Back to League Business with Visit of Forfar for Fifers

East Fife welcome Jim Weir’s Forfar Athletic tomorrow afternoon to Bayview Stadium as they aim to put last Saturday’s Scottish Cup defeat to Brora Rangers behind them.

Manager Darren Young was forthright in his comments following the cup exit, expressing his frustration at the poor defending that resulted in conceding the only goal of the game. The Fifers dominated proceedings after the break but were unable break down a well marshalled Brora defence. The men from Station Park were last in action a fortnight ago, seeing off the challenge of Albion Rovers in the league, with goals from Mark Millar, Andy Munro and a Michael Travis double securing a 4-2 victory.

Despite the visitors’ league position East Fife know that the Loons are more than capable of providing tough opposition and will need no reminding of the outcome the last time the sides met in November, with Forfar running out 2-0 winners at Station Park. The previous encounter in September saw a much better performance from the Methil men when Chris Duggan’s early goal paved the way for a 3-0 success. Mark Docherty was the other man on target, converting two penalty kicks in an impressive display from the team. 

One of the few positives from last Saturday was the appearance of new signing Craig Thomson from St Johnstone. The Aberhill based wide midfielder came on as a second-half substitute and should be a valuable addition to the squad. The return of Craig Watson from injury could also prove timely with Aaron Dunsmore set to miss tomorrow’s clash through suspension. Also available for selection is new signing, goalkeeper Ben McKenzie, who put pen to paper in a loan deal until the end of the season.    

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

Stadium Sponsor

Thank you to Dave Marshall who has sponsored the Stadium until 2020.  It will now be known as Locality Hub Bayview Stadium.

Many thanks to Dave for his contribution to East Fife FC.

Jim Stevenson - Chairman

EFTV Live v Forfar Athletic 27th January 2018

If you're outside the UK and Ireland, you can watch Saturday's game v Forfar Atheltic live on EFTV for only £5. To sign up, go to http://www.eastfifeshop.com > EFTV online & purchase the game. Further details will be sent via email.

Mini Burns Supper with hospitality this Saturday v Forfar Athletic

With your hospitality this Saturday, 27th January 2018, at the game against Forfar Athletic at 1pm, there will be a mini Burns' Supper with Peter D Wright doing the address to the Haggis and with a piper present in The Jeek Fleming lounge. To share in this, book your hospitality as soon as possible - see your options under hospitality on our website or simply phone the Office on 01333 426323 or e mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Fifers Knocked Out of Scottish Cup by Brora Rangers

William Hill Scottish Cup

Saturday 20^th January 2018

Bayview Stadium

East Fife 0

Brora Rangers 1 (Williamson 11’)

East Fife XI: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Kane, Page, Linton, Millar (Thomson 45’), Slattery, Lamont (Wilson 81’), Wilkie, Smith, Duggan

Subs: Watson, Mutch, Cordery, Willis

Booked: Wilkie

Brora Rangers XI: Malin, Pickles, Duff, Williamson (Ross 82’), MacDonald, Graham, MacLean, Morrison, Nicolson, MacKay (Pickles 76’), Sutherland (Brindle 83’)

Subs: MacLeod, Lisle, Campbell, Hoban

Booked: Pickles, MacDonald, Graham, Brindle

Referee: David Munro

Attendance: 685

East Fife crashed out of the Scottish Cup following a 1-0 defeat at home to Highland League side Brora Rangers. Manager Darren Young made one change to the side that conquered Alloa Athletic last time out with Kevin Smith replacing the injured Mark Docherty in the starting line-up.

As with the previous game, the home side were slow to get into the game, with the visitors looking the sharper side in the early stages and almost opened the scoring on the 7^th minute when good build up play saw the ball fall to Mark Nicolson on the edge of the area but he could only drag his shot wide of target. The warning signs had been there for East Fife and they found themselves behind with 11 minutes played when Colin Williamson was allowed to head home unchallenged from Gavin Morrison’s corner. Steven MacKay had the chance to double the lead on 23 minutes when he got on the end of a free kick but his header was straight at Ryan Goodfellow in the East Fife goal.

East Fife had their first real opportunity on 36 minutes when Scott Linton won the ball in the middle of the park, laid the ball off for Pat Slattery who picked out Chris Duggan with a cross from the left but his shot was well blocked by the Brora defence. Linton sent a free kick wide of the post from 25-yards on 37 minutes in the only other action of note in the first half.

East Fife introduced new signing Craig Thomson from the bench at the start of the second half and almost and an immediate impact when he twice broke through the Brora defence but found he cross deflected behind for a corner on both occasions. The home side had certainly started the second half better than the first and had their first chance of an equaliser on 53 minutes when Kevin Smith knocked down Mark Lamont cross into the path of Slattery but his right-footed effort was wide of the right-hand post.

Ally MacDonald went close for the visitors on 54 minutes when he narrowly failed to turn Scott Graham’s cross into the net before East Fife should have equalised a minutes later. Duggan took advantage of a poor pass back from MacKay to take the ball round Brora ‘keeper Joe Malin but just missed the target from a tight angle. East Fife were agonisingly close to an equaliser again on 57 minutes when Linton just clipped the outside of the post with a free kick from the edge of the box.

Smith made a good break forward on 73 minutes and played in Thomson down the right who cut inside but his right-footed effort flashed past the post as East Fife continued to press. Chris Kane had one final opportunity to force a replay when he got on the end of Thomson’s cross from the right but his downward header was wide of target.