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Disappointing defeat at Stenhousemuir
Ladbrokes Scottish Football League 1, Saturday 08th April 2017, Ochilview Park
Stenhousemuir 3 (Furtado 44’ 79’, McMenamin 62’(P))
East Fife 1 (Kane 56’)
Man of the Match: Chris Kane
Stenhousemuir XI: Bowman, Robertson, Duthie, Marsh, Kerr, Berry, Furtado (Manzana 88’), Millar, McMenamin, Gilhaney (Meechan 69’), Cook (Shaw 77’)
Subs Not Used: Crawford, Summers, Grant, Roy
Booked: Cook
East Fife XI: Hurst, Cooper, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith (Lamont 76’), Curran, Robinson (Austin 45’), Duffie, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Reilly, Gordon, Slattery
Booked: None
Referee: John McKendrick
Attendance: 455
East Fife travelled to Ochilview Park to face League 1’s bottom side Stenhousemuir but left empty-handed after a 3-1 defeat. East Fife made 2 changes to the side that drew with Queen’s Park the previous week with Alex Cooper and Kieran Duffie replacing James Penrice and Pat Slattery who both pick up knocks last time out.
The first chance of the match fell to the home side when a Willis Furtado corner found Alan Cook at the back post but his shot from close range was blocked by Nicki Paterson on 8 minutes. East Fife began to grow into the game and Chris Duggan got in behind the Warrior’s defence twice in a couple of minutes; first when he latched onto a long ball from Mark Hurst but the ball skipped away from him sending his shot high and wide before David Marsh managed to get a vital touch on the ball to take it away from the striker.
A good run up field by defender Fraser Kerr and forced Hurst to turn his shot behind for a corner on 18 minutes. At the other end, the visitors had their first shout for a penalty turned on 20 minutes when Duggan was sent flying in the box following a corner only for referee McKendrick to wave play on. A defence splitting pass from Ross Brown sent Kieran Duffie clear down the right who sent an inviting cross into the box on 24 minutes however Warrior’s ‘keeper Graham Bowman just got to the ball before Duggan.
Stenhousemuir should have been a head on 27 minutes when Furtado picked out Colin McMenamin, unmarked, with a cross from the left but the striker sent his header from 12-yards well wide under no pressure. At the other end Bowman pulled off a good save from Duggan after seeing his shot late. The home side took the lead just before half time when Furtado capitalised on a fortunate break of the ball to beat Hurst from a couple of yards.
After the break, good pressure from Jordan Austin down the right hand side gave Duggan a sight of goal on 50 minutes but Bowman was more than equal to his shot. East Fife grabbed an equaliser on 56 minutes following a succession of corners when Chris Kane was able to bundle the ball home for his 4th goal of the season. A few minutes later Duggan was sent clear again by Kevin Smith but was off balance when he took his shot and Bowman was comfortably able to collect. Hurst had to be alert on 60 minutes to turn Connor Duthie’s 40-yard strike behind. From the resulting corner, Austin brought down Marsh while attempting to clear and referee McKendrick had little option but to point to the spot. Hurst got his hand to McMemamin’s spot kick but ball spun back around the ‘keeper and into the net.
The visitor’s has every right to feel aggrieved on 75 minutes as they were denied a stonewall penalty when Jesse Curran was impeded as he went take his shot but again referee McKendrick again waved play on. The decision turned the game as the home side began to exert their authority on the game and scored a third goal on 79 minutes. The visitors were unable to clear their line and Furtado picked up the ball unmarked to find the back on the net from 20-yards. The final chance of the match fell to Alex Cooper but his free kick from 25-yards was comfortably taken by Bowman.
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