Arbroath 3-0 East Fife – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆KDM Evolution Trophy
📍Gayfield Park
🗓️Tuesday 13th January 2026 | Kick-off: 7:45pm
East Fife bowed out of the KDM Evolution Trophy in the Round of 16, following a 3-0 defeat to Arbroath at Gayfield Park.
It was an improved performance, certainly in the first half, although mistakes proved costly once more and the Championship Side prevailed comfortably in the end.
East Fife had an early chance when Lewis Latona fired towards goal in the first five minutes. It was blocked behind for a corner although, and the Fifers couldn’t capitalise from the resulting set piece.
The opener came for Arborath on the half an hour mark. A stumble in midfield let Findlay Marshall pick the ball up in the centre of the park. He drove forward and drilled a strike from 30 yards out, which beat new signing Robbie Hemfrey and found the back of the net.
The sides went in with Arbroath leading at the break. East Fife looked to claw one back after half time, and came close, but Culbert’s cross was just too strong for Freddie Rowe.
From there, Arbroath went down the other end and doubled their lead. Another bizarre defensive moment handed Marshall a second chance of the game which he grasped with both hands, making zero errors with his finish.
After 65 minutes, East Fife looked like they would claw one back, after Culbert played yet another teasing ball. Unfortunately, there was no one on hand to convert and East Fife stayed two behind.
East Fife huffed and puffed but couldn’t get themselves back in the game, and in the 93rd minute, a Connor McManus own goal proved to be the sucker punch.
East Fife have this weekend off, though host Inverness Caley Thistle on Tuesday in League action.
Arbroath – Pettigrew, Wilkie, O’Brien, Watson, Enem (Callachan 78’), Stewart, Marshall, Beadling (Dow 61’), Robinson, Mebude (MacIntyre 61’), Todorov (Reilly 71’). Subs not used: McAdams, Hamilton, Muirhead, Gold.
East Fife – Hemfrey, Peggie (Slattery 78’), Munro, Bah (Halsey 69’), Culbert, Millar, McManus, Rowe, Latona, McKenna, Goss (Nicol 71’). Subs not used: Newton, Fairley, Linton, Thomson.
Referee – Lewis Hogarth
Attendance – 750
