Edinburgh City 1-0 East Fife, Tuesday 6th May 2025, William Hill League 1 Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg, Meadowbank Stadium
Edinburgh City have the advantage heading to the kingdom, as they overcame East Fife by one goal to nil. The game was void of many chances, but when they came, it was the Citizens who capitalised.
The first half was nip and tuck, with the odd shot here and there. Liam McFarlane denied Jarvis with a good stop, and up the other end, Nathan Austin sent goalkeeper Weir backpedalling with an effort. East Fife put in a defensively sound first half, which was much improved from the side’s previous visit to Meadowbank.
The second half began in a similar vein to that of how the first half ended, with Edinburgh City holding the majority of the ball, but in unimportant areas, which allowed East Fife to wait and try to hit on the break. Ouzy See had a chance on the hour mark to break the deadlock, though his shot was well off target.
The resulting counterattack saw East Fife with their best chance of the ninety so far. Michael McKenna lashed the ball in behind for Fash. The striker lofted the ball over the goalkeeper’s head; but centre half Lewis McArthur was able to get back in time to clear.
With 15 minutes to go, East Fife went behind through a Malik Zaid goal. A deep cross found the Hibs-loanee at the edge of the area, and his driven effort beat McFarlane, as it flew into his bottom right-hand corner.
East Fife upped their urgency with ten minutes to go but it wasn’t enough. Adam Laaref was the focal point for East Fife’s attack, with his crosses into the box causing the most problems for Edinburgh City. His cross to Scott Shepherd was fantastic but East Fife’s number nine could not convert.
Edinburgh City then went down the other end and should have doubled their advantage, when Innes Lawson squandered a great opportunity. He looked in on goal from a tight angle though his shot flashed across both posts.
In the dying embers, Jack Healy let perhaps one of the chances of the season pass him by, as he couldn’t turn another Laaref cross on target. The cross was near perfect, though Jack’s volley from inside six yards flew over the crossbar.
The positive is that it is well and truly all to play for in Methil on Saturday.
Edinburgh City – Weir, Mitchell, Robertson, McArthur, Lynch, Jones, Jarvis, Lawson, Zaid, Stokes, See. Subs not used: Gormley, Beveridge, Scally, Pitt, Hamilton, Grigor, Daramola.
East Fife - McFarlane, Millar, Easton, Peggie, Munro, McManus, Norey (Laaref 61’), Higginbotham (Healy 81’), McKenna, Trouten, Austin (Shepherd 79’). Subs not used: Fleming, Slattery, Nicol, Bah, Jones.
Referee – Graham Grainger
Attendance – 723
Report by Oli Anderson