Match Preview - Stranraer

**IMPORTANT INFOMRATION**

Due to a significant amount of water breaching the sea wall over the last 48 hours, the home end car park, turnstiles and seats will be closed this afternoon.

All supporters will be housed within the away end of the stadium. All tickets are valid for this match however there will be no allocated seating.

Please take care when travelling to the match and when entering the stadium.

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Stranraer

After the Fifers’ gallant fight in their European escapade, where they lost out to The New Saints from Wales, by a penalty shootout, we return to cinch League Two action this afternoon as we prepare to start our second quarter of the season against Scott Agnew’s Stranraer side. The Blues look much improved from last season; however, they currently find themselves stuck in a rut, having lost all 4 of their last outings, most recently in a 7-goal thriller against the newly promoted side The Spartans. The Blues came back from 3-1 down, to 3-3, though a late Blair Henderson goal sent the Spartans up the road with all three points.

East Fife looked to have done the unthinkable last week, as they came back from a goal down, to lead TNS 2-1, however a converted penalty from Ryan Brobbel forced a shootout, where the Welsh giants were second to none, converting all 5 spot kicks. East Fife, however, in their performance last Saturday became one of only three “domestic” sides to have not been beaten by the rampant The New Saints inside 90 minutes, with only Bala Town and Barry able to match the Fifers’ feat. The performance was a vast improvement on what we have seen so far this season, and fans will be hoping that the trip to Oswestry can spark up the Black and Gold’s season.

The cinch League Two Standings

Across the League Last Week

There were no league games due to the Last 16 of the SPFL Trust Trophy last weekend. Only 2 League Two teams featured, Peterhead, who lost out 2-0 to Dundee United at the Balmoor Stadium, and ourselves, in our shootout defeat down south.

This Weekend’s Action

Bonnyrigg Rose (5) vs Clyde (9) @ New Dundas Park

East Fife FC (8) vs Stranraer (6) @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Elgin City (10) vs Forfar Athletic (7) @ Borough Briggs - POSTPONED

Stenhousemuir (3) vs Peterhead (1) @ Ochilview Park - POSTPONED

The Spartans (4) vs Dumbarton (2) @ Ainslie Park

Form

The Fife

East Fife have recorded 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in their last 6, accumulating 5 points from 4 games in league action, as well as highs and lows in the SPFL Trust Trophy. The first of two “losses” came last week down South as our SPFL Trust Trophy campaign came to an unfortunate end, losing out to The New Saints via penalties, despite goals from Alan Trouten and Connor McManus. Our other loss was “through the west”, as we fell short against Dumbarton at the Rock, despite looking the better outfit for the majority of the contest. It was another late goal which stung us, as Crighton’s bullet header soared in in the 88th minute.

Our first draw was against The Spartans, where the Fifers stood up, and were all counted putting in a shift in the second half to rescue the point. Our other draw was not quite as positive a result, as we slumped in the first half against Elgin City in August, going into the half time interval a goal down. The Fifers showed signs of promise, but could not find the clear-cut opportunity, relying on an Alan Trouten penalty to ensure that we did not leave the Highlands empty handed.

Our first win in the last 6 came against Albion Rovers in the 3rd round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. As has been the story of our season, the Fifers sauntered in at the interval a goal down, after a goal from Niyah Joseph after 30 minutes gave the Rovers the lead. This did not deter the Fifers however, who with fire in their bellies, dominated the second period, grabbing two goals, completing the turnaround thanks to goals from Jonathan Page and Connor McManus. Our other victory came a fortnight ago against Clyde, in a game the Fifers controlled from the 1st to the 91st. Scott Shepherd scored early on, breaking East Fife’s hoodoo of conceding the first goal, and Trouten was able to add to the lead after 70 minutes, killing the game as a result.

The Visitors

The Blues started this season on fire but appear to have come right off the boil in recent weeks, though they have recorded 2 more points than the Fifers, in their last 6 league games, recording 6 from 6. It should be noted however that the last time Aggy’s men saw three points was almost 2 months ago, on the second of September, when they beat Peterhead 2-1. Their only other result came a week prior, when they beat a struggling Clyde side 1-0 at Stair Park.

Stranraer have recorded 4 losses in the last 4 weeks, all with varying scorelines. Firstly, they lost out to The Spartans 4-3, and the week before they were picked apart by Stevie Farrell’s Dumbarton side, 3-1 at the Rock.

They also were subjected to a disappointing 2-0 loss at home against Forfar Athletic, where the Loons put the game to bed before the half time whistle. Worse than all of those mentioned though would have to be their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Stenhousemuir, where braces from both scorers against the Fifers (Adam Brown and skipper Gregor Buchanan) as well as a Matthew Aitken penalty bedded the Blues.

Previous Encounter

East Fife got their first point of the season against Stranraer the last time the sides met, after a late Johnny Page goal broke the hearts of the 10-men Blues. Despite more chances flowing and the Fifers having more control of this game, in the early stages, they were too slack in the final third, failing to capitalise on the man advantage.

The sending off in mention came inside the first ten minutes of the tie. Nathan ‘Fash’ Austin was looking to break away from Craig Ross, who, after realising Fash was too quick for him, hauled the striker down, being sent for a very early shower.

That was the start that the Methil Men were hoping for, and in the next 10 minutes, they had two clear chances to take the lead, being denied by goalkeeper McDonald. Shepherd had a crack from outside of the area, which the ‘keeper parried away after 11 minutes, and 5 minutes later Fash had just as good, if not a better chance, managing to wiggle the ball onto his favoured left foot, before McDonald also managed to keep him out.

After the second save, the Fifers fell flat, and allowed the Blues into the game. Fortunately for the Black and Gold, the only good chance was a scuffed effort from side of the penalty spot by Dolan, which fell out for a goal kick.

Half Time- Stranraer 0-0 East Fife

The second half didn’t start well for the Methil Men, as Dolan created the opener for Orr to slot home for Aggy’s Stranraer. It was a good strike, but that was no consolation to the frustration felt on and off the park.

The pick-me-up took a while to come, as East Fife were squandering chance after chance. In the 77th minute however, McManus fouled the aforementioned Dolan in the area, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Allan Fleming made a solid save with the first one, denying Armour from the spot, but the officials forced a re-take judging that Flem was off his line. The goalie went from half-hero to full god moments later, denying Armour yet again, giving the Fifers a boost into the last 10 minutes.

The boost paid dividends with 4 minutes on the clock after a textbook Healy effort was spilled by McDonald, and Johnny Page used all of his experience to slot home, in his league debut this season. Perhaps against the run of play in the second period, the Fifers managed to claw their way to a point, despite all looking gloom.

Credit has to go to Stranraer too, who showed that it is not about the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog, playing with a man down for the vast majority of the game, and still playing an attacking style of football.

Squad News

Outs - Pat Slattery and Charlie Murray have both returned to training, though they are not quite at 100% so will not be in the squad this weekend.

Ins- Stuart Murdoch returns to the squad after missing the last few weeks.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the 120^th anniversary black and gold top, matched with white socks and shorts this afternoon, while the goalkeeper will be clad in the new, all yellow kit for the tie.

Stranraer will wear their red and navy away kit, paired with navy shorts and socks. The Blues’ goalkeeper will be in all pink.

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! Tickets are arranged through EFCFC.

There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase online in advance. However, tickets can be purchased from the matchday reception for those unable to do so. Parent and child tickets must be purchased in person.

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! There is no PPV option for viewers inside the UK or Ireland.

Officials

The on-pitch official on Saturday will be Alex Shepherd while his assistants running the line are Brian Christie and Stuart Broadfoot.

Refreshments

The stadium bar will be open from 12:15pm pre-kick off this afternoon! We welcome you to join us for a drink before the match. The bar will be open against following the full-time whistle for post-match refreshments.

The pie stall will be open from 2:00pm. Both cash and card are accepted.

Programme

Issue Number 7 for the 2023/24 edition of the Bayview will be available from vendors outside the ground pre-match.

Those unable to attend the match in person can order their programmes online for home delivery.

MON THE FIFE!