pegged back in the second period by the Sons though, as goals from Finlay Gray and James Hilton flipped the game on its head. We would not go down without a fight though, and centre half Brian Easton made it two in two for himself, nabbing an equaliser. The game was not finished, and we made sure to take all three points, with Fash bagging a second for the day, sending the Fifers into a frenzy of celebration. It was a great performance, with a fantastic moment, and result to match.
The Blue Toon
Peterhead have won 7 points in their last 6, with 4 draws, and one sole win and loss.
The loss came a fortnight ago, against Dumbarton. Michael Ruth scored the only goal of the game for the Sons in a 1-0 affair at the Dumbarton Football Stadium.
The draws came consecutively over 4 weeks, with 4 draws in 4 in the month of February for Peterhead. Firstly, they drew with bottom placed Clyde, scoring a 95th minute penalty to share the spoils with the Bully Wee. They were forced into a comeback the following week too, after trailing 3-0 to Forfar Athletic at half time. McAllister was on hand again, before Flynn Duffy clawed another one back. It then became two, 95th minute equalisers in the same number of weeks, as Alfie Stewart completed a fantastic comeback for Peterhead. They then played out goalless draw against Bonnyrigg Rose. Most recently, they drew 1-1 in an all-highland affair against Elgin, with Kieran Shanks scoring the opener before it was cancelled out by Dajon Golding 10 minutes later.
Their win came last week, as Kieran Shanks and Conor O’Keefe bagged against Stranraer, sinking the Blues.
Squad News
No fresh injury concerns mean we are only without Jacob Comerford this weekend.
Team Colours
East Fife will don the Taxi Centre sponsored-away kit today. Wearing the pink, matched with black shorts and pink socks, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the yellow kit for the tie.
Our opponents will be in their traditional colours at the weekend, with an all-blue kit. The Blue Toon ‘keeper will wear orange.
Match Tickets
Peterhead do not operate a cash turnstile at the Balmoor. Prices below:
Terrace/Stand
Adult: £15/£17
Concessions: £8/£10
Under 13: Free (if with paying adult)/ £2
There is plenty available free parking at the stadium!
Officials
The on-pitch official this afternoon will be Chris Fordyce while his assistants running the lines are Kevin Buchanan and Liam Duncan.
Final Thoughts
We have struggled so far this season against Peterhead’s attacking threat, with Shanks, O’Keefe and McAllister all having caused us problems in our previous encounters. However, one big difference between our current East Fife side, and that which played Peterhead at Bayview last month, is a newfound defensive confidence and stability.
Mon the Fife!