Stranraer 0-2 East Fife, Saturday 18th January 2025, Stair Park, William Hill League 2
East Fife retained their spot at the summit of the William Hill League 2 table following a 2-0 victory over Stranraer. Goals from Jack Healy and Alan Trouten capped off a dominant first half, though it took some resolute defending in the second half to keep the clean sheet intact.
Healy caused problems all afternoon on the left-hand flank, destroying Scott Robertson with his pace. This led to East Fife’s first chance of the game when Healy burst past Robertson, before squaring the ball into the box. Unfortunately, there were no takers, and it was cleared for a corner kick.
East Fife almost scored a peculiar goal after ten minutes when Alan Trouten blocked one of Sam Kane’s goal kicks. The ball propelled into the air, although there was a sigh of relief from Kane when it bounced wide of the post.
The first real opportunity of the game fell to our hosts. Robertson was denied twice by blocks from Easton and McFarlane, and Robbie Foster’s follow-up attempt was also blocked by a combination of Munro and Murdoch, as the Fifers’ defence held strong.
Foster went close again when he bombed through for a 1-on-1 with McFarlane, but the Blues’ striker squandered the chance and sent the ball over the crossbar.
It was not long from there that the Fifers took the lead. Jess Norey nicked the ball back in a dangerous position, before a nice interchange between Connor McManus and Jack Healy. Healy then opened up some space for himself and lashed his shot goalward, which took a minimal deflection, diverting the ball away from the goalkeeper’s path.
Stranraer centre half Cummins did not take too kindly to going behind, and minutes later, was fortunate to remain on the park after having a kick at Scott Shepherd following a tussle between the two.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Alan Trouten grabbed his TWENTIETH goal of the season, with a cushty finish after Scott Shepherd held off both of Stranraer’s centre halves single-handedly.
The second half was much more favourable for the Blues, as they created more though never really tested McFarlane in goal. This was in no small part due to the inclusion of Ryan Edgar, who injected pace and power into the Stranraer frontline.
The main highlight of the half from an East Fife perspective was an official return for Rob Jones, and a debut for Kallum Higginbotham as both of our new signings got valuable minutes under their belts.
Credit to Liam McFarlane, who made two great saves in the second half to deny Stranraer. He was firstly at full stretch to deny Matty Grant’s ambitious effort, before he tipped Mark Russell’s ball over the crossbar in the 90th minute.
That brought full-time for the Fifers, which was a welcome sight. Although it now reads five consecutive wins for the Methil Milan, having only conceded three goals. In that time the Fifers have added another 15 goals, bolstering the goal difference by 12 as well. East Fife’s perfect 2025 continues!
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Stewart Murdoch.
Murdo dealt with everything and everyone that Stranraer threw his way on Saturday, fending off three different wingers comfortably over the ninety minutes, in an assured performance from the skipper.
Stranraer – Kane, Robertson, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont (Brindley 45’). Gallagher, Russell, Trialist (McIntosh 64’), Grant, Guthrie (Lang 45’ (Edgar 59’)), Foster. Subs not used: Lane, McKnight, Reid.
East Fife – McFarlane, Murdoch, Easton, Peggie, Munro, Millar, McManus, Norey (Higginbotham 57’), Trouten, Healy (Laaref 72’), Shepherd (Jones 72’). Subs not used: Fleming, Briggs, Slattery, Blake, Docherty.
Referee – Jordan Curran
Attendance – 518
Report by Oli Anderson