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.” 

Arbroath Match Tickets

Tickets for our SPFL Trust Trophy 3^rd round match against Arbroath at Gayfield on Saturday 24th September are now on sale and can be purchased here 

Admission prices

Adults - £10

Concessions* - £5

Adult + 1 Child** - £12

Adult + 2 Children** - £13

Disabled + Carer - £5

*Under 18s, Over 65s, Students & Disabled

**Under 12

Wheelchair and ambulant bookings must be made through the office on 01241 872157.

East Fife fans will be situated at the Pleasure Land Side of the ground. Segregation will be in place for this match.

There will be no cash gates for this game. Tickets must be purchased in advance and be either printed or presented digitally.

Match Preview - Stenhousemuir

We welcome Stenhousemuir to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium this evening for our 8th league match of the season.

Squad News

A couple of players picked up knocks during Saturday’s draw with Annan Athletic and will be assessed later today however both will be given every chance of being part of the squad this evening.

Brogan Walls continues to miss out after picking up a foot injury in training on Thursday joining long-term absentees Scott Gallacher and Connor McManus on the side-lines.

Team Colours

East Fife will be in our traditional colours of black & gold strips, black shorts and black stockings with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.

Stenhousemuir will be in the change colours of black strips, black shorts and black stockings with the goalkeeper in lime green.

Previous Encounter

The sides last met in the group stages of the 2019/20 League Cup at Bayview. The home side emerged with the victory thanks to a Scott Agnew double. The first came just before the hour mark with a sensational curling strike and the second via the penalty spot after Marsh had brought down Dunsmore inside the area.

East Fife Team: Hart, Dunsmore, Higgins, Murdoch, Dunlop, Denholm (Watt 83’), Slattery, Agnew, Hunter (Smith 76’), Dowds (Davidson 77’), Duggan

Stenhousemuir Team: Smith, O’Neil, McIlduff, McKernon, Marsh, Halleran (M Munro 63’), McGuigan (Watters 77’), Hopkirk, Scullion, A Munro, Anderson (Cook 57’)

Match Tickets

Tickets for today’s match are available to buy online here ahead of the game. Please note, there will be no cash turnstiles. Tickets can be presented digitally or printed at home.

Those unable to purchase tickets online can buy theirs over the phone (01333 426323) and collect from the matchday reception or purchase directly from the club office.

Parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults - £18

Concessions* - £14

Under 16s** - £5

Parent & Child - £21

Parent & 2 Children - £24

*Over 65s and full-time students. Proof of eligibility may be requested

**Proof of age may be requested

All child members of EFCFC & EFG&WFC will be admitted free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all of our home league matches this season. Tickets for this are being organised through EFCFC.

Season tickets are valid for this match. Those who have still to collect their season ticket card can do so up until kick off this evening.

Turnstiles will open at 6.45pm.

Match Officials

Match Referee: Calum Scott

AR1: Calum Doyle

AR2: Kyle Hill

Car Parking

Car parking is available at both ends of the stadium for both home and away supporters free of charge.

Live Streaming

No live stream is available to viewers with the UK & Ireland.

Viewers outside the UK & Ireland can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.

Matchday Catering

The stadium bars will be open to both sets of supporters from 6:30 pm this evening for pre- and post-match refreshments.

Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 6.45pm. Please note, our pie stalls are cash only.

Matchday Programme

Issue 7 of our new-look matchday programme is available to purchase for £2.50. Look out for our programme sellers around the stadium before the game.

Note, this programme was printed ahead of the original scheduled match on 10^th September 2022.

Match Report - Annan Athletic

East Fife made the hike down south to play Annan Athletic for the 7^th League match of the season. Last time out Stevie Crawford’s side lost out to Dumbarton, however the team were very determined to put that behind them and pick some points on the road.

Two changes were made to the team that were beaten by Dumbarton as Lucas Williamson and Taylor Steven were both added to the first eleven with João Balde and Liam Newton named on the bench alongside new signings Reece Beveridge and St. Johnstone loanee Liam Parker.

Alex Ferguson got the game underway and East Fife had an early chance after 5 minutes when Mercer’s drilled pass from the right wing found the feet of Scott Shepherd, however he struggled to get the ball out of his feet and couldn’t direct the ball toward goal. East Fife took the lead in the 12th minute after a lofted ball over the top of the Annan defence found Shepherd again who rolls the ball past the onrushing Greg Fleming, putting the Fifers 1-0 up. 

In the 15th minute, Annan had their first real chance of the game when a short corner found Chris Johnston at the back post, who dinked cross into the centre of the box which picked out Tommy Goss who headed well wide from 5-yards. Another chance fell the way of the home side when a poor clearance dropped to Tommy Muir, but his shot was straight at Allan Fleming.

On the half hour mark, East Fife doubled their advantage, as a beautifully lobbed pass down the middle and with Shepherd putting pressure on the Annan defence, the ball was lobbed over the head of the Annan ‘keeper, putting East Fife up two nil to the good. Shepherd claimed the goal however the referee later confirmed that it had been recorded as an own goal by Scott Hooper. Other than a yellow card for Annan’s Lowdon the remainder of the first half went by fairly uneventfully.

The Galabankies began the half all guns blazing as they looked to drag themselves back into the game. The first of chance came in the 55th minute as a deflected shots drops to the head of Tony Wallace however, with some good reactions from Fleming, the ball enters his hands safely. Shortly after East Fife made a double substitution as Steven and Williamson were replaced by Balde and Newton. 

Annan pull a goal back as a deflected shot from substitute Benjamin Lussint found the path of Goss directly in front of goal who placed the ball into the back of the net. A few minutes later Annan equalise the game through a second from Goss who outmuscled Steele to find himself in front of goal and roll the ball into the far corner. 

With the game coming to a close, East Fife had one last chance to win the game as the ball fell to Ferguson on the edge of the box, however his shot is dragged narrowly wide of the post. Shortly after the referee blew the full time ending a second onslaught from Annan.

Despite being 2 goals up, East Fife will not be too disappointed picking up only a point. The next fixture is a home game against 5th place Stenhousemuir on Tuesday, the team will be looking to get maximum points at Bayview in the evening kick off.

Andrew Laing

Annan Athletic Team: Fleming, Barner (Lussint 45’), Hooper, Kilsby, Lowdon (Hunter 45’), Johnston, Lyon (McCartney 65’), Docherty, Wallace, Muir, Goss

East Fife Team: Fleming, Mercer (Healy 84’), Steele, Denham, Murdoch, Steven (Newton 66’), Millar, Ferguson, Williamson (Balde 66’), Trouten, Shepherd (Schiavone 82’)

Referee: Barry Cook

Attendance: 318