Match Preview - Bonnyrigg Rose

Oli Anderson previews tonight’s match against Bonnyrigg Rose.

**There will be a minute’s applause prior to kick off this evening as we pay tribute to Vice-Chairman John Barclay who passed away last week**

This evening, East Fife will play out their festive fixture in another rendition of Friday Night Football, as we ho-ho-host Bonnyrigg Rose at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. A spirited second half performance against Stenhousemuir last week saw us score late against the leaders but, unfortunately, one wasn’t enough, and we fell 2-1 to the league leaders. Last Saturday, Bonnyrigg were completely outclassed by an ex-Fifer, as Scott Agnew’s Stranraer ran out 3-0 winners against the Rosey Posey. The Fife Faithful are certainly hoping for “A Miracle on Harbour View” as we definitely don’t want a “Nightmare Before Christmas”.

The cinch League Two (Turtle Doves):

Position	Team	Played	Pts	GD
1	Stenhousemuir	16	37	18
2	Peterhead	15	32	15
3	Dumbarton	15	29	13
4	The Spartans	15	26	8
5	Bonnyrigg Rose	16	19	-3
6	Stranraer	16	19	-11
7	East Fife	15	16	2
8	Forfar Athletic	16	13	-7
9	Elgin City	15	12	-19
10	Clyde	15	8	-16

The only change in the table from last week is us slightly sliding down, slipping back into 7th, although our objective remains the same, win our game in hand against The Spartans, and clear both Bonnyrigg and Stranraer. This could be started tonight, as a win would see us overtake the Rosey Posey.

Last Week’s Results

Elgin City 0-4 The Spartans

Forfar Athletic 2-4 Dumbarton

Peterhead 2-1 Clyde

Stenhousemuir 2-1 East Fife

Stranraer 3-1 Bonnyrigg Rose

This Week’s Fixtures

Fri 22/12

East Fife vs Bonnyrigg Rose

Sat 23/12

Dumbarton vs Clyde

Peterhead vs Forfar Athletic

Stenhousemuir vs Elgin City

The Spartans vs Stranraer

The Form

The Fife

We boast a measly 6 points from our last 6 league games, winning two and losing the other 4 contests, which is certainly far from ideal.

Our 2 wins came against Clyde on the road, and against Elgin City, two weeks ago, at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. There were lots of similarities in the games, which look to be somewhat a mirror of the other. Both games saw fast starts, with us leading 2-0 at the break. On top of this, Nathan “Santa Cl”Austin and Brogan “Deck the” Walls, both found themselves on the scoresheets in the games, with Walls bagging a brace against Elgin City. On top of that, Captain Stuart Myrrhdoch started in both of those games.

Our four losses have been tough to take, one of which coming against this week’s opponents, as Bonnyrigg beat us 4-2 at New Dundas Park, in a midweek game not too long ago. Other than the Rosey Posey, our other three losses came against the top 3 in the League. We lost 2-1 against Stenhousemuir (1st), 2-0 vs Peterhead (2nd) and 1-0 vs Dumbarton (3rd).

The Visitors

Bonnyrigg too only have two wins in their last 6, though they also grabbed a draw against Peterhead, as well as their three losses.

The wins were the aforementioned victory over us, and a 1-0 win against Lowland League opposition Albion Rovers in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

They nicked a 1-1 against high flying Peterhead too, a result which could have massive implications on the league this season.

Their 3 losses came at the hands of Stenhousemuir, Forfar Athletic, and Stranraer last week. They kept it close against the top side, though fell 2-0 and 3-1 to Forfar and Stranraer respectively.

Previous encounter

Set pieces proved to be our downfall on that Tuesday night, as we conceded 3 of them, though Allan Fleming’s saves in open play kept the score respectable for the most part.

We started the Bonnyrigg game in the same manner as we finished the Clyde game, as we adopted a 3-5-2 shape, to try and go man to man with the Rosey Posey. There were two changes to the line-up which sealed an emphatic win at New Douglas Park the weekend before, as Scott Shepherd and Connor McManus made way for Gregor Nicol and Kieran Millar, allowing McDonald to more effectively apply the desired tactics, with Nicol as a makeshift wing back position, putting in a shift during his time on the park.

Both sides had chances in the early exchanges, with Trouten firing a volley over the bar, and Osolador heading wide inside the opening 15 minutes. However, it was the hosts who struck first, as the aforementioned Osolador made no mistakes with his second chance of the game. Lee Currie whipped a nice ball into the feet of the Bonnyrigg striker, who was somehow given enough time in the area to take a touch and compose himself, before lashing the ball past Fleming, putting Bonnyrigg 1-0 up after 19 minutes.

We bounced back quickly though, and just 5 minutes later, had a chance to pull level. Schiavone was the first to Gregor Nicol’s wicked delivery and he nodded it across goal. Unfortunately, there were no takers, as the ball trickled right along the 6-yard line.

We then failed to capitalise on another great chance, as Schiavone was so close to converting another Nicol free kick on the half an hour mark, but it slipped past the post.

Thankfully for us, all good things come in threes, and we bagged our much-needed goal. Nathan Austin capitalised on a mistake from the Bonnyrigg centre half, heading past an onrushing ‘keeper to bring the sides level.

We made it into half time arguably the better of the two sides, even though Fleming made a handful of fantastic saves. However, in the second period there was no debates as to who the better team were, as Bonnyrigg responded fantastically to their half-time team talk.

They started quick, and from the start of the second period it became evident that a goal was inevitable. Sadly, it came after 51 minutes, when Lee Currie, already boasting an assist, restored the Rosey Posey’s lead when he hit a deep free kick, from over 35 yards out, and with what was undeniably supposed to be a pass, managed to restore Bonnyrigg’s lead. The ball bounced into the area and no defender could get anywhere near it, Fleming anticipated contact one the ball, and therefore was wrongfooted by the deep set piece.

On the hour mark, it went from bad to worse too, after a stramash in the box led to a very soft penalty given against the Fifers. Neil Martynuik stepped up, and doubled the Bonnyrigg lead, putting us under some real pressure.

We responded quickly though, and after being substituted on just 5 minutes before, Connor McManus made it 3-2 with a lovely left footed strike.

Despite our looks at rejuvenation, our fightback was short-lived, as on the 80-minute mark, the Fifers gave away a second penalty, which was equally as soft as the first. Like the first, Martynuik sent Fleming the wrong way, restoring a two-goal lead for Bonnyrigg, killing the game.

While the score line was separated by Martynuik’s penalties, it must be stated that even if the decisions were given in the Fife’s favour, and the penalties were not given, Bonnyrigg would have still more than likely ran out winners in the match. Their attacking threat in the second half was simply too much for us, and Allan Fleming had a fantastic game, despite conceding 4, and without him, it could have been nearer 7 or 8. Bonnyrigg’s forward men ran rampant at New Dundas sadly.

Squad News

Unfortunately, Sean Docherty, Jacob Comerford and Charlie Murray all join Pat Slattery on the sidelines this evening.

Team Colours

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

Bonnyrigg will wear their away kit at the Wooden Fortress, dressing in all red for the tie. The Rosey Posey goalie will wear navy blue tomorrow.

Match Tickets

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 turnstile at Bayview so supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets online in advance where possible. Those unable to buy online can purchase tickets from the matchday reception.

Live Streaming

As this match falls outwith blocked hour, PPV is available for fans worldwide tonight via East Fife TV for £15.

Regular subscribers can watch as normal with their monthly or annual subscription.

Note: Due to a change in SPFL rules from covid-impacted seasons, season ticket holders no longer have access to live matches through their virtual element add-on.

Officials

The on-pitch official on Friday will be Chris Fordyce while his assistants running the line are Elliot Husband Powton and Frazer Bushell.

Refreshments

The stadium bar will be open from 5:30pm this evening! 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 will be open at both ends of the ground from 6:30pm.

Programme

Issue Number 11 for the 23/24 edition of the Bayview will be available from vendors outside the ground pre-match. This week’s edition includes a tribute to Vice-Chairman John Barclay and an interview with Jack Healy.

Those unable to make the match tonight can purchase their programmes online for home delivery.

I’m hoping for the “Fairytale of Methil” this Festive Season, MON THE FIFE!

Match Report - Stenhousemuir

Stenhousemuir 2-1 East Fife, Saturday 16^th December 2023

Ochilview, cinch League Two

Despite a much improved second half from the Fifers, they fell short against League Leaders Stenhousemuir for the second time this season, falling 2-1 to the high-flying Warriors at Ochilview.

Despite defeat on Saturday, our league situation has not really changed, while we have slumped into 7th place in the cinch League Two table, we have a game in hand over our opposition in 6th and 5th place, and a victory on Friday evening would see us overtake both sides. Unfortunately, we still have a bit of work to do to reach the playoff positions, as 4th placed Spartans are 10 points clear of the Methil Milan. Relegation, however, looks more and more unlikely as the weeks progress, as Clyde are well and truly struggling at the foot of the pyramid, on a measly 8 points after 16 games of football.

Speaking of measly, I don’t think that there is a better way to describe East Fife’s start than that. 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, and the East Fife full back got himself tangled up trying to block out a through pass, 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 chance 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, after their defensive mishaps, 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 capitalise one of the many chances created by the midfield talismen.

In 64 minutes, 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 tie 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.

We’re back for our 3rd rendition of Friday night Football in two seasons next week, as we gear up to take on Bonnyrigg Rose in a festive clash.

Stenhousemuir – D Jamieson, Buchanan, N Jamieson, Bilham (Meechan 70’), Lynch, Wedderburn, Yates (Brown 81’), Taylor (Ferrie 90+4’), O’Reilly (Berry 70’), Anderson, Aitken (McKay 90+4’). Sub not used: Lyle

East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch, Page, Docherty (Comerford 90+3’), Easton, Millar (Trouten 57’), McManus, Schiavone (Healy 45’), Walls (Nicol 90+2’), Shepherd (Mitchell 79’), Austin. Subs not used: Newton, Rollo, Ramsay

Referee – Andy Gamble

Attendance - 429

Ticket Info v Bonnyrigg Rose

Tickets for our cinch League Two match against Bonnyrigg Rose on Friday 22nd December 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.

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 blocked hours, a live stream is available to viewers worldwide via East Fife TV.

Match Report - Under 20s v Kelty Hearts

East Fife 2-2 Kelty Hearts (East Fife win 5-4 on penalties), Friday 15^th December 2023

MGM Timber Bayview Stadium, Knockout Cup R1

The Young Fifers squeezed past Kelty Hearts’ U20s side needing penalty kicks to overcome our Fife rivals. The line-up included many who have featured in and around the first team, and the squad is full of experience considering their age.

They got off to a stellar start too, taking the lead inside 5 minutes. A failed attempted clearance ended up right in the path of Bodhi Taylor. The striker readied himself, and launched his half volley into the far corner, scoring a true poacher’s goal.

Matty Rollo then had to make a fantastic save, just seconds after the restart, and did so very well, in what was a strong showing for the youngster.

In the opening stages, it became apparent that the Kelty Hearts’ tactics were to go from the long drop kick from the ‘keeper up to the attacker and go from there. Credit goes to Adam Wilkie and Charlie Murray at the back, who both did a stellar job in snuffing out the danger.

Just after the half an hour mark, Rollo did excellently once again, as he rushed off his line, into the danger zone, cutting out a cutback, and launching an East Fife counterattack. It sadly came to nothing, but the speed, and distribution from Rollo was very impressive.

In the 18th minute, the Young Fifers doubled their advantage, this time through Brendan Ramsay. It came from a well implemented high press, as the team worked together to dispossess the Kelty winger, before Ramsay got onto the end of a floated ball and fired his shot into the bottom right corner.

After the initial quick start, both sides settled into the game soon after, and the game was largely played in the midfield, with both sides defending resolutely. Kelty got themselves back into the game just before half time, when they capitalised on a stramash in the box from a corner kick.

Half Time: East Fife U20s 2-1 Kelty Hearts U20s

The second half saw the game break down much more than the first, with both sides creating a few half chances, but never really looking like scoring. The equaliser, when it did come, came from absolutely nothing as well.

It wasn’t until the 75th minute that we saw it, and nobody knew much about it, including the scorer! The Kelty right back sclaffed his cross, for lack of a better word, though the angle in which it came down dumbfounded Rollo and found itself in the back of the net.

That was a sucker punch for the Fifers, causing the game to eventually go to penalties.

It has to be said, that every one of the Fifers who started, and came on looked impressive, and all caused bother, in one way or another. Notably, the pace in the Fife front line was blistering, and I trust that it will cause more teams issues in weeks to come.

The shootout came around with winners advancing to the second round of the Knockout Cup.

Jude Black stepped up first, and beat the ‘keeper, with a well struck pen handing the Fifers the lead. The Kelty Hearts taker replied, 1-1. Next up was Brendan Ramsay, who also struck his well, giving the Fifers the lead for the second time. Like the first, Kelty replied, making it two apiece.

Full back Tyler Dickson took Fife’s third, and made no mistake about it, 3-2 Fife. Kelty stood firm though, answering back for 3 apiece. 16-year-old Jaiden Fairley was next, and the central midfielder tucked his penalty away nicely, putting the pressure back on the visitors. As the saying goes though, pressure is for tyres and footballs, and the Kelty youngster answered back with a tidy finish.

The last man to step up for the Fifers was Adam Wilkie, who has been in the Fife set up for a number of years. He once again tucked his away, making it sudden death for Kelty Hearts. Finally, Kelty cracked, and the 5th penalty was ballooned over the bar, allowing East Fife to progress into the second round of the Knockout Cup, and handing new Under 20s head coach Aaron Anderson his first victory as gaffer.

After our League Cup 2nd round tie vs East Kilbride was postponed earlier in the week, we have to wait until the 12th of January to see the young Fifers back in action (unless the East Kilbride game is rearranged of course). That game would be the second round of the Knockout Cup, after the draw has been completed.

East Fife Team: Rollo, Dickson, Briggs, Wilkie, Murray, Ramsay, Black, Taylor (Stewart), McCafferty, Leddy (Allan), Fairley. Subs not used: Menzies, Donaldson, Morrison

Match Highlights - Stenhousemuir

Highlights from yesterday's match against Stenhousemuir along with post-match reaction from Greig McDonald, Nathan Austin and Jonathan Page.