East Fife 3-2 Annan Athletic, Tuesday 13th May 2025, William Hill League 1 Play-Off Final 1st Leg, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
Despite a very strong performance on Tuesday night, East Fife hold just a one goal advantage heading into the second leg tomorrow night. The Fifers started and finished the game comfortably on top, though sticky moments either side of the half time whistle stopped them putting the game out of sight.
Dick Campbell’s men were quick off the blocks, having four chances in the opening five minutes, though Annan had opportunities too in what was a back-and-forth encounter. Mamadou Bah had a chance from a corner kick, though his header was well over the crossbar. Annan went straight up the other end and had shouts for a penalty kick, when Andy Munro marshalled the forward inside of the eighteen-yard box. Nathan Austin then found himself in behind following a defensive error. Fash poked the ball underneath the Annan goalkeeper, and as the ball was goal bound, he was hauled down inside the area having legitimate penalty shouts of their own. The referee waved play on though, and it remained goalless.
Seconds after the referee got us back underway, Adam Laaref went on a mazy run, disposing of three Annan defenders before shooting from outside of the box. His effort was blocked and fell to Austin who had another effort himself, though he was matched by Jamie Smith once again. The ball then sprung out for McManus, who shot at the open goal. Alan Trouten got in front of the shot with an outstretched leg, tucking it into the back of the net, firing the Fifers in front inside five minutes. The goal ensured that Trouten has scored the most goals for East Fife in a single season since George Dewar in 1964/65.
Nathan Austin found himself in behind for the second time in the opening ten minutes after an alert interception from Kieran Millar. Fash bounded forwards but perhaps swiped at his shot prematurely, allowing Smith to gather easily.
The game then calmed down for around twenty minutes, with East Fife in the driving seat, before Andy Munro doubled the Methil Milan’s lead after half an hour of play. McKenna whipped an inch perfect corner into the box, and Munro met it with a bullet header into the ground, leaving Smith rooted to the spot.
East Fife were cruising towards half time with no real threat from the Galabankies, although a truly unfortunate instance in the 43rd minute gave the visitors a lifeline. Annan broke down their left-hand side, and even though there were no Annan players in the East Fife box, Luca Ross chanced his luck and clipped a cross into the penalty area. McKenna flung out a rogue heel to try and clear the cross, but got his connection all wrong, and the ball flew into the bottom corner of the goal, sending the sides in at the break with the scoreline reading 2-1 in East Fife’s favour.
The drama at the end of the first period saw Annan come out for the second half with their tails up, and they were the side who started the quickest after the interval. Reis Peggie was forced into a great last-ditch tackle to prevent an equaliser almost instantly after the restart. The resulting corner saw Annan draw level though as Aidan Smith scored from a corner up the other end.
East Fife then had to persevere for the fifteen minutes that came, as Annan had a spell on top. They weathered the storm however, with the turning point coming when substitute Robert Jones broke in behind. Jones was caught by the backtracking Scott Hooper, as the Annan defender scythed him down just before the penalty box, seeing red for his hassle, and handing East Fife a much-needed lift. McKenna took the free kick, though his effort was just over the crossbar.
Minutes later, East Fife should have gone ahead following a stramash in the box from a corner kick. It felt like every player on the park had a shot at goal, as the ball spent an eternity getting battered, though it never seemed to move. Annan eventually were reprieved when the ball went out for a goal kick.
Five minutes later, East Fife were back in front, following a well worked set piece. Michael McKenna swung a free kick in, this time to the back post. His whipped ball met Rob Jones, who headed it into the path of Andy Munro, who grabbed his second and East Fife’s third with a thumping strike into the roof of the net.
Two minutes after the restart, Dick Campbell saw red following his protests at a free kick given against Jones. In fairness, the highlights show that it was nothing more than a coming together, but Campbell was sent to the stand for intruding onto the park albeit just and no more.
Campbell’s red also wasn’t the last of the game, as Layton Bisland was sent off in the dying embers, having only spent four minutes on the park. His first yellow came following the defender pulling Healy to the ground denying a chance for the winger to create. Healy knew exactly what he was doing a minute later too, when Bisland got the better of him, beating him to a loose ball. Healy hauled him down, which he received a booking for, this provoked a reaction from Bisland, who then pulled the winger to the ground at the back of it. Both men were shown yellows, though it was Bisland’s second and he will now miss the game in the Borders. Annan then engaged all defences, and managed to stop East Fife furthering their lead, with Smith making a fantastic save to deny McKenna with almost the last kick of the ball.
The sending offs now leave Annan with a greatly depleted squad, and without three defensive options heading into tomorrow’s tie.
East Fife – McFarlane, Easton, Peggie, Munro, Bah, Millar (Norey 67’), McManus, Trouten (Shepherd 90’), Laaref (Healy 67’), McKenna, Austin (Jones 67’). Subs not used: Fleming, Murdoch, Slattery, Nicol, Higginbotham.
Annan Athletic – J Smith, Hooper, Todd, Kilsby, McGowan, A Smith, R Muir, P Smith, Dixon, T Muir, Ross. Subs not used: Carmichael, Fleming, Brown.
Referee – Ross Hardie
Attendance – 1,327
Report by Oli Anderson