Match Report - Arbroath

East Fife made the journey north to take on Angus club Arbroath in the SPFL Trust Trophy 3^rd round. The Methil men were off the back of a midweek 2-1 loss to Stenhousemuir. The team were keen to put in a quality performance to give the travelling supporters something to cheer about. 

Three changes were made to the starting squad that lost to Stenny. Kieran Millar was serving the first of a 2-match ban following the red card he gained midweek with Taylor Steven and Liam Parker missing out due to being cup tied along with Aaron Steele who picked up a knock during the week. Pat Slattery, Joao Balde and Liam Newton were added to starting line-up. 

The game got underway, and it was the Championship side who were earliest out of the blocks, winning a penalty after only 9 minutes. The ball was fired into the box from the left and Sam Denham, misjudging the movement of Hilson, tripped the Lichties forward inside the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. Michael McKenna as the designated penalty taker stepped up and sent Fleming the wrong way, putting Arbroath 1-0 up. 

A few minutes after, Arbroath kept up the pressure and scored another. McKenna played a lofted ball over the top which Fleming came well out of his box to clear however the clearance only went as far as Scott Allan who laid the ball off to Hilson who had an empty net to aim at, doubling Arbroath advantage inside twelve minutes. 

After a fairly uneventful 30 minutes, East Fife began to ramp up the pressure before half time as the Fifers had a few good chances to get a goal back before the break. The first being in the 41st minute when Trouten took the ball past his man and laid it off to Balde on the edge of the area however his shot was cannoned over the bar and out for a goal kick.

East Fife had an even better chance 2 minutes later as Scott Shepherd wins the ball off Scott Allan and found himself in space down the right with to cuts the ball back to Trouten who’s shot bounces back off the post and is cleared out for a corner. Seconds later the half time whistle goes. 

Half-Time: Arbroath 2-0 East Fife

East Fife got the first chance of the second half shortly after the restart when Balde flicked the ball on to Healy cutting through the middle of the defence, however his lobbed effort was narrowly over the bar and onto the roof of the net. 3 minutes later, Arbroath had a good chance to add a third when Hilson broke froward however as Hilson pulled the trigger, Denham was on hand to execute an incredible last-ditch tackle to stop the ball rippling the net. 

In the 77th minute, the management team made the first East Fife change of the game as Ryan Schiavone came on for Liam Newton. Instantly after the substitution, Arbroath had a corner which was very close to becoming a wonder goal, as Isiaka’s acrobatic effort is saved well by Fleming.

East Fife scored a lifeline with a minute of the 90 remaining. With Balde and Healy breaking forward, Balde returned the ball to Healy on the edge of the box who unleashed an effort that leave the Arbroath goalkeeper flatfooted to pull a goal back. However this turned out to be only be a consolation moments after the referee blows his full time whistle ending a game.

A significantly improved performance for East Fife in the second half however its Arbroath who qualify for the fourth round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. The fifers can now focus on their league campaign now with the next fixture is a home game against 2nd place Stirling Albion at Bayview. 

Full-Time: Arbroath 2-1 East Fife

Report by Andrew Laing

Arbroath Team: Gill, Oakley, Hamilton, Stewart, Hancock, Gold, McKenna (Isiaka 45'), Jacobs, Fosu, Hilton (Corfe 78'), Allan (Linn 78')

East Fife Team: Fleming, Murdoch, Mercer, Slattery (Cunningham 88'), Denham, HEaly, Newton (Schiavone 77'), Balde, Ferguson, Shepherd, Trouten

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 1123

Ticket Info v Stirling Albion

Tickets for our cinch League Two match against Stirling Albion on Saturday 1^st October at the Locality Hub 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. Supporters who have not yet collected their season ticket card can do so up until kick off.

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 purchased directly from the club office.

Match Highlights v Arbroath

Highlights from yesterday's SPFL Trust Trophy match v Arbroath and post-match reaction from Greig McDoanld and Jack Healy

Match Preview - Arbroath

We travel to Gayfield this afternoon to face Arbroath in the 3^rd round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Squad News

Kieran Millar misses out this afternoon serving the first of his two match suspension following his red card midweek.

Taylor Steven and Liam Parker also miss out after featuring for parent club St. Johnstone in the first round.

Brogan Walls has now been confirmed as having broken a bone in his foot so will now miss out for several weeks joining long-term absentees Scott Gallacher and Connor McManus on the side lines.

Team Colours

East Fife will be in our away colours of pink strips, black shorts and pink stockings with the goalkeeper in all-blue.

Arbroath will be in their traditional colours of all-maroon with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.

Match Tickets

Admission for today’s match is via ticket only, there will be no cash gates. Tickets can be purchase here.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults - £10

Concessions - £5*

Adult + 1 Child - £12**

Adult + 2 Children - £13**

Disabled + Carer - £5

*Under 18, Over 65, Student, Disabled

**Child under 12

East Fife fans will be situated at the Pleasure Land side of the ground.

Match Officials

Match Referee: Graham Grainger

AR1: Scott Anderson

AR2: Scott Bunting

Previous Encounter

The last meeting between the sides took place at Gayfield in July last year during the group stages of the League Cup. The home side claimed a 2-0 victory with goals from Dale Hilson and Luke Donnelly.

Arbroath Team: Antell, Hamilton, Little, O’Brien (Linn 25’), Henderson, Low, Gold, Stewart (Hilson 59’), Clark (Craigen 58’), Swankie (McKenna 58’), Nouble

East Fife Team: Gallacher, Dunsmore (Brown 64’), Higgins, Murdoch, Dunlop, Mercer, McManus, Watt (Slattery 83’), Davidson, Wallace, Smith

Matchday Catering

The small Pavilion Bar under the stand to the north of the ground is now open on matchdays for both sets of supporters. Stranraer FC also own the “Fitba Bar” in North Strand Street about 1000 yards from the ground which can cater for larger numbers.

Live Streaming

A live stream is available worldwide via Arbroath TV for £10.

Viewers outside the UK & Ireland can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.

ITSMYROOF Announced as New Commercial Partner

We’re thrilled to announce ITSMYROOF as a new commercial partner.

ITSMYROOF LTD. is focused on providing the highest quality roofing at an affordable cost. Customer satisfaction and your recommendation is what they strive for. Their new roofs come with a 10-year workmanship guarantee and they aim to do everything possible to meet your expectations. Itsmyroof is also a proud member of Fife Trusted Trader Scheme, operated by Fife Council, and vetted by Trading Standards.

Fans will be well aware of owner Scott McBride as a player and of course as our current Under 20s Manager. Commenting on the new agreement, Scott said: “'We are absolutely delighted to partner up with East Fife and show our commitment to the local community.”

Scott Young from the Commercial Team added: “Scott’s connection with East Fife goes way back and, with our new partnership, I’m hopeful they’ll go long into the future too and we are delighted to get him on board”