East fife 1-1 Stirling Albion, William Hill League 2, Saturday 2nd November 2024, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
We unfortunately had to settle for a draw against Stirling Albion on Saturday at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, after a slow start hindered Dick Campbell’s men.
The visitors started the much stronger of the two sides, testing Liam McFarlane on numerous occasions in the opening 20 minutes. McFarlane, who was making his first appearance for the Fifers since September, made four strong saves to deny the Stirling attack, though that did not stop the Binos from taking the lead. Defender Erik Sula was the name on the score sheet after the centre half smashed his header home from a corner on the quarter-hour mark.
Stirling Albion should have made it two just moments later, when they hit the crossbar twice in thirty seconds, while the Fifers were lost at sea.
That chance appeared to be the wake-up call that the Methil Milan needed, and slowly but surely, we crept into the contest, before finally grabbing the equaliser through Andy Munro. The summer signing leapt to meet a deep free kick, delivered by Gordon Walker, and nodded his header into the bottom corner, leaving the Stirling Albion goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
East Fife were the team in the ascendency in the second period and should have taken the lead after 70 minutes of football. Some tidy team play from Walker and Kieran Millar found Scott Shepherd in the penalty area. East Fife’s number 9 held the ball up before laying it off to Andrew Tod. The youngster, on loan from Dunfermline Athletic, looked destined to score, though his effort was well saved by Gaston which saw the score-line stay level.
With just five minutes to go, Nathan Austin squandered the chance of the game, denying East Fife all three points. The ball was put on a plate for ‘Fash’, with it being drilled across the face of goal. However, the striker got himself tangled up and tripped over his feet, seeing the chance go awry.
Despite East Fife having the majority of the chances in the second half, it was our opposition who had the best opportunity of the game. Some quick counter-attacking football saw the Binos advance down the left-hand side of the park before the ball was cut inside and fired goalward. Liam McFarlane was called upon again, and produced a top, top quality save, to deny Stirling Albion and ensure that the two sides shared the spoils.
The result sees East Fife remain atop the league two table, albeit on goal difference, while Stirling Albion remain in fourth place, just four points behind the league leaders.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Liam McFarlane.
That. Save.
East Fife – McFarlane, Easton, Peggie (Healy 83’), Munro, Millar, McManus, Tod (Norey 79’), Walker (Docherty 82’), Shepherd (Laaref 86’), Austin. Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Slattery, Winn.
Stirling Albion – Gaston, McGeachie, Sula, Harkness (Davidson 68’), Crane, Kerr, Ferguson, Brown, Waugh, Carrick (Roy 85’), Hilson (McKinlay 68’). Subs not used: Cant, Featherstone, Howe, Weir, Wright, McLean.
Referee – Gavin Duncan,
Attendance – 728
Report by Oli Anderson
Photographer by East Fife Media
