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”

Match Report - Stenhousemuir

East Fife welcomed Stenhousemuir to Bayview on Tuesday night for the 8th league game of the season. The Methil men went into the game off the back of a 2-2 draw against Annan Athletic at the weekend and the team were looking to gain as many points as possible to further their quest for success.

Stevie Crawford made one change to the team that drew with Annan at the weekend. Lucas Williamson was taken out with Jack Healy was brought in to replace him. Brogan Walls, Connor McManus and Scott Gallagher all continue to miss out through injury.

The visitors got the ball rolling and the game underway. East Fife had an early chance in the 4^th minute when mercer’s rifled pass into the box met Healy however, he failed to get the ball under control and the Stenhosuemuir goalkeeper was able to collect. A few minutes later, Stenhousemuir had a chance to take the lead, when Yeats, on the by-line, cut the ball back into the six-yard box, the ball was flicked on by Sewell to the onrushing Yates but his effort is well blocked by Steele.

At the 30-minute mark, Stenhosuemuir were forced into a change due to an injury to former East Fife man Higgins with Crobett brought on to replace him. Straight into the action, Corbett had a chance to open the scoring, as header ping pong led to the ball landing at the feet of Corbett, however the deflected shot dropped narrowly over the bar. 5 minutes later Fleming pulled off an incredible diving save to stop Yates’s curling effort from hitting the back of the net. 

East Fife took the lead in the 39^th minute when a long throw, was cleared as far as Healy on the edge of the box whose incredible strike sailed over the keeper and into the top corner, giving the home side the lead going into the break.

Half-Time: East Fife 1-0 Stenhousemuir

Ten minutes into the second half, East Fife had a chance to double their advantage when, on the counter-attack, Healy and Shepherd played a one-two resulting in Healy having acres of space on the right side to play a cross into the onrushing Trouten, however the ball just skipped away from him. 

With 25 minutes to go, Stenhousemuir levelled the game at one each. With Healy on the ground injured, Yates, on the right wing, played a pass into the six-yard box, met by Euan O’Reilly at the back post to convert it into an empty net. Directly after the goal Healy went off injured to be replaced by Joao Balde with Ryan Schiavone also replacing Taylor Steven.

With ten minutes remaining of the game, Crawford made his third and final change as Liam Newton came on for Trouten. Straight after the substitution, East Fife were reduced to 10-mean when Kieran Millar was dismissed for a foul on Brown which was deemed by the referee to warrant a red card.

With the fifers down to ten, the visitors took the lead with six minutes to go. O’Reilly cut in from the left to a shooting position on the edge of the box. His low shot took looked to be heading straight into the arms of Fleming however a horrid deflection took the ball over him and into the back of the net. After three minutes of additional time, the referee blew his full-time whistle.

The Fifers are travelling to Gayfield to face Championship side against Arbroath on Saturday and the team will be looking forward to test themselves against higher opposition. 

Full-Time: East Fife 1-2 Stenhousemuir

Andrew Laing

East Fife: Fleming, Mercer, Denham, Steele, Murdoch, Healy (Balde 66’), Millar, Ferguson, Steven (Schiavone 66’), Trouten (Newton 80’), Shepherd

Stenhousemuir: Brennan, Jamieson, Crighton, Higgins (Corbett 31’), Miller, Forbes (Joseph 76’), Wedderburn, Brown, Yeats (O’Reilly 45’), Sewell (Orr 45’), Yates

Referee: Callum Scott

Attendance: 404

Stevie Crawford to Become Assistant Manager at Dundee United

We confirm that Manager Stevie Crawford will leave the club on Sunday to take up the position as Assistant Manager at Dundee United. 

Stevie originally joined East Fife as a player in the summer of 2008 before being appointed Player-Manager in April 2009, guiding the side to 7th position in Division 2 during his first full season. He stood down as manager in October 2010 but remained at the club as a player until January 2011. Stevie returned to Bayview as Manager in December last year. 

Stevie will remain in charge for this weekend’s SPFL Trust Trophy match against Arbroath before making the move to Tannadice next week. Greig McDonald & Paul Thomson will handle all first team matters in the interim.

Chairman Jim Stevenson: “Whilst I am extremely disappointed to be losing Stevie, I appreciate that this is an excellent opportunity for him. He came in at a really difficult time last season but brought a togetherness back to the club. I wish him all the best in his new role.”