Fifers Left To Rue Missed Chances Against League Leaders

Ladbrokes League 1

Saturday 16^th December 2017

Bayview Stadium

East Fife 1 (Duggan 36’)

Ayr United 4 (Rose 57’, 72’, Moore 75’, Shankland 88’)

East Fife XI: M Hurst, Dunsmore, Piggott, Page, Linton, Millar, Docherty, Lamont, Wilkie, Smith (G Hurst 76’), Duggan

Subs: Goodfellow, Kane, Reilly, Wilson, Mutch, Willis

Booked: Page, G Hurst

Ayr United XI: Hart, Higgins, Boyle, Rose, Ferguson, Geggan. Forrest (McGuffie 80’), McDaid (Gilmour 45’), Adams (Moore 45’), Moffat, Shankland

Subs: Faulds, Avci, Murphy, Reid

Booked: Moore

Referee: John McKendrick

East Fife welcomed League 1 leaders Ayr United to Bayview for the last home game of 2017 but it was the visitors who left with all three points following a second half fight-back. Manager Darren Young was able to name an unchanged team from the side that drew with Stranraer last time out with the only changes being Ben Reilly and Chris Kane replacing the injured duo of Craig Watson and Nathan Flanagan on the bench.

Ayr had completely overrun East Fife the last time the sides met down at Somerset Park in September but the home side showed early on there was to be no such repeat this time with Kyle Wilkie unlucky not to open the scoring inside 2 minutes when he got on the end of Chris Duggan’s cut back 2-yards from goal but unable to make a clean connection under pressure from Declan McDaid and the Ayr defence was able to clear. At the other end, Alan Forrest latched onto a cross field pass and cut inside but his right-footed strike flew past the right-hand post.

East Fife should have taken the lead on 8 minutes when a long-throw from Scott Linton made its way to Kevin Smith 10-yards from goal only to see his strike come back off the crossbar before Jonathan Page headed the rebound over the bar. Smith had another opportunity minutes later when he got on the end of Mark Lamont’s cross from the right but was unable to direct his header on target. Chris Higgins sent a header wide for the visitors on 20 minutes before East Fife were unable to take advantage of another good opportunity; this time Lamont sending his shot wide from the edge of the box on 34 minutes.

A goal was coming for the home side and it duly arrived on 36 minutes when Duggan got on the end of a nice reverse pass from Aaron Dunsmore to slot past Ayr ‘keeper Jordan Hart for his 10^th goal of the season. McDaid and Higgins both cleared the bar as the visitors looked for a way back into the match before the break but neither effort was going to trouble Mark Hurst in the East Fife goal.

An excellent first half from East Fife who more than deserved their half-time lead but they were to rue their missed chances as Ayr took control after the re-start.

Lawrence Shankland had two opportunities for the visitors with free kicks from 25-yards; the first, on 52 minutes, took a deflection on its way over the bar before the second one was headed behind for a corner 3 minutes later. An equaliser looked certain for the visitors and it arrived on 57 minutes when Michael Rose found the back of the net with a header from 5-yards. Good play by Dunsmore and Wilkie down the right saw the latter send in a cross that made its way to Scott Linton at the back post; his shot was blocked and cleared as far as Mark Docherty who forced Hart into a good save with a volley from 20-yards.

Ayr took the lead on 72 minutes when Rose grabbed his second of the match when he tapped in at the back post following a corner by Forrest before substitute Craig Moore doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when he found himself in space inside the box to slot past Hurst. Linton was agonisingly close to pulling one back for East Fife on 80 minutes with a free kick from 25-yards which looked set for the bottom corner only to see it rebound off the post with Hart well beaten.

Duggan looked like he had scored his second of the game on 86 minutes with a spectacular overhead kick from 12-yards which took a deflection off an Ayr defender but Hart somehow managed to claw the ball clear on the line before Shankland sealed the points for the visitors 3 minutes from time with a shot from 25-yards.

Ayr United were worthy of their win however East Fife were left, once again, to rue missed chances as the 4-1 score line was harsh on a side which deserved so much more for their performance.

Fifers take on League Leaders at Bayview

It’s two home games in a row for East Fife as they welcome the current league leaders Ayr United to Bayview Stadium tomorrow afternoon. The Honest Men arrive in fine form, having won their last eight games and will provide a stiff test for the Fifers as they hope to continue their recent home record. 

Manager Darren Young was left to rue missed opportunities when his side were on top in last week’s 1-1 draw with Stranraer, although the consensus was that the Stair Parkers were certainly worth a share of the spoils over the piece.

The men from Ayrshire have had the better of recent meetings between the teams, coming out on top in each of the last six encounters, including a 3-0 win back in September at Somerset Park. Indeed you have to go back almost to the day four years ago find East Fife’s last success, a 3-2 win down in Ayr. David White was the hero for the Methil men on that occasion, crashing home a last gasp winner after coming back from 2-0 down. Scott McBride was the other player on target with a double, including one from the penalty spot.     

Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the stadium bars before and after the game.      

Half Price Season Tickets on sale.

As usual at this time, the Club is offering half price season tickets which are valid from 2nd January 2018 (Raith Rovers match). You may call the office, e mail or buy on line from our internet shop. www.eastfifeshop.com

The offers are as follows -

Adult = £122.50

Concession = £97.50 (60 years and over + mature student)

Child = £40 (under 16)

Parent and Child = £150

Parent and 2 Children = £162

Fifers Held At Home By Stranraer

Ladbrokes League 1

Saturday 9^th December 2017

Bayview Stadium

East Fife 1 (Duggan 23’)

Stranraer 1 (Wallace 70’)

East Fife XI: M Hurst, Dunsmore, Piggott, Page, Linton, Millar, Docherty, Lamont (Mutch 88’), Wilkie (H Hurst 81’), Smith (Willis 65’), Duggan

Subs: Goodfellow, Flanagan, Watson, Wilson

Booked: Docherty, Dunsmore, Millar

Stranraer XI: Belford, Hamill, Barron, Neill, Dick, Beith (Robertson 90’), Bell, Anderson (Okoh 86’), turner (Woods 66’), Thomson, Wallace

Subs: McLaren, Stoney, McGowan, Lang

Booked: Dick

Dismissed: Dick

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 521

East Fife welcomed Stranraer to Bayview in Ladbrokes League 1 encounter where both sides played out a highly competitive 1-1 draw. Manager Darren Young made one change to the side that lost to Queen’s Park last time out with Chris Kane making way for Scott Linton, who made his return from injury. The visitors sat 1 point and 1 place behind East Fife prior to kick off and both teams proved evenly matched over the 90 minutes.

Stranraer started the brightest and had their first sight of goal inside the opening minutes when former Fifer Ryan Wallace found himself in space but dragged his shot wide of target. Stranraer threatened again after 15 minutes but Kyle Turner could only fire straight at Mark Hurst from 20-yards. The home side were growing into the game and were so close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes when excellent play by Kyle Wilkie inside the area and laid the ball off for Chris Duggan who was denied by a fine save from Stranraer ‘keeper Cameron Belford low to his left. Duggan went close again a few minutes later, this time his shot deflected behind for a corner.

A quick break from Stranraer saw Liam Dick find himself in space on the edge of the area and should have made more of the opportunity but fired in a shot that was straight at Hurst on 22 minutes before East Fife opened the scoring moments later. A lovely pass inside from Aaron Dunsmore picked out Duggan who found the bottom right-hand corner for his 9^th goal of the season. Duggan had the chance to double the lead on 29 minutes when he got on the end of a corner from Scott Linton but sent his header wide at the near post. Duggan found space down the right to fire in a cross along the 6-yard box which was cleared as far as Mark Docherty on the edge of the area but he just missed the target shortly before the break.

The second period started with a moment of controversy when Duggan latched on to a poor back-pass from Steven Bell and was left with only Belford to beat only to be flagged off-side. East Fife had started the second half the way they had finished the first and Mark Lamont almost added to the lead just before the hour mark when his cross from the right hit the post before ricocheting off Stranraer defender Jamie Hamill and tricking past the post. Belford produced a fine double save from the resulting corner when first he kept out Kevin Smith’s header and the back post before denying Jonathan Page with the follow-up.

Smith had a glorious opportunity to put the game to bed on 63 minutes when he was picked out by Duggan but sent his shot wide from 12-yards with only Belford to beat. East Fife were left to rue their missed chance as the visitors were now in the ascendency. Hamill was denied by a good save from Hurst before Wallace levelled the game on 70 minutes when he found the back on the net from 25-yards; a deflection taking the ball away from Hurst. Angus Beith looked to have given Stranraer the lead on 76 minutes but was denied by a goal line clearance from Dunsmore before Hurst pulled off a sensational save to keep out a strike from Paul Woods that looked destined for the top corner 7 minutes from time. Stranraer finished the game with 10-men when Liam Dick was dismissed after picking up his second yellow of the afternoon for a foul on Ross Mutch.

Overall, a draw was probably a fair result with both sides having their goalkeepers to thank for keeping them in the game. Next up for East Fife is a home tie against league-leader Ayr United.

Stair-Parkers Next up for Back Home Fifers

Stranraer make the long trip from Galloway for their first visit of the season to Methil tomorrow afternoon. They arrive on the back of an impressive victory against Arbroath at Gayfield last Saturday and remain well placed to challenge for a promotion play-off position.

Manager Darren Young was forthright in expressing his frustration following his side’s performance and defeat to Queen’s Park at Hampden Stadium in their last outing, with the most disappointing aspect being that it followed an outstanding 6-1 win in the previous game at home to Airdrieonians.       

The Bayview boss will however be aware that East Fife’s recent home form has been excellent, with 17 goals scored in the last four games, whilst guarding against complacency ahead of the clash. He will also be relieved that the injury situation would appear to have improved with only Pat Slattery remaining sidelined. 

Stranraer came out on top when the two sides last met on the opening league game of the campaign back in August at Stair Park, a second-half Jamie Hamill goal earning a 1-0 win for the hosts.       

Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the stadium bars before and after the game.