East Fife 1-1 Montrose – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆William Hill League 1
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Saturday 20th September | Kick-off: 3:00pm
East Fife had to settle for just the one point at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday, as Montrose capitalised on a defensive lapse to snatch a point in the Kingdom.
Both Andy Munro and Brian Easton returned to the squad having served suspensions the week prior and linked up for the opener after 15 minutes of play. Michael McKenna’s corner found Munro at the back post. He then headed it into the path of his centre back partner, who beat Cammy Gill at the near post to hand East Fife the lead.
After 30 minutes, East Fife should have doubled their advantage, as Tommy Goss hit the post. From there, Montrose would hit on the break and win a free kick. The set piece was lobbed goalward, and as the Fife’s defence watched the ball sail into the path of Graham Webster, they could only look on in despair as it burst the net. It was a rare defensive blunder from the Black and Gold as they failed to clear their lines.
East Fife pushed for a winner during the remainder of the first half and were on top for almost all of the second period, but they just couldn’t do enough to break down the Gable Endies in the end.
Speaking with EFTV after the game, Fife Manager Dick Campbell lamented over his side’s missed chances: “We could’ve got another two points today. One thing you cannot do is kid the public on. I’m sure Stewart (Petrie) will say the same, we had the better chances today. We’ve had seven chances today and never took them.”
He also touched on Montrose’s equaliser: “We shouldn’t lose a goal from a set piece with our defenders. It’s a bad goal, no one has picked up a player who has run 40 yards. It’s not good enough.”
Petrie echoed these sentiments at full time, although argued that his side were deserving of their point: “We scored from another set piece today, which is becoming a strength of ours in the squad! We had good spells in both halves, but East Fife did too. I thought my squad defended really well in the late exchanges when they threw everything at us, I think at the end of the day, a draw was the right result.”
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Brian Easton
A strong return to the squad brought Easton the captain’s armband and a goal to boot. When speaking to East Fife TV after the game, he expressed disappointment at not collecting all three points, but aside from the goal, both centre halves were defensive stalwarts, limiting Montrose to very little chances.
East Fife – Adams, McLeod, Easton, Peggie (Newton 65′), Munro, Millar, McManus, Latona (Norey 65′), McKenna, Austin, Goss (Jones 76′). Subs not used: Slattery, Nicol, Bah, Rollo.
Montrose – Gill, Steeves, Waddell, Masson (Stevenson 80′), Freeman (Williamson 70′), Webster, Gibson (May 89′), Bertie, Brown, Sandilands, Loudon (Lyons 70′). Subs not used: Dillon, Tidser, Millar, Machado, Clark
Referee: Sean Murdoch
Attendance: 849
