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Match Report - Bonnyrigg Rose
East Fife went into the game as league leaders, having beaten Elgin 3-1 in our season opener last weekend, Bonnyrigg Rose however had also picked up 3 points in their opening match with a 2-0 win against Angus club Forfar Athletic. The Fifers were seeking to make it two wins on the bounce, this time in front of the Fife Faithful.
No changes were made to the starting eleven that had beaten Elgin city 3-1 with recent loan signing Joao Balde taking his place on the bench.
Kevin Smith got the game underway for Bonnyrigg Rose but the first chance of the half fell the way of the hosts. Ryan Schiavone nicely flicked the ball to Brogan Walls who turned his man to shoot from the edge of the box, however Weir gathers the ball safely and calmly in the Bonnyrigg goal. 8 minutes after the chance for the Fifers, Bonnyrigg won a penalty when Walls was adjudged to have bundled over Ross Gray in the area. Neil Martyniuk stepped up and sent Fleming the wrong way, making it 1-0 to the travelling team. Directly after the goal, Crawford was forced to make a double substitution with Walls making way for Mikey Cunningham and new signing Joao Balde making his debut for the club coming on for Scott Shepard.
Nearing the half hour mark, Bonnyrigg Rose doubled their lead as ex-Fifer Jonny Stewart sent a low pass into the box from the wing, which was met by Kieran McGachie in the centre, who laid it off to Dean Brett just inside the area who placed home a curling effort into the bottom corner.
The final chance of the half came with 5 minutes to go, when Hibs Loanee Joao Balde took a shot from outside the box, however his effort was narrowly dragged wide of the goal. A short while after the referee blew up for half time, despite the relatively even game, it gave East Fife a mountain to climb in the second half.
On the hour mark, East Fife legend, Kevin Smith further extended the lead of the visitors Martyniuk’s low free kick found feet of Smith who fired past Fleming into the bottom corner.
With 20 minutes of the game remaining, East Fife made a third substitution with Alex Ferguson making way for Jack Healy. Healy didn’t take long to get into the game, as he sent a perfectly placed cross from the right wing onto the head of Mikey Cunningham, however Cunningham failed to find the net as his close-range header went wide and over.
East Fife made their fourth and final change of the game as Cunningham limped off injured to be replaced by Pat Slattery. With 10 minutes remaining, East Fife began to ramp up the pressure and went close to pulling one back as Scott Mercer’s cross narrowly evaded the outstretched Aaron Steele at the back post. Two minutes later Balde sent a good cross into the danger area, however no is there to meet it and the ‘keeper was able to collect.
Bonnyrigg finished the game a man down as Connolly receives a second yellow for taking down Balde. The resulting free kick from Mercer forced Weir to make a good save. After 3 minutes of added time the referee blew the full-time whistle. A disappointing result for the Fifer makes next week’s away trip to Albion Rovers all the more important.
Andrew Laing
Match Preview - Bonnyrigg Rose
We welcome SPFL newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose to the Locality Hub Bayview stadium this afternoon for our first home league match of the season.
There are a few familiar faces in the Bonnyrigg squad, most notably former Club Captain Kevin Smith but fans will also remember midfielder Jonny Stewart and goalkeeper Mikey Andrews from their time at Bayview with Alex Connor and Darren Smith also part of the visitor's coaching staff.
Squad News
Lewis Anderson misses out this week with an ankle injury joining long-term absentees Connor McManus and Scott Gallacher on the treatment table.
New signing Joao Balde joins the squad after completing his loan move from Hibernian yesterday.
Team Colours
East Fife will be in our traditional home colours of black/gold strips, black shorts and black stockings with the goalkeeper in all-turquoise.
Bonnyrigg Rose will also be in their traditional colours of red/white shirts, red shorts and white stockings with the goalkeeper in all green.
Previous Encounter
This is the first meeting between the sides.
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 and tickets must be purchased in advance. 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. 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 afternoon.
Turnstiles will open at 2pm.
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 12.30 pm this afternoon for pre- and post-match refreshments.
Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 2pm. Please note, our pie stalls are cash only.
Matchday Programme
Issue 3 of our new-look matchday programme is available to purchase for £2.50. Please look out for our programme sellers around the stadium before the game.
Joao Balde Signs on Loan from Hibernian
We’re delighted to announce the signing of Joao Balde on a season-long loan from Hibernian.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined Hibs in January from Civil Service Strollers before being loaned back to the Lowland League side for the remainder of the season.
Joao originally came through the Academy at Rangers before making the move to Livingston in the summer of 2020 then onto Civil Service Strollers for the start of the following season.
Stevie Crawford: “We are delighted to add Joao to our squad. He brings something different to what we already have, and he can play in a number of positions which gives us more options. He is very comfortable on the ball, has good energy and we are looking forward to working with him this season”.
Joao goes straight into the squad for tomorrow game against Bonnyrigg Rose.
Welcome to Bayview Joao!
Match Tickets - Saturday 6th August 2022
We would encourage you to purchase your tickets online if possible, this will not only help our office staff but will save you time on matchday. Thank you.
Match Report - Elgin City
East Fife made the long trip up north to face Elgin City in the first game of the league season. East Fife have a poor recent history when it comes to opening games, having not won an opening league game since 2009 when Stevie Crawford was last in charge of the Fifers.
Stevie Crawford made 2 changes to 7-0 defeat to Ross County with Allan Fleming returning to the starting line-up ahead of Jude Smith and new loan signing Alex Ferguson making his debut for the club. Stewart Murdoch was given the captains armband.
Kieran Millar kicked off the 2022/23 season for East Fife, who were wearing traditional colours of black and gold. In the 15th minute, East Fife had a good chance to take the lead, when Ryan Schiavone had the ball on the by-line before playing a pass across the face of goal which is met by an onrushing Ferguson, however he struggled to get good contact on the ball and the ball flew well wide. Elgin’s best chance of the half fell to the hands of Matheus Machado, who was played through by Kane Hester, splitting the East Fife defence, however Fleming was able to beat.
East Fife took the lead on the 27th minute when Brogan Walls plays a one-two with Schiavone, before sending in a magnificent cross, which is met by an outstretched Scott Shepherd who got enough on it to guide the ball into the bottom corner, past the reaching Hoban, giving East Fife their first goal of the league season and the lead of the game.
Five minutes to go of the half saw Shepherd double his tally and cushioning the lead for East Fife. Millar plays a well lofted ball over the top of the Elgin City defence for Shepherd who beat the Elgin defenders and keeper to the ball and, with the ball on the bounce, his audacious lob managed to find the back of the net, giving East Fife a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Elgin had the first chance of the second half when Hester tried to replicate Shepherd’s first half lob, however his effort was just wide of the goal, to the relief of the travelling fans.
East Fife scored a third on the hour mark when a well-constructed corner by Walls met the feet of Scott Mercer, who’s deflected shot managed to evade the Elgin keeper and found its way into the back of the net. Elgin pulled one back in the 71st minute when Dingwall’s corner was met by Darryl McHardy at the back post, who headed home from 5-yards.
East Fife has the opportunity to wrap up the points 10 minutes from time when Shepherd sent a glancing header just wide. With 8 minutes to go East Fife had made two substitutions with Schiavone and Shepherd making way for Mikey Cunningham and Pat Slattery. Iain Sneddon blew up for full time ending an afternoon full of glee and joy for the Fife faithful.
Andrew Laing
Match Preview - Elgin City
We kick off our 2022/23 league campaign today with a trip to Borough Briggs to face Egin City.
Squad News
Long-term absentees Connor McManus and Scott Gallacher continue to miss out this weekend.
Team Colours
East Fife will be in our traditional home colours of black/gold strips, black shorts and white stockings with the goalkeeper in all-green.
Elgin City will be in their traditional home colours of black/white strips, white shorts and black stockings with the goalkeeper in all-peach.
Previous Encounter
The last meeting between the sides took place in the group stages of last seasons League Cup. The visitors claimed the 3 points with a 3-2 victory at Bayview thanks to goals from Angus Mailer, Kane Hestor and Tony Dingwall. East Fife's scorers were Kevin Smith and Connor McManus.
East Fife Team: Gallacher, Steele, C Higgins, Slattery, Mercer (Denholm), McManus, Watt (Brown), Newton (Anderson), Dunsmore (Dunlop), Cunningham, Smith (Dow)
Elgin City: Hobdan, McHardy, Little, Spark, Nicolson (Sopel), MacEwan, Mailer, O'Keefe (Peters), R Dingwall, Hester (Allan), T Dingwall
The time before was also in the league cup at the start of the 2017/18. East Fife picked up the 3 points with a 3-2 victory thanks to goals from Chris Duggan, Mark Docherty and Paul Willis. Thomas Reilly scored a brace for the visitors.
East Fife Team: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Docherty, Watson, Slattery, Wilson, Millar, Flanagan (Inglis 89’), Reilly (Wilkie 78’), Willis, Duggan
Elgin City Team: Waters, Cooper, McHardie, Bronsky, Allan (McKinnon 83’), Smith, McGovern, Dodd (Reid 62’), Cameron, Reilly, Sutherland (McLeish 75’)
Match Tickets
Tickets for today’s match are available to buy online here ahead of the game. Access points for digital tickets is the double black gates at the East of the Stadium. Two cash turnstiles will also be open – Gate 2 for Adults and Gate 3 or Concessions.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - £14 (Stand), £12 (Ground)
Concessions - £9 (Stand, £7 (Ground)
Under 16s - Free with a paying adult
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 from midday. The Sports Bar (Over 18s only) is located downstairs and the Family Bar is located upstairs to the right-hand side in the Red Door Lounge. Away supporters are welcome in both bars.
Matchday Programme
Printed copies matchday programmes will be on sale through the turnstiles. A digital copy is also available.