East Fife 2-3 Montrose – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆William Hill League 1
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Saturday 31st January 2026 | Kick-off: 3:00pm
East Fife slumped to yet another defeat on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Montrose. However, it should be noted that East Fife put in a much better performance than in recent weeks, and it was moments that cost them, rather than the holistic performance.
Jack Healy, who was making his first start in a number of weeks, had East Fife’s first chances of the game. He picked the ball up on the left-hand side, and jinked inside, before letting his driven shot away. Unfortunately, it was easily gathered by Sharp in the Montrose goal.
East Fife continued to hold a territorial advantage but could not make it count throughout the first half.
Just after the half hour mark, the game sprung to life. Firstly, East Fife came close following some patient build up play. Despite this, it was the visitors who would take the lead moments later. A favourable break of the ball in the penalty area left Sutherland with space to shoot, and he made no mistake with his finish. East Fife had been the better side early on, but found themselves in an all too familiar position, a goal down.
This only lasted a matter of minutes however, as Sam Culbert took the game by the scruff of the neck. He scooped the ball into possession and drove into space. He then unleashed a curling effort from 25 yards out, and even though the ‘keeper got a hand to it, he still could not keep out one of the strikes of the season.
East Fife could not stay on level terms for long though, and soon after grabbing the equaliser, the Fifers conceded a penalty when Mamadou Bah committed a foul inside the box. Sutherland stepped up again, wrong footing Robbie Hemfrey, making it two for the striker, and two for Montrose.
New signing Dennis Halliday was brought on at half time and looked the part, with his quick feet and his willingness to shoot. He had an effort which looked destined for the bottom corner denied by goalkeeper Sharp.
On the hour mark, East Fife drew level for the second time in the match. Reis Peggie worked hard down the left-hand side and put in a menacing low cross. East Fife players gathered at the back post, though it was Montrose captain Andrew Steeves who put it into the back of his own net instead.
After the game went 2-2, East Fife continued to grow and looked set to clinch the winner. Halliday was once again a threat, but goalkeeper Sharp matched his efforts. The game fell apart at the end if truth be told for East Fife. Another needless error for the Methil Milan saw Sutherland in on goal again with fifteen minutes to go. The Montrose striker made no mistake with his finish and completed his hattrick. Three goals for Sutherland and three points for Montrose.
East Fife – Hemfrey, McManus, Peggie, Munro, Bah, Millar, Rowe, Latona (Halliday 45’), Healy (Halsey 70’), Culbert, Oladipo (Nicol 81’). Subs not used: Linton, Slattery, Fairley, El Harek, Rollo, Jones.
Montrose – Sharp, Steeves, Freeman, Dillon, Glasgow (Williamson 70’), Sandilands (Brown 83’), Lyons (Clark 83’), Stevenson (Masson 61’), Towler, Webster (Loudon 61’), Sutherland. Subs not used: North, Bertie, Millar.
Referee – Euan Anderson
Attendance – 553
