Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stenhousemuir
A controlled victory over Elgin City last weekend saw our unbeaten run reach 8 games, our longest since the latter stages of 2019, although should we avoid defeat this afternoon, we will match that milestone. Elgin failed to start fast, and allowed us to take control of the game, with Alan Trouten scoring the opener after 22 minutes. Despite an improvement from City after going a goal behind, we did not waver, and eventually doubled our lead, through James Lyon which killed the contest.
We look toward undoubtably our hardest challenge under Dick Campbell this afternoon, as we travel to Ochilview to face a title chasing Stenhousemuir side. The Warriors will clinch their first league title with a win today, while an East Fife win can bring us within touching distance of the fabled playoff places. Stenhousemuir are on a strange run at the moment, looking like they just can’t get over the line, and I’m sure that fellow Fifers will agree that we hope that remains the case this weekend.
Message from the Management Team
“We are expecting a really good game today. Stenhousemuir have shown themselves to be the best team in the league this season and fully merit being at the top of the table. However, we have our own ambitions and will be going into the game looking to pick up another 3 points”.
Ian ‘Pink’ Campbell, Assistant Manager
The cinch League Two
| Team | Pld | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stenhousemuir | 31 | 21 | 64 |
| 2 | Peterhead | 31 | 17 | 51 |
| 3 | Dumbarton | 31 | 10 | 49 |
| 4 | The Spartans | 31 | 8 | 49 |
| 5 | East Fife | 31 | 5 | 43 |
| 6 | Forfar Athletic | 31 | -3 | 36 |
| 7 | Elgin City | 31 | -21 | 36 |
| 8 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 31 | -7 | 31 |
| 9 | Stranraer | 31 | -14 | 31 |
| 10 | Clyde | 31 | -16 | 28 |
Last Week’s Results
Dumbarton 0-0 Stenhousemuir
East Fife 2-0 Elgin City
Peterhead 4-1 Clyde
Stranraer 1-1 Bonnyrigg Rose
The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic
This Week’s Action (League Position)
Bonnyrigg Rose (8) vs Peterhead (2)
Clyde (10) vs Stranraer (9)
Elgin City (7) vs Spartans (4)
Forfar Athletic (6) vs Dumbarton (3)
Stenhousemuir (1) vs East Fife (5)
While our game certainly looks the most enticing, with us in the position of potentially delaying off Gary Naysmith’s men, even if just for one more week, there is also a mouth-watering clash at the blunt end of the table, with Clyde facing Stranraer in a game that could prove to be one last roll of the dice for both clubs’ survival in the SPFL.
Should results favour Stenhousemuir today, they can still win the title, even if they drop points, or even lose to the Campbell Express which appears to be steaming through League Two at the moment.
Previous Encounter
MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, Saturday 10th February
The last time the two sides met, the Fifers fought hard against league leaders Stenhousemuir, earning a valuable point against the Warriors.
The Methil Milan were much more organised, holding defensive shape much more convincingly, only allowing Stenny 2 shots on target over the 90 minutes.
Sadly, the first shot on target found the back of the net, as Stenhousemuir took an early lead on Saturday. Captain Ross Meechan got on the end of a corner kick and flashed his header into the back of the net not allowing Allan Fleming a chance.
After the setback, East Fife started warming into the match, with Brogan Walls giving himself the first Fife chance of the 90. He did well to wiggle into some space just outside of the penalty area, although his shot was well over the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, Fash almost grabbed us an equaliser. He burst into the box, before cutting it back to Schiavone in an ideal position. Unfortunately, the young forward lost his footing, and couldn’t get his shot away.
The half an hour mark also should have seen us go level, as once again Fash created an opportunity for Shiv, the fantastic cross was just too fast for Schiavone though, and Stenhousemuir were able to hold onto their lead. Just two minutes later, Austin had a chance of his own, when he connected with a Brogan Walls cross. His volley, however, was well over the crossbar.
Just before half time though, we drew level through none other than ‘Stone Cold’ Nathan Austin. It was a glass shattering goal, with some excellent build up play from both Brogan Walls and Alan Trouten, before Austin’s cushty finish. Plaudits must be given to Walls, as his pass to find Trouten in the middle of the park was truly exemplary.
The two sides went into the interval level, and despite a horror start from the Fifers, they spent the majority of the first period as the better of the two teams.
The second half was much quieter in terms of action, with the first chance not coming until the 60th minute. Thankfully it was in favour of the Fife, but unfortunately it never resulted in a goal. Schiavone found himself past the Stenhousemuir defence after some tidy football, but his shot was only good enough for the side netting.
The next notable action came in the 82nd minute, when in true Ian Campbell fashion, our new assistant wound up in the book during his debut.
The game really heated up in the dying embers, as Stenhousemuir had a chance snuffed out in the 92nd minute, which led to the moment which made Fife fans believe that we had nicked all three points. The corner was whipped into the box and found Walls square. The midfielder’s header looked to have found the net from afar, but in reality, it trickled past both posts, ensuring the spoils were shared at the Wooden Fortress. Despite looking to have won it right at the end, I don’t think it could be argued that a draw was probably the fairest result. While we had spells of control in the earlier exchanges, Stenhousemuir finished the stronger of the two teams, putting us under some real pressure as the game came to a close.
The Form
The Fife
In our last 6 games, the Fifers have recorded 4 wins and 2 draws, remaining unbeaten and scooping up an impressive 14 points in cinch League Two in the process. We are currently the form team in the league and have reacted well to the change in management.
Our two draws have come in varying fashion. The first came a six weeks 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 most recent draw came three weeks back when we shared the spoils with Peterhead. We struggled massively in the first half, and Pawlett sent the Blue Toon in at the break with a deserved lead. We, however, managed to bounce back in the second period, and Alan Trouten did what he does best, and stuck the ball in the onion bag for the Fife.
The first of many wins came against The Spartans, winning 3-1 at Ainslie Park at the beginning of March. Blair Henderson scored for the hosts inside 3 minutes, and despite a slight period of dominance from The 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.
We then went back-to-back, 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 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.
A fortnight ago, saw us grab our 3rd win in 6, coming from behind to overcome Stranraer. Matty Grant scored the opener from a very deep free kick (which looked to have been largely assisted by the wind.) James Lyon converted at the start of the second half for the Fifers, pulling us level, before Jack Healy scored a fantastic soaring volley to hand us the lead, and the three points.
Last week made it 4 for 6, as Alan Trouten and James Lyon were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win against Elgin City where Jack Healy starred.
The Warriors
Stenhousemuir are so close to their first league title, the reason that it has not already been wrapped up however, is due to the fact that they have recorded just 7 points from their last 6 games and have not been near as convincing as they were earlier in the season. Stenny have won one, lost one and drawn four of the last 6. They have only scored 2 and have shipped 8 goals in those games.
Their win came against Bonnyrigg Rose, and the Warriors just scraped three points, beating the Rosey Posey 1-0 at New Dundas Park. A goal from Matthew Aitken in the last 10 minutes proved the difference in the contest.
They have also recorded 3 goalless draws, against our playoff opposition, Dumbarton, Peterhead, and The Spartans too. Their other draw finished 1-1, with James Berry scoring for Stenhousemuir in the first half against Forfar Athletic. A late Adam Hutchison equaliser ensured that the points were shared.
The loss was a truly shocking result, as the Warriors fell 6-1 to relegation threatened Clyde, at Ochilview. More bizarrely, Stenny took the lead after 25 minutes through Euan O’Reilly, but a quick two punch from Liam Scullion and Jordan Allan saw Clyde lead at half time. The Bully Wee cracked on in the second period, with Martin Rennie grabbing a brace, Cammy Ballantyne netting, and Allan adding a second to his tally for the day, bringing the game to a close with just the 5 goals separating the two sides.
Squad News
Brogan Walls returns to fitness and is back in contention for today’s game but there are no fresh injury concerns within the squad.
Team Colours
East Fife will be in the home kit at Ochilview, wearing the black and gold 120th anniversary kit, with white shorts and socks. The East Fife goalie will be clad in blue.
Our opponents will be in their traditional colours, wearing a maroon shirt, with white socks and maroon shorts. The Warriors goalkeeper will wear yellow for the clash.
Match Tickets
East Fife fans will be housed in the Donald Smillie Enclosure (covered terracing).
Prices below:
Adult - £15
Concession - £10
U16s - £5
Tickets can be purchased online however pay-at-the-gate is also available.
Live Streaming
Viewers outside the UK and Ireland can watch today's match live via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live streaming option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.
Officials
The on-pitch official this afternoon will be Ryan Lee, while his assistants running the lines are Calum Doyle and Mark Daly.
Final Remarks
This is a huge game for Stenhousemuir, so I trust that they will come out fighting. The positive is that we look much more prepared to face teams such as our opponents. In our previous encounters with Stenhousemuir this season, we have struggled to nullify the Warriors’ midfield, with Nat Wedderburn proving a dominant force in the outings. Should we be able to navigate the midfield battle with more success, I would fancy our chances this weekend.
Mon the Fife!