Peterhead 1-0 East Fife, Saturday 14th December 2024, William Hill League 2, Balmoor Stadium
East Fife fell to third in the William Hill League 2 table this week, falling 1-0 to Peterhead at the Balmoor Stadium on Saturday before midweek results fell in favour of our closest challengers. The first-half header from Kieran Shanks was all that separated the two sides, though East Fife came close on a couple of occasions.
Peterhead were the side who started the game stronger, holding more of the ball and creating more chances. They tested McFarlane twice in the opening stages before Shanks grabbed the first and only goal of the contest. A deep cross was invited in by the East Fife backline, and the Blue Toon’s number nine capitalised on a pocket of space to loop his header over the head of the Fife goalie.
The game was scrappy, as Peterhead showed their pace on the break, with their full-backs and front line causing the Fifers some real bother.
Just before half-time, Scott Shepherd had an opportunity to grab an equaliser for the Fife. Despite getting some decent power behind the shot, it headed straight for Blessing Oluyemi who produced a quick reaction save to knock it away for a corner kick.
East Fife struggled to grow into the game in the second half, as the sides were so evenly matched. With that being said, Brian Easton had a half chance not long after the hour mark. Gordon Walker did well to keep in a deep free kick and lay the ball off to Easty, though he got far too much loft on the volleyed effort and the shot soared over the goal.
Peterhead wanted more too, and in the final minutes, they forced Liam McFarlane into an excellent save. The young goalkeeper showed his lightning-quick reactions, denying three-point-blank efforts from the Blue Toon attack.
With just two minutes to go, it looked like East Fife would nab the winner. Jess Norey stabbed the ball across the face of goal and an outstretched Pat Slattery just could not connect with the ball on the way past.
That was the game’s last piece of action, which sent the Fifers down the road empty-handed.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Liam McFarlane
There was next to nothing that McFarlane could have done for the goal, which took the entire Fife team by surprise. The triple save at the end of the second half kept the points in the balance, along with his other half-dozen saves on the day.
Peterhead – Oluyemi, D Strachan, Goldie, Wilson, Dunne, McCarthy, Pawlett (Ja Brown 52’), Forrest, Ross (McAllister 78’), Barry (Duthie 70’), Shanks (Armour 78’). Subs not used: McKenzie, R Strachan, Jo Brown.
East Fife – McFarlane, Easton, Docherty (Walker 61’), Munro, Millar (Slattery 70’), McManus, Norey, Healy (Laaref 70’), Peggie, Shepherd (Winn 77’), Trouten. Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Blake, Gilfillan.
Referee – Sean Murdoch
Attendance – 651
Report by Oli Anderson