On-Form Peterhead Challenge for Fifers

Peterhead make the lengthy journey down to Methil for tonight’s Irn Bru Cup First Round tie. The two sides last met exactly one month ago in the Betfred Cup when the Blue Toon emerged victorious with a 1-0 victory. Jim McInally’s men were extremely unfortunate not to progress after accumulating nine points in the section following further wins against Hearts and Elgin City, also winning their opening two league fixtures.    

Bayview boss Darren Young was understandably delighted after Saturday’s defeat of Alloa Athletic, with Greg Hurst firing home the winning goal from close range following good work by Paul Willis on the right, and will be keen that his side continue their recent home form.

The Fifers’ record in this competition, since its inception in 1990-91 has seen them reach the quarter finals on five occasions, going down to Kilmarnock, Hamilton Academical, Stranraer, Queen of the South and Falkirk respectively. Peterhead meanwhile can boast an appearance in the final two seasons ago, eventually losing out to Rangers at Hampden after an impressive run, seeing off the challenges of Brechin City, Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and Queen’s Park.     

The two sides have only met once before in the Challenge Cup, with goals from Scott McBride and Collin Samuel earning a 2-1 win at Balmoor Stadium back in 2012.

Admission prices for the tie, which kicks off at 7.45pm are £10 for adults and £5 children.      

Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the stadium bars before and after the game.  

Admission Prices versus Peterhead Tuesday, 15th August

To clarify tonight's prices - they are as follows -  Adults below 60 years of age = £10;  Concessions including children and those over 60 = £5.

Admission Prices versus Peterhead Tuesday, 15th August

Admission prices for Irn Bru Cup versus Peterhead are £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Fifers Impressed With First Win Of The Season

Ladbrokes League 1

Saturday 12^th August 2017

Bayview Stadium

East Fife 1 (Hurst 56’)

Alloa Athletic 0

East Fife XI: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Docherty, Watson, Slattery, Duggan (Linton 89’), Hurst (Wilkie 70’), Millar, Gordon, Flanagan (Wilson 77’), Willis

Subs: Cordery, Reilly, Mutch

Alloa Athletic XI: Parry, Taggart, Crane, Graham, Meggatt, Robertson, Cawley, Flannigan, Malcolm, Fleming, Cook (Renton 65’)

Subs: McDowall, Hetherington, Thomas, McKeown, Martin, McDonald

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 589

East Fife welcomed Alloa Athletic to Bayview for the first home match of the season and it was the hosts who picked up their first points of the season thanks to a second half strike by Greg Hurst. Manager Darren Young made one change to the side that lost to Stranraer last time out; Kyle Wilson making way for Hurst to make his full East Fife debut.

The first chance of the match fell the way of the home side when Nathan Flanagan cut inside from the right but his shot was blocked by the Alloa defence, the rebound fell to Pat Slattery who couldn’t find the target with his back to goal. The visitor’s best chances of the game fell within a couple of minutes of each other when first Ryan Goodfellow produced an excellent save to deny Craig Malcolm at point-blank range before Goodfellow produced another fine stop from Callum Crane’s cross-come-shot.

The home side were passing the ball about well and good link up play between Paul Willis and Chris Duggan gave the former a sight of goal on 18 minutes and Alloa ‘keeper Neil Parry was at full stretch to keep out his shot. At the other end Iain Flannigan tried his luck with a volley from 25-yards but it sailed way over before Jon Robertson strike from 30-yards flew just wide of the left-hand post on 26 minutes.

Duggan got a couple of opportunities before the half hour mark when first he was played in by Aaron Dunsmore but couldn’t keep his shot down before showing great technique to twice lift the ball over defender’s heads, trying to find space to get a shot away.

Flanagan curled a shot narrowly over from 25-yards on 37 minutes before Alloa had the final chance of the half when Scott Taggart got on the end of a cross but could only send his header well wide of the target.

East Fife started the better side after the break and almost found a break through 5 minutes after the re-start when Flanagan got to the by-line and sent in an inviting cross but good defending by Darryl Meggat prevented Hurst from heading into an open goal. Hurst wasn’t to be denied, however, scoring his first East Fife goal on 56 minutes when Parry missed a cross from the right by Willis leaving Hurst with a tap in the centre of the goal. Hurst should have added a second 10 minutes later when Parry failed to hold a free kick from Mark Docherty; Hurst reacted quickest but could only hit the bar much to the relief of the Alloa stopper.

The home side were content to sit in as the visitors pressed for an equaliser but the failed to break down a well-drilled East Fife defence. Substitute Kris Renton did manage to get a shot away 3 minutes from time but it was never going to trouble Goodfellow.

A fantastic and hard-fought win for East Fife with great performance all over the park. 

Fife Fan to Climb Mount Etna in Kilt and East Fife Strip

East Fife supporter Jock McInnes will be travelling to Italy and trekking to the summit of Mount Etna, Europe’s biggest and most active volcano, in a kilt and an East Fife strip at the end of the month to raise money for scottish national heroes in the form of if the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Family Support Trust.

Jock is a former Sargent in the Black Watch who has raise over £1.5m for charity and was awarded an MBE from the Queen in 2014 for services to charity. Jock’s previous challenges include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Toubkal and Mount Elbrus (highest mountain in Europe), trekking across the Sahara Desert (twice) and Gobi Desert, taking aid to school kids in Nepal and accompanying Dundee FC supporters to the summit of a mountain in Morocco.

If you would like to sponsor Jock on his latest challenge please visit:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=jockMcinnes%20MBE