East Fife 2-0 Cove Rangers – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆William Hill League 1
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Saturday 4th October | Kick-off: 3:00pm
Following a difficult week in Methil, East Fife returned to winning ways on Saturday, as they beat current League 1 strugglers Cove Rangers at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. The result means that Cove have failed to win any of their opening nine league matches, while East Fife moved up to fourth in the table.
It was a contest that could best be described as a game of two halves, with East Fife in firm control of the first, before Cove Rangers pegged them back after half time.
The first chance of the game resulted in the opening goal, as Sam Culbert’s shot from the left was bundled over the line by Kieran Millar. It was a pivotal goal that really allowed East Fife to bed into the half.
For the remainder of the first 45, East Fife controlled proceedings, with the goal scorer Millar, and Connor McManus the two who really controlled the game, both defensively and going forward. East Fife peppered Robbie Mutch’s goal over the first half, but through a series of good saves, and slight misfortune at times, the teams went in at the break with only one goal between them. On top of this, Cove looked dangerous on the break.
It was then a complete flip in the second half, as Paul Hartley’s men held the vast majority of the ball, controlling proceedings from there on out. With that being said, Ruairidh Adams was scarcely tested in the East Fife goal, and when he was, he was equal to it.
Cove looked the more likely of the two sides to find the second goal of the match, but it was in fact Michael McKenna who killed the game in favour of the Fifers. His free kick wrapped around the Cove Rangers wall from a tricky angle and left Mutch scrambling as the ball found the corner.
Speaking with East Fife TV after the game, Assistant Manager Ian Campbell shared a happiness with how his side had performed on the whole over the first quarter, but insisted that there was room for improvement heading into the coming weeks: “When we look at the 14 points from the opening nine games, that’s not good enough for what we are looking to achieve. It’s respectable for a newly promoted team, but we want more.”
Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley was more concentrated on the game, which he described as an: “all too familiar story.” “I said to the players before the game about starting the game well, and starting the game well, and the opening five minutes shows that this was not the case today.”
It’s Challenge Cup weekend approaching, and East Fife will host Celtic B in Methil on Friday night, while Cove Rangers host Dundee United B on Saturday afternoon.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Connor McManus
It was a toss-up between him and Kieran Millar from Saturday, with both players outstanding on Saturday, but I’ve opted for McManus who was exceptional over the piece. He nullified Cove in the first half and was instrumental both at the back and going forward.
East Fife – Adams, McLeod, Peggie (Newton 90+2’), Munro, Bah, Millar, McManus, McKenna, Culbert, Austin (Norey 90+2’), Goss (Latona 75’). Subs not used: Slattery, Nicol, Rollo.
Cove Rangers – Mutch, Bisland, J Eguaibor (Strachan 45’), Harrington, Parker, Yule, Dareg, Emslie, O’Donnell, Megginson, D Eguaibor (Mylchreest 78’). Subs not used: Donaldson, Demus.
Referee – Gary Hanvidge
Attendance – 620
