East Fife 2-0 Elgin City, Saturday 3rd May 2025, William Hill League 2, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
East Fife closed out their league season comfortably with a 2-0 victory over Elgin City at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The victory means that the semi-final of the League One play-offs will be a two-legged tie with Edinburgh City.
Both the Fifers and Elgin made several changes to their full-strength line-ups, and it was the visitors who started the quickest forcing Liam McFarlane into two early saves.
After overcoming the early nerves, East Fife got the ball on the ground and started to play some very slick football. Rob Jones grabbed the opener through lovely build up by Adam Laaref and Nathan Austin. The cross flew into Jones from Austin, and he drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
East Fife were in total control following that moment, with Laaref the star of the show. He created many a chance and dictated the tempo of the game with his direct attacking play. East Fife had the lion’s share of chances in the opener but couldn’t double their lead.
Notable performances came from Rob Jones, Adam Laaref and Mamadou Bah, who was making his first appearance in a number of weeks for the Fifers. He came close to opening his East Fife account on the stroke of half time, with a 35-yard strike. It looked as if it would dip underneath the bar, but it didn’t drop quickly enough, and it was just one goal to separate the sides at the interval.
The second half continued how the first half started, with the Fifers firmly in control. Ten minutes into the second half, East Fife looked to double their lead, when Nathan Austin came close. Laaref whipped a fantastic ball into Fash, and even though his looping header beat Thomas McHale, it flopped off the wrong side of the post.
East Fife eventually got their second goal through Gregor Nicol, who’s finish capped off an excellent attacking phase. McManus, Trouten and Shepherd all chipped in, before Nicol’s tapped in the square ball, capping off the strong showing.
Tuesday night will bring the first leg of the play-off semi-final, as the Fifers visit Meadowbank to play Michael McIndoe’s Edinburgh City side. They are coming off the back of a disappointing derby day, where they were defeated 3-1 by local rivals The Spartans.
East Fife – McFarlane, Millar, Peggie, Munro. Bah, McManus, Norey (Nicol 87’), Laaref (Healy 66’), Higginbotham, Austin (Trouten 66’), Jones (Shepherd 64’). Subs not used: Fleming, Murdoch, Easton, Slattery, McKenna.
Elgin City – McHale, Cooper (Dolzanski 60’), Cameron, Cairns, Girvan, MacEwan (Murray 76’), Fleming, Hyde (Sargent 32’ (Hester 76’)), McDonald, MacDonald, Gavin. Subs not used: Glavin, Dingwall, Golding, MacIver.
Referee – George Calder
Attendance - 776