Barry Smith is relishing the challenge of facing Livingston in East Fife's final game of 2016 tomorrow. Speaking earlier today the Bayview boss is expecting a tough game from the side currently sitting at the top of the league.

"They've been going well recently, and although they slipped up last week this will probably make them even more determined tomorrow, but we are on a good run ourselves and are looking forward to the game."

Smith also provided an update on the injury situation with Scott Mercer, Ryan Goodfellow, Tony Wallace and Kevin Smith all likely to miss out. On a more positive note, Chris Duggan could be available for selection after being sidelined since the beginning of the season with a hamstring problem, and new loan signing James Penrice comes straight into the squad for the Bayview clash.

Both games between the teams this season have been competitive encounters with the Fifers seeing off the West Lothian side 3-1 in September at Bayview and Livingston winning the return fixture by the same margin six weeks later.

The match kicks off at the earlier than normal time of 2pm, and fans of both clubs are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the stadium bars which will be open from 11.30am.

Admission Details: 

Adults £13

Senior Citizens (60 and over) £10

Children £5

Parent and Child £16

Parent and 2 Children £19

Our match versus Livingston FC will kick off at 2.00pm on Saturday 31st December 2016.

Our bar's will be open from 11.30am and we will be showing the Rangers v Celtic match from 12.15pm.

We are pleased to announce the signing of James Penrice, on loan until the end of the season from Partick Thistle. The 18 year old left sided defender made his first team debut for the Firhill side last season and will provide Barry Smith with the defensive cover needed since the departure of player-boss Gary Naysmith earlier this month. 

We would like to extend a warm Bayview welcome to James. 

Labrokes League 1, Ochilview, Tuesday 20^th December 2016

Stenhousemuir 0

East Fife 1 (O’Hara 12’)

Man of the Match: Jonathan Page

East Fife XI: Goodfellow (Hurst 75’), Mercer, Slattery, Kane, Page, Kerr, Brown, Wilkie, Robinson (Insall 86’), Austin, O’Hara

Subs Not Used: Mutch, Lamont

Booked: Page, Wilkie

Stenhousemuir XI: McCabe, McCormack, Summers (Trialist 90’), Meechan, Kerr, Berry, Roy (Gilhaney 78’), Millar (Manzana-Martinez 78’), McMenamin, Furtado, Cook

Subs Not Used: Robertson, McMaster, Hamilton, McCroary

Booked: McMenamin, McCormack

Referee: Mike Roncone

Attendance: 356

East Fife made it four wins and four clean sheets in a row with a 1-0 vistory over Stenhousemuir curtesy of a 12^th minute Kevin O’Hara strike. East Fife made one change to the side who overcame Peterhead on Saturday with Scott Robinson replacing the injured Tony Wallace.

The match kicked off with the rain pouring down and East Fife playing with the wind in the first half and it was the visitors who adapted quickest to the conditions. The first chance of the match came inside 5 minutes when O’Hara picked up a loose ball inside the Stenhousemuir half and played in Robinson who fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box. East Fife took the lead on 12 minutes when Jordan Austin laid the ball off for O’Hara on the edge of the box and his right-footed shot sailed past Colin McCabe into the back of the net.

Stenhousemuir had the chance to equalise on 25 minutes when the ball made its way to Colin McMenamin unmarked at the back post but the striker couldn’t control his shot. There was a moment of confusion on 36 minutes when referee Mike Roncone blew his whistle and pointed to the spot for a Stenhousemuir penalty when Jason Kerr and McMenamin challenged for the ball in the air. The decision was then changed to a drop ball after Roncone consulted with his assistant. Replays failed to clear up why the original decision was made.

East Fife started the second half the better side and O’Hara had the ball in the net for a second time when he got on the end of Kyle Wilkie’s cross but the flag was raised for offside. A good break up field by Robinson and Austin saw the latter pick out O’Hara but the striker’s shot was straight at McCabe. McCabe was keeping the home side in the game, turning Robinson’s shot behind before pulling off an excellent save to keep out Chris Kane’s header from the following corner. Stenhousemuir began to come into the game with 15 minutes to go with the best chance falling to Alan Cook who forced Ryan Goodfellow into a save before Willis Furtado’s follow-up header was cleared by Mercer. Furtado had another chance to level the game on 85 minutes following a good 1-2 with Cook but Jason Kerr was on hand to put in a great block on the 6-yard line. The East Fife defence held firm to hold on for a vital 3 points

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

“It’s a good victory. It was a horrible game if truth be told, it wasn’t great conditions but the boys managed the game well they dug in when they had to and we scored an excellent goal. When we did take the opportunity to pass the ball we looked sharp but obviously the second half we were against the wind and we’ve probably created a few chances that we probably could have done better with. It comes down to another clean sheet and another good hard-working performance.