Ladbrokes Scottish Football League 1, Saturday 08^th April 2017, Ochilview Park

Stenhousemuir 3 (Furtado 44’ 79’, McMenamin 62’(P))

East Fife 1 (Kane 56’)

Man of the Match: Chris Kane

Stenhousemuir XI: Bowman, Robertson, Duthie, Marsh, Kerr, Berry, Furtado (Manzana 88’), Millar, McMenamin, Gilhaney (Meechan 69’), Cook (Shaw 77’)

Subs Not Used: Crawford, Summers, Grant, Roy

Booked: Cook

East Fife XI: Hurst, Cooper, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith (Lamont 76’), Curran, Robinson (Austin 45’), Duffie, Paterson

Subs Not Used: Reilly, Gordon, Slattery

Booked: None

Referee: John McKendrick

Attendance: 455

East Fife travelled to Ochilview Park to face League 1’s bottom side Stenhousemuir but left empty-handed after a 3-1 defeat. East Fife made 2 changes to the side that drew with Queen’s Park the previous week with Alex Cooper and Kieran Duffie replacing James Penrice and Pat Slattery who both pick up knocks last time out.

The first chance of the match fell to the home side when a Willis Furtado corner found Alan Cook at the back post but his shot from close range was blocked by Nicki Paterson on 8 minutes. East Fife began to grow into the game and Chris Duggan got in behind the Warrior’s defence twice in a couple of minutes; first when he latched onto a long ball from Mark Hurst but the ball skipped away from him sending his shot high and wide before David Marsh managed to get a vital touch on the ball to take it away from the striker.

A good run up field by defender Fraser Kerr and forced Hurst to turn his shot behind for a corner on 18 minutes. At the other end, the visitors had their first shout for a penalty turned on 20 minutes when Duggan was sent flying in the box following a corner only for referee McKendrick to wave play on. A defence splitting pass from Ross Brown sent Kieran Duffie clear down the right who sent an inviting cross into the box on 24 minutes however Warrior’s ‘keeper Graham Bowman just got to the ball before Duggan.

Stenhousemuir should have been a head on 27 minutes when Furtado picked out Colin McMenamin, unmarked, with a cross from the left but the striker sent his header from 12-yards well wide under no pressure. At the other end Bowman pulled off a good save from Duggan after seeing his shot late. The home side took the lead just before half time when Furtado capitalised on a fortunate break of the ball to beat Hurst from a couple of yards.

After the break, good pressure from Jordan Austin down the right hand side gave Duggan a sight of goal on 50 minutes but Bowman was more than equal to his shot. East Fife grabbed an equaliser on 56 minutes following a succession of corners when Chris Kane was able to bundle the ball home for his 4^th goal of the season. A few minutes later Duggan was sent clear again by Kevin Smith but was off balance when he took his shot and Bowman was comfortably able to collect. Hurst had to be alert on 60 minutes to turn Connor Duthie’s 40-yard strike behind. From the resulting corner, Austin brought down Marsh while attempting to clear and referee McKendrick had little option but to point to the spot. Hurst got his hand to McMemamin’s spot kick but ball spun back around the ‘keeper and into the net.

The visitor’s has every right to feel aggrieved on 75 minutes as they were denied a stonewall penalty when Jesse Curran was impeded as he went take his shot but again referee McKendrick again waved play on. The decision turned the game as the home side began to exert their authority on the game and scored a third goal on 79 minutes. The visitors were unable to clear their line and Furtado picked up the ball unmarked to find the back on the net from 20-yards. The final chance of the match fell to Alex Cooper but his free kick from 25-yards was comfortably taken by Bowman.

East Fife make the journey to Ochilview tomorrow looking to maintain their challenge for a play off position as the league campaign enters the final furlong. Speaking earlier today, manager Barry Smith looked ahead to a crucial game for both sides.

"We know it will be a difficult game tomorrow against a Stenhousemuir team who are fighting for their lives at the moment, but we have a lot to play for ourselves this season as well and we must concentrate on what we are doing and try to get back to winning ways."

The Bayview gaffer also provided an update on the injury situation at the club with central defender Jonathan Page likely to miss out once again and James Penrice, Pat Slattery, Ryan Goodfellow and Jamie Insall all doubtful to make the trip. Wide midfielder Mark Lamont, however, makes a welcome return to the squad after several weeks on the sidelines.

All three previous meetings between the teams have ended in solitary goal victories, with the Warriors coming out on top in October at Bayview and the Fifers recording two wins either side of New Year, firstly at Ochilview and then in Methil.

Interest in the above game has been very good with the first fans XI already fully booked. Please be sure to reserve your place as soon as possible as once they're gone, they're gone!

We will keep everyone updated as places are confirmed.

We have had some enquiries regarding watching the game. Everyone is welcome to attend with admission being with a 'pay what you want' donation on the evening.

Ladbrokes League 1, Bayview Stadium, Saturday 1^st April 2017

East Fife 0

Queen’s Park 0

Man of the Match: Jesse Curran

East Fife XI: Hurst, Slattery, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith, Curran, Robinson, Penrice, Paterson

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Austin, Reilly

Booked: None

Queen’s Park XI: Muir, Millen, Foy, McKernon, McGeever, Cummings, McVey, Brady, Zanatta, Galt, Burns

Subs Not Used: Docherty, Brown, Wharton, McIlduff, Mitchell, Mortimer, McPherson

Booked: McGeever, Gault

Referee: David Lowe

Attendance: 692

East Fife welcomed fellow play-off chasers Queen’s Park to Bayview and played out a 0-0 draw in changeable conditions. Barry Smith made one change to the side that lost to Albion Rovers in midweek with Alex Cooper making way for fit-again Captain Kevin Smith.

East Fife had their first sight of goal on 4 minutes when Scott Robinson pounced on a mistake from Sean Burns but sent his effort from the right-hand side of the box narrowly wide. At the other end, Ryan McGeever sent his shot wide of the front post from a Jamie McKernon corner on 8 minutes. By this time the heavens had opened and put paid to any free-flowing passing football with the wet surface forcing both sides into miss-passes and mistakes.

Just before the half-hour mark Chris Duggan did well to hit the by-line but his cut back evaded everyone and the danger was cleared. Good build-up play by Jesse Curran gave Ross Brown the first real chance of the match but his left-footed shot was straight into the arms of Queen’s Park ‘keeper Willie Muir. 10 minutes before the interval Duggan out-muscled Adam Cummings to lay the ball off for Nicki Paterson but his effort was well blocked by McKernon.

After the break East Fife ‘keeper Mark Hurst had to be alert to tip a goal-bound effort from Sean Burns clear. Hurst was called into action again on the hour mark, this time turning an effort by Anton Brady behind for a corner. Queen’s Park had their Muir to thank for keeping the game goalless on 65 minutes when he pulled off a spectacular double saved first to block a shot from Kevin Smith before denying Alex Cooper from point-blank range. From the resulting corner, Jason Kerr saw his header held by Muir.

With 15 minutes to go, Hurst raced out of his goals to save at the feet of Dario Zanatta before Zanatta was involved again a couple of minutes later when he turned his man but saw his shot blocked by Kerr as the visitors pressed forward. The last chance of the match fell to Conor McVey a two minutes from time but couldn’t find the target from a couple of yards.

A draw was definitely a fair result with neither sider doing enough to win, however it may turn out to be a valuable point come the end of the season.

After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:

“It’s a point gained, it keeps us in the same position where we were with a game less. It wasn’t a great game by any stretch of the imagination but at this stage of the season there won’t be many. We have to make sure that we stick with it. Our boys know we can play better but there will be games like that where there’s not much in it and it’s not a great game.”

“It’s quite strange because out boys have been brilliant to get to the position we’re in but we don’t want to peter out now, we want to push on but given where we are in the league we should still be playing with confidence. It did look a wee bit nervy at times but credit to them, they stuck to the task, it’s a clean sheet but I think we could do a wee bit more when we had the ball.”