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Match Report - Stranraer
Stranraer 0-1 East Fife, Saturday 27th January 2024
Stair Park, cinch League Two
East Fife got over the line against Stranraer at the weekend, beating the Blues 1-0 at Stair Park. The Methil Milan controlled the contest for the large majority of the game and were deserving of all three points. The win has seen us move up to 5th in the cinch League Two table and extends our unbeaten run to five matches.
We started quickly and created a chance very early doors. Jack Healy dinked the ball into the box for Scott Shepherd, though East Fife’s number 9 was denied by a strong save from the Stranraer goalkeeper.
The game was real end-to-end stuff in the opening stages as Stranraer hit the post after 7 minutes too! East Fife managed to deal with it, just, and the resulting counter nearly saw us in front as Nathan Austin’s curled attempt, from a quick break, fell on the wrong side of the post.
After 13 minutes, the Fifers should have gone ahead as a loose ball saw a footrace between Austin and goalie Budinaukus. The ‘keeper beat Fash to it, however his clearance was only as far as Brogan Walls and young midfielder tried to dink the ball into the empty net from just past the halfway line, though it soared over the bar.
The only goal of the game came just five minutes later, as “Stone Cold” Nathan Austin touched the ball round Budinaukus before slotting into an empty net from a tight angle. The goal was the striker’s 3rd in 3 and 12th of the season. It is great to see him finding form at such an important time of the campaign.
We continued to be the team in control, with Austin and Millar both missing half chances, until the 39th minute when Stranraer started putting on pressure in an attempt to finish the half strong by drawing level. It was at this time that Allan Fleming stepped up and did what he does best, pulling off a magnificent save to keep the Fifers in front at half time.
The second half did not start in an ideal manner for East Fife with Brian Easton losing his footing on the tricky surface at Stair Park and sending Tam Orr toward goal in a one-on-one with Fleming. Thankfully for us, the shot was fired well wide, and our lead remained intact.
Ten minutes later, we had another chance of our own with Brogan Walls testing Budinaukus from the edge of the box. The loanee Hibee ‘keeper doing well to get down low to his left, clutching the ball in the process.
We had yet another chance with twenty minutes still on the clock. Walls again causing the Stranraer backline some major trouble as he bombed into the box, however, as the midfielder went to pull the trigger, the Blues’ defence cleared their lines.
The only other highlights of the game after this saw the return of Sean Docherty, Ryan Schiavone and Charlie Murray into the fray as we saw out the game, in what was a dire second half.
We’re back in action on Tuesday now in a crucial game against The Spartans at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.
Repot by Oli Anderson
Stranraer – Budinauckas, Girven, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Gilmartin 73’), Robertson, Dolan, Forrest, Johnston (Hawkshaw 62’), Grant, Orr. Subs not used: Downie, Williamson, Fleming.
East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch, Newton, Easton, Millar (Docherty 74’), McManus, Healy, Walls (Murray 90+1’), Shepherd (Schiavone 81’), Trouten, Austin. Subs not used: Page, Nicol, Cunningham, Beveridge.
Referee – Andy Gamble
Attendance – 370
Spartans Tickets
We appear to be having a problem with the link from our website to future ticketing to buy tickets for tomorrow's match.
If you want tickets please go onto the Future Ticketing site directly and you will be able to get them that way.
Ticket Info v The Spartans
Tickets for our cinch League Two match against The Spartans on Tuesday 30th January at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium are now on sale and can be purchased here.
Admission Prices
Adults - £18
Concessions* - £14
Under 16s** - £5
Parent & Child** - £21
Parent & 2 Children** - £24
*Over 65s/Full-Time Students/Disabled – proof of age/eligibility may be requested
**Proof of age may be requested
All member of East Fife Community Football Club & East Fife Girls & Womens’ Football Club who are under 16 go free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all cinch League Two matches at Bayview this season. Tickets for this are arranged through EFCFC.
Full and half season tickets are valid for this match.
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office.
Please note, parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be bought directly from the club office.
As this match takes place outwith UK blocked hours, a live stream is available to viewers worldwide via East Fife TV.
Match Highlights - Stranraer
Highlights from yesterday's match against Stranraer along with post-match reaction from Greig McDonald, Alan Trouten and Liam Newton.
Match Preview - Stranraer
Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stranraer
This week sees the first of two back-to-back camel treks, as we venture to Dumfries and Galloway to play Stranraer at Stair Park this afternoon. We’re still holding on to our unbeaten start to 2024, although we have drawn both last two games. Sadly, we took the lead in both of those, most recently conceding a gut-wrenching equaliser against Peterhead, Scott Ross scoring with the last kick of the ball, sending the Blue Toon up the road with a share of the spoils.
Our hosts are coming off the back of a tight loss against league leaders Stenhousemuir, as a first half own goal from centre back Kyle Girvan handed the Warriors all 3 points as they continue their remarkable run.
The cinch League Two
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Pts |
GD |
|
1 |
Stenhousemuir |
21 |
52 |
25 |
|
2 |
Peterhead |
21 |
36 |
12 |
|
3 |
The Spartans |
18 |
32 |
10 |
|
4 |
Dumbarton |
19 |
31 |
10 |
|
5 |
Bonnyrigg Rose |
19 |
23 |
-1 |
|
6 |
East Fife |
20 |
22 |
0 |
|
7 |
Stranraer |
20 |
22 |
-14 |
|
8 |
Forfar Athletic |
20 |
20 |
-6 |
|
9 |
Elgin City |
19 |
18 |
-20 |
|
10 |
Clyde |
19 |
13 |
-16 |
Last Week’s Results
East Fife 2-2 Peterhead.
Stenhousemuir 1-0 Stranraer
This Week’s Fixtures
Elgin City vs Dumbarton @ Borough Briggs
Forfar Athletic vs Bonnyrigg Rose @ Station Park
Peterhead vs Stenhousemuir @ Balmoor Stadium
Stranraer vs East Fife @ Stair Park
The Spartans vs Clyde @ Ainslie Park
The Form
The Fife
We have recorded 5 points from our last 6 league games, in recent form. Despite the low total, we haven’t lost in our last 4 games, and our 2 losses have come some time ago, most recently on the 23rd of December, as we lost 3-0 to Bonnyrigg at Bayview. Our other loss was perhaps unfair, as we played exceptionally well in the second half against league leaders Stenhousemuir. Unfortunately, our first half performance seriously let us down, and Austin’s stoppage time goal proved merely a consolation.
Our first draw came against Forfar a fortnight ago. A wind, and rainswept Station Park proved too much for the Methil Milan, who could not capitalise on their man advantage, which they had for a large portion of the game, leading to the sides playing out a goalless affair. Our penultimate draw came last week in a disappointing contest with Clyde, the Fifers never got going in the second period after a fast start, and that led to the spoils being shared, sadly. The most recent of the draws came last Saturday, where it was a true 2 points dropped situation, as we conceded at the death, ensuring the spoils were shared against Peterhead.
Our win came in truly emphatic fashion. It was three weeks ago against Dumbarton, where Kieran Millar’s first half strike, paired with Walls’ second half wonder finish was enough to bed the Sons at the Rock. We bossed the game from the first whistle to the last, in my humble opinion, and the despite Dumbarton equalising in the game, we were the only side that looked like they would take all three points.
The Hosts
Stranraer have recorded 7 points from their last 6 league games, seeing 3 losses, a draw and 2 wins.
Their first of two wins stretches back to the 16th of December too! Stranraer overcame Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 at Stair Park. They looked comfortable in the contest, cruising 3-0, with Bonnyrigg scoring in the last minute of the game.
Their second victory came against Dumbarton a fortnight ago, where they toppled the Blue Toon 2-0, also at Stair Park. It was a two-punch knockout, as goals from Tam Orr and Chris Johnston either side of the half time whistle bedded the title chasers.
Their draw was courtesy of Clyde, away back on the 9th of December. It was a 4-goal thriller which saw Craig Ross and James Dolan on the scoresheet for the Blues as they recovered from 2 goals down. This shows the Fifers that there is no room for complacency, as Stranraer are more than capable of a fightback.
Stranraer’s losses have all come on the road, losing 3-0 to Spartans at Ainslie Park, 2-1 at Borough Briggs against Elgin (with Deryn Lang the scorer for the Blues) and 1-0 to Stenhousemuir last week at Ochilview.
Previous Encounter
The last time the two sides met, we cruised past ex-Fifer Scott Agnew’s Stranraer side, romping to a 4-0 victory on the day, at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The impressive score line was matched with an equally impressive performance, which saw our goals come from all over the park, giving the Fife faithful something to cheer during the adverse weather conditions. The positive result stretched East Fife’s unbeaten record in the League to 4 games and has moved us within 5 points of the fabled spots, and more importantly up to 5 away from the trapdoor.
We started the game well, looking very positive and playing on the front foot. This brough us our first chance on the ten-minute mark, when Nathan Austin made a fantastic run into the box. Unfortunately for ‘Stone Cold’, the pass was slightly overhit, and it rolled out for a goal kick before he could pull the trigger.
That did not deter us however, and the deadlock was broken after 18 minutes, when Millar converted from a well worked free-kick routine. Connor McManus laid the ball off to Healy, before the local lad floated a ball to the back post for Fife’s number 4 to tap home.
Stranraer started warming into the game after the opener and forced Jacob Comerford into some top-quality defending to keep our clean sheet intact.
Any momentum that the Blues were building up was promptly crushed after 40 minutes, when some silky soccer from the Fifers doubled our advantage. Docherty used his blistering pace to latch onto Shepherd’s through ball. The full-back sprayed a ball across the face of goal which was met by none other than Fash. The forward fired the ball into the net, capping off a fantastic team move.
Half Time: East Fife 2-0 Stranraer
Fleming was called into action right after the half time whistle, preventing a guaranteed goal after a defensive mishap gave Stranraer a chance early-doors.
Just before the hour mark, McManus made it three when Newton spun his man on the flank. The full back then fed in the creative midfielder, who carried the ball into the box and converted with a tidy finish which was deemed a goal of the season contender by commentator Daniel Hughes and East Fife Legend Pat Slattery.
Both goalkeepers had their best moments in the late stages of the game. Firstly, Budinaukus did well to keep it at 3 with 20 minutes still on the clock, when a heavy touch from Austin denied the forward his brace. Before up the other end, Fleming did very well to clear up a stramash in the box, ending any threat from Stranraer in the game then and there.
We deserved more than just the 3 goals, and we got just that in injury time when Liam Newton made a darting run from left back to the penalty spot to fire a loose ball home, which kept all three points in the Kingdom.
Squad News
Ins: We have three players off the table, as Brian Easton, Sean Docherty and Charlie Murray all coming back to bolster the back line. We’re also hoping that new loan signing Robbie Hamilton will be available should he recover from an illness.
Outs: Brendan Ramsay has picked up a knee injury and may be out for a couple of weeks. Defender Jacob Comerford and the versatile Pat Slattery also remain sidelined.
A Third Generational Talent
Our newest signing, Robbie Hamilton has made history, just by putting pen to paper this week. He has become the first third generation player at East Fife, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both called Jim!
Robbie
Robbie came through the academy at Hibernian, making a name for himself in the development squad. Primarily playing on the left-hand side of the midfield, he played with the U19 squad before venturing to Forthbank to lift the cinch League Two Trophy while on loan at Stirling Albion. We all hope that Robbie’s experience with success will prove invaluable by the end of the campaign!
Jim Hamilton Jr
Robbie’s dad Jim, signed for the Methil Milan in 2011, featuring 9 times for the Black and Gold, netting his only goal for the club against Ayr United. Jim bagged the opener against the Honest Men in a 4-0 thumping at Somerset Park.
Jim Hamilton Snr
Robbie’s grandad, Jim Senior, has been etched in East Fife folklore for over 50 years now, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox in 1973. What’s more impressive is that the Fifers were managerless at the time! Jim also tested his hand in management, coaching Peterhead while they were in the Highland League (or equivalent) from 1983-1990.
Team Colours
East Fife will don the pink Taxi Centre-sponsored tops, matched with black shorts and pink socks, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the green kit for the tie.
Stranraer will be in blue tops, with white shorts and blue socks, while their goalkeeper will be wearing orange for the clash.
Match Tickets
Admission today is exclusively pay at the gate, prices below:
Adults: £15
Concession: £10
U16: £5
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 today will be Andy Gamble while his assistants running the line are Ross Nelson and Stuart Broadfoot.