East Fife vs Kelty Hearts – Preview by Oli Anderson
📍 New Central Park, Kelty
🗓️ Saturday 19th July | Kick-off: 3:00pm
⚔️ The Challenge Ahead
East Fife’s start to their Premier Sports Cup did not go to plan last week, as we fell 2-1 to SPFL Premiership side Livingston despite a performance which we could take plenty of positives away from. The pressure now ramps up, as anything short of victory today against county rivals Kelty Hearts would see us eliminated from the League Cup prematurely. Kelty are a fellow League 1 side, so the management team will see this as a chance to get points on the board.
📊 Form Guide
East Fife
- ✅ 2-0 vs Dunbar United (Pre-Season Friendly)
- ❌1-3 vs Dunfermline Athletic (Pre-Season Friendly)
- ❌1-2 vs Livingston (League Cup)
Kelty Hearts
- ❌1-3 vs Dunfermline Athletic (Pre-Season Friendly)
- ✅ 3-1 vs Clyde (Pre-Season Friendly)
- ✅4-0 vs Brora Rangers (League Cup)
📈Group H Table
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
W |
PW/PL |
L |
PTS |
|
1. |
Kilmarnock |
2 |
2 |
0/0 |
0 |
6 |
|
2. |
Kelty Hearts |
1 |
1 |
0/0 |
0 |
3 |
|
3. |
Livingston |
2 |
1 |
0/0 |
1 |
3 |
|
4. |
East Fife |
1 |
0 |
0/0 |
1 |
0 |
|
5. |
Brora Rangers |
2 |
0 |
0/0 |
2 |
0 |
PW – Penalty Shootouts Won, PL – Penalty Shootouts Lost
🕰️ Upcoming Group Fixtures
- 22 July – East Fife vs Brora Rangers (MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, 7:45pm)
- 26 July – Kilmarnock vs East Fife (Rugby Park, 3:00pm)
🔁 Recent Encounters
- Only one competitive game between the sides on record.
- Kelty Hearts won 3-0 in the Scottish League Cup at New Central Park in 2021.
- East Fife’s #9 Nathan Austin scored twice for Kelty on that day.
🚑 Squad News
Out
Injury: Jess Norey and Liam Newton continue to miss out through injury.
Suspension: Michael McKenna will serve the final game of his suspension that he picked up last season, while Mamadou Bah also serves his 1 match suspension following his late sending off last week. Manager Dick Campbell is also banned from the touchline this afternoon, following his red card against Annan Athletic in last season’s play-off final.
In
Potential: Adam Laaref could make a return to the squad this afternoon, following promising progress for the winger however a final decision on his inclusion has not yet been made.
New Signing: Lewis Latona is also available for selection following his arrival on loan from Livingston.
Under 20s Players: Kobie Thomson, Neil Blake, James Gordon, James Linton and Daniel Bell will all also make the step up into the first team for the Fife Derby.
🎟️ Match Tickets
Tickets (online purchase encouraged, while pay at the gate available):
- Adults: £16
- Concessions: £12
- Under 16s: £5
- Under 12s: Free with a paying adult
🟡East Fife fans should access the stadium through the North turnstiles (via the Kelty Community Centre). There is no strict plans for segregation for this fixture however East Fife fans are asked to accommodate areas within the North terracing/enclosure..
🚗Car Parking
Please use any vacant parking spaces in the Community Centre car park.
📺 Live Streaming
Our overseas supporters can also access the game on East Fife TV through an annual or monthly subscription. The commentator for the tie is Daniel Hughes.
👕 Club Colours
The Fifers will be in the brand-new JADA sponsored away kit, wearing the all-white kit. Our goalkeeper will be in yellow for the clash.
🧑⚖️ Match Officials
The referee for Saturday will be Euan Anderson. His assistants running the lines are Will Pare and John Fairley.
‘Mon the Fife!