East Fife 3-0 Brora Rangers – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆Premier Sports Cup Group H MD4
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Tuesday 22nd July | Kick-off: 7:45pm
East Fife have given themselves an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup, following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brora Rangers.
East Fife made just one change to the side that claimed victory over Fife rivals Kelty Hearts on Saturday, with Michael McKenna making his first competitive start of the season in place of Robert Jones.
After 15 minutes, East Fife took an early lead when Nathan Austin fired home for the Fifers. He was set up by Connor McManus, before his right footed finish cushioned into the top corner.
On the half an hour mark, East Fife doubled their advantage and put the game all but out of sight. The reigning PFA League 2 Player of the year answered a Michael McKenna cross, lashing his volley into the back of the net, via the underside of the crossbar.
East Fife controlled the second half more comfortably than the first, eventually nullifying the Highland League Champions’ attacks. They finally made it 3-0 in the 20 minutes following a lovely team move. It was capped off by Alan Trouten, who was at the double as the Fifers strolled to their second victory in three days.
The Methil Milan could have found a fourth and potentially a fifth should they have capitalised on their chances. Trouten missed a golden opportunity to complete his hattrick, when he squandered an opportunity at the back post.
Brora’s goalkeeper made a fantastic save in the dying embers to stop Michael McKenna from opening his account for the season, but he was alert to tip Gregor Nicol’s cross-come-shot over the bar.
That brought an end to the action, with the victory leaving East Fife in the hunt for qualification from Group H of the League Cup. A straight shootout awaits the Fifers at Rugby Park, as Premiership opposition Kilmarnock stand in the way of their success. It will be a “cup final” for lack of a better expression. The last time the two sides met in such an event, East Fife were crowned Scottish Cup Champions in 1938.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Alan Trouten
The first of many this season I presume, last season’s top scorer showed his class once again, with a strong showing capped off by his impressive brace.
East Fife – Rollo, Millar, Easton, Peggie, Munro (Bah 72’), McManus, Slattery (Nicol 67’), Trouten, Latona (Trialist 72’), McKenna, Austin (Jones 61’). Subs not used: Thomson, Bell, Blake, Ramsay, Gordon.
Brora Rangers – MacKay (Rae 80’), Finnis, Kelly, Williamson (Cooper 45’), Pullen (Hardie 81’), Mackenzie, Wallace, Ewan, Wilson (Dingwall 61’), Bunce (Sutherland 61’), MacRae. Subs not used: Nicolson.
Referee – Lewis Hogarth
Attendance – 448