Match Preview - Forfar Athletic

Oli Anderson previews today’s match against Forfar Athletic

Our fairytale start to life under Dick Campbell and co. has finally come to an end, and it was an abrupt one at that, as we were on the receiving end of a 4-1 gubbing at the hands of Bonnyrigg Rose. We struggled to create chances, and while we struggled to adapt to the adverse winds, the weather was the same for both teams and Bonnyrigg capitalised. We now have to brush ourselves off and prepare to go again, as we gear up to play Forfar Athletic, in a must win game for us, if we are to keep alive our playoff chances. Our hosts today lost last week too, in a close affair with Peterhead. Jack Brown scored in the 80th minute for the Blue Toon, handing the Loons their defeat.

A message from the management team

Assistant manager Pink kept it nice and simple this week, and when asked about today’s game said: ‘Everyone is hurting from last week, and we will be demanding much better from everyone this weekend.’

The cinch League Two

	Team	Pld	GD	Pts
1	Stenhousemuir (C)	33	21	66
2	Peterhead	33	18	55
3	Dumbarton	33	13	55
4	The Spartans	33	8	51
5	East Fife	33	2	44
6	Elgin City	33	-21	38
7	Forfar Athletic	33	-6	36
8	Bonnyrigg Rose	33	-4	35
9	Stranraer	33	-15	32
10	Clyde	33	-16	31

After Bonnyrigg dented our hopes of the playoffs last week, we must hope for them to do us a favour today, and take something from their game with the Spartans, who need just three points from their last three games to confirm a playoff place in their first Professional Campaign.

Last Week’s Action

Dumbarton 1-0 Clyde

East Fife 1-4 Bonnyrigg Rose

Peterhead 2-1 Forfar Athletic

Stenhousemuir 1-1 Elgin City

The Spartans 0-0 Stranraer

Today’s Fixtures

Bonnyrigg Rose vs The Spartans

Clyde vs Stenhousemuir

Elgin City vs Peterhead

Forfar Athletic vs East Fife

Stranraer vs Dumbarton

Previous Encounter

The last time the two sides met, saw us play out a 1-1 draw with the Loons back in February at the MGM Tiimber Bayview Stadium. It was a game of two halves, with the first half seeing us perform drastically under par, with the Loons leading at half time. The second was much more enjoyable, and it cannot be argued that the Fifers took control of the second period, and deserved at least their one point, potentially more.

The game had a painfully slow start, with neither team having a chance until the 17th minute, when we won our first corner of the 90. We never made anything of it however, as Kieran Millar’s effort soared well over the crossbar.

Allan Fleming was put under pressure 10 minutes later, as he was forced into an excellent save with his feet. He just nicked it and no more, keeping us level.

We slowly grew into the game, with Jack Healy creating a chance, before the linesman’s flag intervened, as well as Trouten forcing the Forfar goalie off his line with an intelligent pass.

Sadly, it counted for nothing in the first period, as Forfar took the lead through Allen from a set play and his header looked to cross the line in slow motion.

The goal really took the sting out the game, seeing us go in at half time a goal down.

Dick Campbell then “took the paint off the walls”, as he put, at half time, and what we saw in the second period was much easier on the eyes from a Fife perspective. There was hunger, grit, and aggression in the squad, which saw some tantalising football be played.

Just 5 minutes into the half, Marc McCallum was forced into a wonder save by Nathan Austin, as Fash looked destined to score from an Alan Trouten cross.

The roles were reversed just moments later, as Austin whipped a cross into Trouts, although East Fife’s number 10 could not keep the ball down.

Liam Newton then tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his volley was on the wrong side of the crossbar.

The all-important turning point came in the 66th minute, when the Campbell’s made a fantastic triple substation. Brogan Walls, Robbie Hamilton and Scott Shepherd all entered the fray and added a much-needed pace injection to the 11 on the park.

Just two minutes later, we saw the immediate impact, as East Fife’s sharp link up won a penalty after the faultless McCallum finally made a mistake. Who else but Alan Trouten to step up, and do what he does best, that of course being scoring a penalty. Finally, the Fife were on level terms.

After the equaliser, there was only one team that was going to win, that being the Methil Milan. The chance came for us too, just 5 minutes after, but another world class save from Marc van der McCallum kept out Austin, ensuring that the score line stayed level, and both teams shared the spoils.

The Form

The Fife

In our last 6 games, the Fifers have recorded 3 wins 2 draws, and a solitary loss, scooping up 11 points in cinch League Two in the process.

Our loss came last week against Bonnyrigg and was painful to say the least. The visitors controlled the game from the word go and ran out deserved winners in a 4-1 demolition job.

Our two draws have come in varying fashion. The first came when we shared the spoils with Peterhead on the 16th of March. We struggled massively in the first half, and Pawlett sent the Blue Toon in at the break with a deserved lead. We, however, managed to bounce back in the second period, and Alan Trouten done what he does best, and stuck the ball in the onion bag for the Fife. Our most recent draw came two weeks ago against Stenhousemuir, as we played out a goalless affair.

The first of many wins came in dramatic fashion recovering a 2-1 deficit to defeat Dumbarton at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. ‘Stone Cold’ Nathan Austin (PFA TOTY member) was at hand to gift us the opener inside 3 minutes, in what was definitely a ‘glass shattering start’. We were pegged back in the second period by the Sons though, as goals from Finlay Gray and James Hilton flipped the game on its head. We would not go down without a fight though, and centre half Brian Easton made it two in two for himself, nabbing an equaliser. The game was not finished, and we made sure to take all three points, with Fash bagging a second for the day, sending the Fifers into a frenzy of celebration. It was a great performance, with a fantastic moment, and result to match.

The 23rd of March saw us grab our 2nd win in 6, coming from behind to overcome Stranraer. Matty Grant scored the opener from a very deep free kick (which looked to have been largely assisted by the wind.) James Lyon converted at the start of the second half for the Fifers, pulling us level, before Jack Healy scored a fantastic soaring volley to hand us the lead, and the three points.

Finally, the following week made it two on the trot, as Alan Trouten and James Lyon were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win against Elgin City where Jack Healy starred.

The Loons

Forfar have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 6 games, only amassing 5 league points in the process. They are also without a win since the 9th of March.

Said win came over bottom of the league Clyde, with Rayan Mohammed and Matty Allen completing the turnaround to win 2-1 for the Loons.

The following two results were both draws, ensuring the Forfar gained some much-needed points at crunch time in the league. They firstly drew with Champions Stenhousemuir 1-1. It was Adam Hutchison who grabbed a late Forfar equaliser in that game, before the next week they matched the scoreline when they played Elgin City in the Highlands. A first half equaliser from Craig Thomson was enough to ensure that the spoils were shared.

Their 3 losses have also come consecutively in the last 3 weeks, opening the doors for the Fifers to potentially return to winning ways this afternoon. All three losses have also come against our playoff opposition, handing them a great opportunity in securing their chances of promotion. It was firstly The Spartans who beat Forfar, winning 1-0 at Ainslie Park, before they then lost to Dumbarton 2-0 at Station Park. As previously mentioned, last week they succumbed to a late Peterhead winner from Jack Brown, which cancelled out Daniel Scally’s earlier equaliser meaning that Forfar lost for the third consecutive week at the Balmoor.

Squad News

Skipper Stewart Murdoch is once again available for selection, and Nathan Austin returned to training this week, though it may be too soon to see Fash back in action this afternoon. We will also have to assess the fitness of a couple of players pre-kick off today.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the away, Taxi-Centre kit this afternoon, with a Pink Shirt and Socks being paired with Black shorts. The Fife goalie will be clad in all yellow.

Forfar will be in their traditional colours of all navy, with the Loons goalie wearing green today.

Match Tickets

Please find prices below for today’s match. Cash gate available.

(Terraced Price/Standing Price)

Adult- £14/15

65+- £8/9

U17s- £5

Live Stream

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 live streaming option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.

Officials

The on-pitch official this afternoon will be Peter Stuart while his assistants running the lines are Paul McAvinue and Owen Lawrence.

Final Remarks

Last week was obviously a major setback, although the playoff dream is still achievable. Let’s get behind the lads for one last push this season.

Mon The Fife!