Edinburgh City 2-4 East Fife, Wednesday 8th January 2025, William Hill League 2, Meadowbank Stadium
East Fife made it three wins on the spin with a superb 4-2 victory over Edinburgh City at Meadowbank. A shaky first-half was more than rectified with a dominant second-half display.
The Citizens held the lion’s share of possession although they did not create many chances. East Fife also struggled to get going, which has become a recurring theme this season.
Unfortunately, the first real shot on goal found the back of the net, and it was for Edinburgh City, and the man of the moment, Connor Young. He knuckleballed his free kick from range, which ricocheted off the post and into the back of the net.
A lacklustre first period saw the Fifers go in behind at the interval.
The second half looked destined to start how the first half ended, as Edinburgh came out from the traps quickly. That was only for five minutes though, East Fife came with a vengeance. Capitalising on a defensive error, the Fifers pounced. Jack Healy found the ball on the wing, before lashing the ball across to the back post, where Scott Shepherd was waiting. East Fife’s number nine slotted home and just like that, the Fife were level.
“Like London buses” as the saying goes, although perhaps it should be “like East Fife goals”, as less than sixty seconds after the opener, East Fife were in front. In an almost identical build-up, Healy had the ball on the wing, although this time tried a shot, which rebounded to the back post. This time around, it was Alan Trouten in waiting, and he converted with ease, and out of nowhere, the Fifers were in front.
Edinburgh City were caught in the eye of an East Fife storm; but chance after chance came and went and the Methil Milan had not improved on their one-goal lead, that storm would soon be weathered. Edinburgh City, against the run of play, called upon their star man once more, and Connor Young took his chance. It came from almost nothing, but against the run of play, the Citizens were back on level terms.
That did not last long, however! Jack Healy was not up for sharing the points, so took matters into his own hands. Healy once more found himself at the edge of the area and opened up his body to shoot. Mark Weir tried to anticipate the looped shot over, so stepped toward the far post, opening up the angle for Healy to fire home at the near post, which saw East Fife retake the lead again.
The Fifers grabbed a fourth in the dying embers. Sean Docherty dispossessed Josh Grigor just outside the box, the Edinburgh players mistakenly thought that Grigor was fouled and therefore momentarily disrupted their defensive shape. This allowed Docherty and Trouten through for a 2-on-1 which Trouten converted with ease.
East Fife now sit four points ahead of Elgin, and five clear of Peterhead having played one extra game. Our attention now turns to Saturday when we will play Darren Young’s Clyde side at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Jack Healy.
This could have been Trouten, for his brace, and 90 minutes of energy, it could have been Shepherd for the shift he put in out of position for the large majority of the game, it could have been Brian Easton for his two game-saving blocks on the day, but I have opted for Jack Healy, who terrorised the Edinburgh right back, Jon Robertson, for his entire game. He turned him inside and out, as well as left him in the dust with his pace. Adding that to his two assists and goal caps off a remarkable individual performance.
Edinburgh City - Weir, Robertson, Gormley, Lynch, Grigor, Jones, Lawson (Daramola 55’), Jarvis (Zaid 55’), Mitchell (See 55’), Young, Stokes (Hamilton 76’). Subs not used: Beveridge, Walker, Scally, McKinstray, Mair.
East Fife – McFarlane, Murdoch, Easton, Peggie, Munro, Trouten, Healy (Laaref 90’), Norey, Shepherd (Slattery 85’), Milar, Trialist (Docherty 76’). Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Winn.
Referee – Joel Kennedy
Attendance – TBC
Report by Oli Anderson