Match Preview - Bonnyrigg Rose

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Bonnyrigg Rose.

After the dawn of the Campbell era saw a marked improvement last Saturday, drawing 1-1 with league leaders Stenhousemuir, this weekend sees the Fifers facing another challenge, as we will have a mountain to climb (at least for half of the game) as we travel to the outskirts of the capital to play Bonnyrigg Rose. This is the third meeting between the two sides, with the Rosey Posey coming out on top in both of the last encounters.

It was Fash who bagged the equaliser for us last Saturday, cancelling out Ross Meechan’s opener. Austin will be hoping that he can celebrate recently turning 30 by bagging another this weekend.

Our opponents are coming off the back of an impressive performance in the Scottish Cup. While they fell 2-0 to SPFL Premiership side Aberdeen, they created chances and fought hard over the 90 minutes, even forcing goalkeeper Ross Doohan into 5 saves on the day.

The cinch League Two Table

	Team	Pld	GD	Pts
1	Stenhousemuir	24	25	56
2	Peterhead	23	13	40
3	The Spartans	23	11	37
4	Dumbarton	23	10	36
5	Bonnyrigg Rose	22	1	28
6	Elgin City	24	-20	27
7	East Fife	24	-3	26
8	Stranraer	23	-13	26
9	Forfar Athletic	23	-5	25
10	Clyde	23	-19	15

Last Week’s Results

Dumbarton 2-2 Forfar Athletic

East Fife 1-1 Stenhousemuir

Stranraer 2-0 Clyde

The Spartans 1-2 Elgin City

This Week’s Fixtures

Bonnyrigg Rose vs East Fife @ New Dundas Park

Clyde vs Dumbarton @ New Douglas Park

Elgin City vs Stenhousemuir @ Borough Briggs

Forfar Athletic vs Peterhead @ Station Park

Stranraer vs The Spartans @ Stair Park

Previous Encounter

We were on the receiving end of a trouncing the last time the two sides faced, as the Methil Men were outfought, outworked, and outplayed in every single area of the park, falling to Bonnyrigg Rose 3-0 at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.

East Fife had the better chances out of the two sides in early proceedings, but it was all for naught as they failed to make them count.

The opening goal came in the 43rd minute, and the defending was questionable at best. Three Fifers failed to trap the ball, and it gave Barrett a sniff. The Rosey Posey man hit the ball on the swivel, lashing it into the bottom corner and handing Bonnyrigg a lead going into the break.

It went from bad to worse 5 minutes after the interval as defender Kerr Young scored an absolute wonder goal, finding the top corner with his back to goal. It was a misery compiler for the Fife, but Bonnyrigg smelled blood.

It went from worse, to somehow even worse just 3 minutes later, as Fleming wiped out the Bonnyrigg frontman, leaving referee Chris Fordyce with no choice but to point to the spot. Neil Martynuik stepped up and fired home killing the contest.

It was a disappointing performance, as the Fifers looked lost at sea at times. Here is hoping that we will see the guys looking for revenge today ans this would be the perfect opportunity for just that.

Squad News

Ins: New signing James Lyon will be available for selection this week, and he will be hoping to be the ‘mane’ man come Saturday evening! Club Captain Stewart Murdoch is also available for selection after missing last week’s game against Stenhousemuir.

Outs: Mikey Cunningham’s departure from the club was announced last night but there are no fresh injury worries ahead of today’s game.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the 120th anniversary black and gold top, matched with black shorts and socks, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the blue kit for the match.

Our opponents will be in their traditional colours with a red and white top and red shorts and socks. The Bonnyrigg goalkeeper will be wearing neon green for the clash.

Match Tickets

Admission is via pay at the gate at New Dundas Park with both Cash and Card accepted. Please find prices below:

Adult: £14

Concession: £9

Under 16s: £5

Under 12: Free with a paying adult.

Note for young people. The card readers at New Dundas Park cannot accept prepaid cards such as GoHenry. If you use one of these cards, please take cash out prior to arrival.

Match Programme

Our hosts have a match programme available to purchase for £2 at all entrances gates today.

Live Stream

As always, our international support, outwith the UK and Ireland, can watch the contest on East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass. You can access this HERE!

Match Catering

The snack bar at the away end will be open both prior to kick off and at half-time this afternoon.

Match Officials

The on-pitch official today will be Duncan Nicolson. His two assistants running the lines are Steven Traynor and Calum Doyle.

Mon the Fife!

Lyon Joins On Loan From Partick Thistle

We’re delighted to announce the signing of James Lyon on loan from Partick Thistle until the end of the season.

Midfielder James came through the youth system at Partick and made his first-team debut against Forfar Athletic in December 2020 before joining Stenhousemuir on loan for the 2021/22 season. He returned to Firhill and signed a 2-year contract extension with the club last summer.

Assistant Manager Ian Campbell: “James is an exciting prospect with a fabulous attitude. He plays predominantly in the no. 8 position and will give us something difference whilst enhancing out squad.

James met up with team a training last night and is available for selection for this weekend’s match against Bonnyrigg Rose.

Welcome to Bayview James!

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Match Report - Stenhousemuir

East Fife 1-1 Stenhousemuir, Saturday 10^th February 2024

MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, cinch League Two

Bunnetosis has well and truly swept Methil as the Dick Campbell era at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium started in impressive fashion. The Fifers fought hard against league leaders Stenhousemuir, earning a valuable point against the Warriors.

The Methil Milan were much more organised, holding defensive shape much more convincingly, only allowing Stenny 2 shots on target over the 90 minutes.

Sadly, the first shot on target found the back of the net as Stenhousemuir took an early lead on Saturday. Captain Ross Meechan got on the end of a corner kick and flashed his header into the back of the net not allowing Allan Fleming a chance.

After the setback, East Fife started warming into the match, with Brogan Walls giving himself the first Fife chance of the 90. He did well to wiggle into some space just outside of the penalty area, although his shot was well over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Fash almost grabbed us an equaliser. He burst into the box, before cutting it back to Schiavone in an ideal position. Unfortunately, the young forward lost his footing, and couldn’t get his shot away.

The half an hour mark also should have seen us go level, as once again Fash created an opportunity for Shiv, the fantastic cross was just too fast for Schiavone though, and Stenhousemuir were able to hold onto their lead. Just two minutes later, Austin had a chance of his own, when he connected with a Brogan Walls cross. His volley, however, was well over the crossbar.

Just before half time though, we drew level through none other than ‘Stone Cold’ Nathan Austin. It was a glass shattering goal, with some excellent build up play from both Brogan Walls and Alan Trouten, before Austin’s cushty finish. Plaudits must be given to Walls as his pass to find Trouten in the middle of the park was truly exemplary.

The two sides went into the interval level, and despite a horror start from the Fifers, they spent the majority of the first period as the better of the two teams.

The second half was much quieter in terms of action, with the first chance not coming until the 60th minute. Thankfully it was in favour of the Fife, but unfortunately it never resulted in a goal. Schiavone found himself past the Stenhousemuir defence after some tidy football, but his shot was only good enough for the side netting.

The next notable action came in the 82nd minute, when in true Ian Campbell fashion, our new assistant wound up in the book during his debut.

The game really heated up in the dying embers as Stenhousemuir had a chance snuffed out in the 92nd minute, which led to the moment which made Fife fans believe that we had nicked all three points. The corner was whipped into the box and found Trouten square. The midfielder’s header looked to have found the net from afar, but in reality, it trickled past both posts, ensuring the spoils were shared at the Wooden Fortress.

Despite looking to have won it right at the end, I don’t think it could be argued that a draw was probably the fairest result. While we had spells of control in the earlier exchanges, Stenhousemuir finished the stronger of the two teams, putting us under some real pressure as the game came to a close.

New gaffer Dick Campbell shared his thoughts with EFTV post-match:

“It was a test against the league leaders, and we didn’t get beat, which is very, very important to the football club, to me and the staff. Our first priority is very simple, to stay in the league and then we will see what’s in front of us next season.

“I thought in the first half we were better than Stenhousemuir, but equally in the second half, Stenhousemuir were better than us. We managed the game alright, but you would have to say in the last ten minutes we were holding on. I saw enough out there today to encourage me to bring on Bonnyrigg next week.”

East Fife – Fleming, Newton, Page, Easton, Millar, McManus, Schiavone (Shepherd 64’), Trouten, Healy, Austin, Walls. Subs not used: Nicol, Cunningham, Murray, Beveridge, Ramsay

Stenhousemuir – D Jamieson, Meechan, N Jamieson, Bilham, Lynch, Wedderburn, O’Reilly (Rodden 76’), Anderson, Jacobs (Berry 63’), Aitken, Yates (Brown 88’). Subs not used: Kirkpatrick, Stirling, Lyle

Referee – Calum Scott

Attendance - 616

Match Preview - Stenhousemuir

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stenhousemuir.

This week has seen the dawn of a new era at Bayview, with one of the biggest personalities in Scottish Football, Dick Campbell, and his worthy team of his brother Ian ‘Pink’ Campbell, and John Young. However, if they want the perfect welcome at the MGM Timber Bayview on Saturday, they are going to have to work for it, as the Black and Gold will come face to face with Gary Naysmith’s high-flying Stenhousemuir side.

Last week saw defeat to Elgin City in rather disappointing fashion as we never looked like scoring. However, a line can be drawn under this as the club has an opportunity for a fresh start, finishing this season as strongly as possible.

Our opponents are coming off the back of a 1-0 win over Dumbarton, which allowed the Warriors to maintain their 15-point lead at the summit of League Two. Defeat for Dumbarton, who have slipped into 4th (the final playoff place) leaves them now 9 points ahead of us in 6th, although the Sons do have 2 games in hand.

A Message from the New Management Team

Speaking with new Assistant Manager Ian Campbell before Saturday, regarding Stenhousemuir and beyond, Pink said:

“This has the potential to be a fantastic game against a side that has had a brilliant season to date and fully deserve to be top of the league. From our viewpoint, this is the first game for the new regime, and we are really looking forward to it.”

The cinch League Two Table

Position	Team	Played	Pts	GD
1	Stenhousemuir	23	55	25
2	Peterhead	23	40	13
3	The Spartans	21	36	12
4	Dumbarton	21	34	10
5	Bonnyrigg Rose	22	28	1
6	East Fife	23	25	-3
7	Forfar Athletic	22	24	-5
8	Elgin City	23	24	-21
9	Stranraer	22	23	-15
10	Clyde	22	15	-17

Last Week’s Results

Bonnyrigg Rose 0-0 Stranraer

Clyde 1-1 Peterhead

Elgin City 1-0 East Fife

Forfar Athletic 1-0 The Spartans

Stenhousemuir 1-0 Dumbarton

This Week’s Fixtures

Dumbarton vs Forfar Athletic @ The Rock

East Fife vs Stenhousemuir @ The MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Stranraer vs Clyde @ Stair Park

The Spartans vs Elgin City @ Ainslie Park

Bonnyrigg Rose and Peterhead will not face off in league action this weekend due to the Rosey Posey’s progression in the Scottish Cup. They tee up to play Premiership Giants Aberdeen this afternoon.

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met, a spirited East Fife second half was not enough for a victory.

Just two minutes into the game, the hosts took the lead in a move that was far too simple for the Warriors. Euan O’Reilly and Kinlay Bilham found themselves two-on-one versus East Fife full back Sean Docherty on the edge of the penalty area, leaving O’Reilly one-on-one with Fleming. The winger made no mistake about his shot and lashed it into the roof of the net. 1-0 Stenny.

Walls had an opportunity bang on the nine-minute mark to make it level after McManus dispossessed the Stenhousemuir midfield. Walls pounced, and found himself in space, though his shot was tame and easily gathered up by Darren Jamieson.

Just minutes later Stenhousemuir should have made it two as Matty Yates had a chance on the edge of the area. Luckily for the Methil Men, it was a tame attempt and Fleming could easily recover.

Walls had another opening in the 17th minute when a delivery was whipped in by Schiavone. Sadly, it was straight at Jamieson who controlled it well, snuffing out the danger.

The misery compiler came moments later for Fife fans, when Matty Yates scored a lovely 20-yard free kick, handing the hosts a two-goal lead after just 21 minutes of play.

East Fife had their best chance of the half in the dying embers before the break. Captain Stewart Murdoch dinked a lovely ball into Austin from deep, although the striker’s touch was just slightly too heavy off his chest, and he couldn’t get his shot away clearly. This left the Methil Milan 2 goals down at the break.

Some questionable defending at the start of the second period from the Fifers handed Stenny an opportunity, though the Black and Gold were saved when the shot glanced wide of the far post.

East Fife had a flurry of chances early in the second half, largely thanks to the inclusion of Alan Trouten and Jack Healy at half time. Jack’s pace, along with Trouten’s intelligence and vision brought a new dimension to the Fifers in the second period, though it took some time for the attacking line to create one of the many chances created by the midfield talismans.

With 64 minutes on the clock, the travelling Fife faithful were subject to the most ludicrous decision I have seen on a football field (it sounds extreme, but it is very true). After a 10-minute period of completely controlling the game, the Fifers deservedly had the ball in the net, though it was flagged for offside. This ended up being a gutting call, as it could have possibly cost the Fifers a point, or maybe more on the road. With that being said, nothing can take Stenhousemuir’s win away from them, as their first half performance was superb and worthy of their two-goal lead, maybe more.

Stenny had a spell after the “offside goal” and cannoned a shot off the woodwork before Flem saved the follow up attempt. He then had another, albeit comfortable save, with ten minutes on the clock, as the Warriors looked to be seeing out their win with ease.

The Methil Men never go down without a fight however and stuck the ball in the back of the net in injury time. It was made by the birthday boy Jack Healy, who jinked inside, and set up McManus, who floated an inch-perfect ball to Austin to get the Fifers back in the match with just minutes to go.

We could have, and perhaps should have nabbed an equaliser in the 94th minute too, when Darren Jamieson made a hugely important save to deny Connor McManus from close range. The parry was in the path of Trouten, though everything happened far too quickly, and we couldn’t capitalise sadly.

Updated Season Ticket Offer

Should you wish to come along to Bayview for the remainder of the season to support the lads and be part of the new Campbell and co. buzz, look no further than our ‘Season Ticket’ deal for all home games between now and the end of the season. These are only on sale for a limited time, and we have two offers available, one which includes this weekend’s battle with the Warriors, giving 7 games, or another without, which leaves 6 games at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium between now and the end of the season. Please find prices below.

7 Game Deal (Includes Stenhousemuir)

Adult- £112

Concession- £88

6 Game Deal (Valid only after Stenhousemuir Game)

Adult- £100

Concession - £88

Squad News

Ins- Brendan Ramsey returns to fitness after the youngster missed the last few weeks due to an ankle problem.

Outs- Unfortunately Pat Slattery and Jacob Comerford remain on the long-term injury list, while a couple of other squad members will have their fitness assessed pre-kick off tomorrow.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the 120th anniversary black and gold top, matched with black shorts and socks, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the yellow kit.

Our opponents will be in their away colours at the Wooden Fortress, with a white top and maroon shorts and socks. The Stenny goalkeeper will be wearing red for the clash.

Match Tickets

Full and half season tickets are valid for our league campaign, with prices below:

Adults- £18

Concessions (Over 65s/Disabled)- £14

Under 16s- £5

Parent and 1 child- £21

Parent and 2 children- £24

Like last season, EFCFC players Under 16 years of age will be admitted for free!

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview, so supporters are encouraged to buy their ticket online in advance where possible. However, ticket can also be purchased from the matchday reception for those unable to do so.

Please note, parent & child ticket must be purchased in person from the matchday reception.

Live Streaming

Live Streaming of the game will be available on East Fife TV for our international fans. This can be accessed through a monthly or season pass. You can access this HERE!

Officials

The on-pitch official this afternoon will be Calum Scott while his assistants running the lines are Colin Drummond and Ian Hart.

Refreshments

The stadium bar will be open from 12.15pm on Saturday! We welcome you to join us for a drink before the match. The bar will be open again after the full-time whistle for post-match refreshments.

Pie stalls at both ends of the stadium will be open from 2.00pm today. Both cash and card are accepted.

Programme

Issue Number 14 for the 23/24 edition of the Bayview will be available from vendors outside the ground pre match. This week’s edition includes an interview with Robbie Hamilton along with all of the regular features.

Let’s get behind the boys as we embark on a scintillating new chapter of this fantastic football club. Mon the Fife!