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Goalless draw with Spiders at Bayview
Ladbrokes League 1, Bayview Stadium, Saturday 1st April 2017
East Fife 0
Queen’s Park 0
Man of the Match: Jesse Curran
East Fife XI: Hurst, Slattery, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith, Curran, Robinson, Penrice, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Austin, Reilly
Booked: None
Queen’s Park XI: Muir, Millen, Foy, McKernon, McGeever, Cummings, McVey, Brady, Zanatta, Galt, Burns
Subs Not Used: Docherty, Brown, Wharton, McIlduff, Mitchell, Mortimer, McPherson
Booked: McGeever, Gault
Referee: David Lowe
Attendance: 692
East Fife welcomed fellow play-off chasers Queen’s Park to Bayview and played out a 0-0 draw in changeable conditions. Barry Smith made one change to the side that lost to Albion Rovers in midweek with Alex Cooper making way for fit-again Captain Kevin Smith.
East Fife had their first sight of goal on 4 minutes when Scott Robinson pounced on a mistake from Sean Burns but sent his effort from the right-hand side of the box narrowly wide. At the other end, Ryan McGeever sent his shot wide of the front post from a Jamie McKernon corner on 8 minutes. By this time the heavens had opened and put paid to any free-flowing passing football with the wet surface forcing both sides into miss-passes and mistakes.
Just before the half-hour mark Chris Duggan did well to hit the by-line but his cut back evaded everyone and the danger was cleared. Good build-up play by Jesse Curran gave Ross Brown the first real chance of the match but his left-footed shot was straight into the arms of Queen’s Park ‘keeper Willie Muir. 10 minutes before the interval Duggan out-muscled Adam Cummings to lay the ball off for Nicki Paterson but his effort was well blocked by McKernon.
After the break East Fife ‘keeper Mark Hurst had to be alert to tip a goal-bound effort from Sean Burns clear. Hurst was called into action again on the hour mark, this time turning an effort by Anton Brady behind for a corner. Queen’s Park had their Muir to thank for keeping the game goalless on 65 minutes when he pulled off a spectacular double saved first to block a shot from Kevin Smith before denying Alex Cooper from point-blank range. From the resulting corner, Jason Kerr saw his header held by Muir.
With 15 minutes to go, Hurst raced out of his goals to save at the feet of Dario Zanatta before Zanatta was involved again a couple of minutes later when he turned his man but saw his shot blocked by Kerr as the visitors pressed forward. The last chance of the match fell to Conor McVey a two minutes from time but couldn’t find the target from a couple of yards.
A draw was definitely a fair result with neither sider doing enough to win, however it may turn out to be a valuable point come the end of the season.
After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:
“It’s a point gained, it keeps us in the same position where we were with a game less. It wasn’t a great game by any stretch of the imagination but at this stage of the season there won’t be many. We have to make sure that we stick with it. Our boys know we can play better but there will be games like that where there’s not much in it and it’s not a great game.”
“It’s quite strange because out boys have been brilliant to get to the position we’re in but we don’t want to peter out now, we want to push on but given where we are in the league we should still be playing with confidence. It did look a wee bit nervy at times but credit to them, they stuck to the task, it’s a clean sheet but I think we could do a wee bit more when we had the ball.”
Fans v 2008 squad match update
Interest in the above game has been very good with the first fans XI already fully booked. Please be sure to reserve your place as soon as possible as once they're gone, they're gone!
We will keep everyone updated as places are confirmed.
We have had some enquiries regarding watching the game. Everyone is welcome to attend with admission being with a 'pay what you want' donation on the evening.
Live at Bayview
Live at Bayview (Last ‘O’ the Grass)
Sunday 21st May 2017
Doors 1pm till late
Adult £15.00
Child (under 16) £5.00
Postage £2.00
Charge to use card £0.50
*Please note that tickets are non-refundable
FANS’ CHANCE TO TAKE PART IN A PIECE OF HISTORY
Work will start on the installation of the new 3G pitch at Bayview on Monday 22nd May 2017 and East Fife Football Club are offering supporters the chance to take part in what will, in all probability, be the last game to be played on the Bayview turf.
A special game has been arranged on Friday 19th May 2017 with a 7pm kick off involving the Third Division Championship squad of 2008. Already confirmed as taking part are Steven Tweed, Greig McDonald, Dougie Cameron, Jonathan Smart, Lloyd Young, Kevin Fotheringham, Gary Greenhill, Paul Walker, Jason Dair, Stevie Nicholas, Div Muir, Ryan Blackadder & Kevin Gordon. Also attending depending on play-off commitments will be Bobby Linn & Paul McManus whilst Craig O’Reilly will be there despite recovering from injury.
The plan is to have three fans teams each playing for 30 minutes or subject to demand, four teams playing 22 minutes.
Those taking part will receive a full commemorative kit comprising of top with squad number, shorts and socks courtesy of East Fife kit supplier Football Nation. Places booked & paid for by 1st May 2017 will also allow fans to have their name on the back of the shirt. After the game there will be the opportunity to mingle with the players in the Jeek Fleming Suite whilst enjoying a buffet meal.
It is important that shirt & short sizes are confirmed at time of booking. We are advised that in most cases it would be best to request these in a size larger than normal sizes. Choice of preferred squad number will be allocated on a first come – first served basis.
Please also note that participants must be aged 16 or over.
The cost for the whole package is a donation of £75 which can be paid by all standard methods at time of booking.
To take part places must be booked & paid for by calling Bayview Stadium on 01333 426323 between 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday or in person at the Peterhead game on 15th April 2017.
Get in early to avoid disappointment
Community use 3G surface update
Sunday 21st of May will be a significant day for many East Fife fans as that will be the last day that a grass pitch will be seen at Bayview Stadium. Fifers For The Community (FFTC), a charity group set up two years ago have been working closely with East Fife Football Club and are now able to announce that work on installing a new 3G surface will begin on Monday 22nd of May with the project due to be completed by Friday 14th of July.
The project will consist of a new 3G pitch and surrounds within the existing boundary walls giving up to five playing areas - three at 50m x 30m and two at 40m x 20m. but when required a pitch, exactly the same size as the existing grass pitch will be available for East Fife FC to fulfil their SPFL and SFA match requirements. At all other times the full surface will be made available for community use.
In addition there will be new changing and toilet facilities outside the existing boundary wall and the pitch will be accessible through a new entrance. FFTC will also heighten the existing boundary wall, erect security fencing around the new facilities, install CCTV cameras and provide protective netting for the various pitches.
All the work which will be done both inside and outside Bayview is the result of grants, donations and fundraising. The bulk of the money raised is through a grant made by Fife Council along with an additional grant by the Scottish Football Partnership Trust. We are currently awaiting a decision from Sportscotland on a bid which has reached the final adjudication stage. This has all been topped off by a significant anonymous donation, Trustee donations and a very successful fundraising effort.
From day one the FFTC project was planned to be self-financing with all costs being met with income from pitch hires. The major cost will be an annual provision which will allow the 3G surface to be replaced in approximately six or seven years.
The 3G pitch is the focal point of what will be a community hub. Preliminary discussions have been held with a range of interested parties including Gingerbread, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Disability Sport Fife and Levenmouth Academy with a view to identifying and developing activities and support services.
East Fife FC have supported this project from the beginning and are providing facilities which need to be used to benefit the whole community.
FFTC can do this by ensuring that opportunities are created which will benefit the more disadvantaged in the community. Through sport and the appropriate support, we can help promote health, wellbeing, education and employment.
To date the project has been driven by the Trustees but when the pitch is laid and community services are being developed the project will need more support.
Anyone who feels they can help on a voluntary basis or any businesses and organisations who think they can contribute should contact the Trustees on email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07962 245388 or 07545 837307
Midweek defeat at Coatbridge
Ladbrokes Scottish Football League 1, The Exsel Group Stadium, Tuesday 28th March 2017
Albion Rovers 1 (Wallace 55’)
East Fife 0
Man of the Match: Jesse Curran
Albion Rovers XI: Stewart, McCann (Turnbull 64’), Reid, Fisher (Lightbody 89’), R Dunlop, M Dunlop, Ferry, McBride, Wallace (Gilmour 82’), Willis, Stewart
Subs Not Used: Potts, Ferguson, McManus
Booked: M Dunlop, Fisher, Stewart
East Fife XI: Hurst, Cooper (Austin 77’), Slattery, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan (Insall 63’), Curran, Robinson, Penrice, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Mutch, Reilly
Booked: Kane
Referee: Kevin Gordon
Attendance: 491
East Fife suffered their second defeat in a week following a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Albion Rovers. Manager Barry Smith made two changes to the side that started against Brechin at the weekend with the injured duo of Jonathan Page and Kevin Smith making way for Jesse Curran and Alex Cooper who was handed his first start in an East Fife shirt.
East Fife started on the front foot and had their first sight of goal inside 5 minutes when Scott Robinson cut the ball back for Chris Duggan but the striker’s shot was just wide. Good play by Robinson down the left picked out Jesse Curran at the back post; his lay off landing perfectly for Alex Cooper who was unlucky to see his shot blocked. East Fife were bossing the midfield with Robinson winning the ball back before playing in Duggan whose shot was turned round the post by goalkeeper Ross Stewart on 13 minutes.
Midway through the first half Stewart was called into action again to stop Cooper’s 25-yard free kick from creeping into the bottom corner. Albion Rovers first chance of the match came on 31 minutes following a miscommunication in the East Fife defence leaving Ryan Wallace an unguarded goal to aim at but Mark Hurst did well to recover and punch clear. Duggan had another sight of goal shortly before the break but this time fired over from a tight angle.
East Fife started where they’d left off after the interval with Cooper denied by a good save from Stewart on 48 minutes before the ‘keeper spilled a cross by Robinson but the defence were able to recover. A free kick by Cooper out on the touch line picked out Chris Kane but he was unable to find the target on 52 minutes.
East Fife were left to rue missed chances 3 minutes later when Jason Kerr was caught in possession on the edge of his box leaving former Fifer Wallace to fire the ball into the empty net. East Fife were unlucky not to be level a minute later when a defensive mix-up at the other end saw Alan Reid send his header past Stewart however the keeper was able to scramble back just in time to prevent the ball crossing the line. East Fife had a penalty claimed waived away on 67 minutes when Jamie Insall was bundled over in the box by Mick Dunlop. The goal sparked life into the home side who began to look dangerous going forward without causing Hurst any real problems.
The visiting fans though they were level on 78 minutes when Insall had the ball in the back of the net but the flag was rightly raised for offside against the striker. East Fife were awarded a penalty in the 90th minutes when Insall was brought down in the box. Robinson stepped up to take the penalty but saw his powerful strike saved by Stewart.
The visitors had dominated for large parts of the game but mistakes and missed chances ultimately proved costly.
After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:
“I think we were worthy of something from the game, we did everything we could to try and get the goal but I’ve told the boys not to be despondent because they have been excellent this season up till now, we just don’t want the season to peter out. They’ve been brilliant since I came in and we just have to move on from this game and concentrate on the Queen’s Park game.”