East Fife 5-3 Celtic B – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆KDM Evolution Trophy
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Friday 10th October | Kick-off: 7:45pm
East Fife were on the winning end of an eight-goal thriller against Celtic B at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Friday night. The victory confirms East Fife’s place in the knockout stages of the KDM Evolution Trophy, although victory over Edinburgh City in the final group game could see the Fifers finish in a seeded position.
The game finished 5-3 to the Fifers, but it was Celtic who took the lead early in the first half with Summers converting for the visitors to put them ahead.
We went on to equalise after a period of control in the game, with Nathan ‘Fash’ Austin grabbing his seventh goal of the Challenge Cup campaign.
The sides went in level at the break, although the Fifers had squandered a fair few chances.
Celtic took the lead for the second time on the night, despite East Fife’s bright start to the second half. Isiguzo was the scorer.
Ten minutes later, Michael McKenna grabbed his first goal of the evening after he burst in behind and lashed his effort into the back of the net, beating Celtic’s offside trap.
Just five minutes later, East Fife found themselves in front for the first time in the contest. Nathan Austin grabbed his second of the night, and eighth of the competition, with Fash capitalising on a stramash in the Celtic box to tuck the ball home.
Goals were flying in left, right and centre, as five minutes later, East Fife went two ahead. Jess Norey met McLeod’s cross with a neat volley from close, to beat the stranded Celtic ‘keeper.
Robert Rachwal was next to score in the 89th minute, as he beat Matty Rollo via a deflection to tee up a nervy end to the match, with only one goal separating the sides.
East Fife’s quality over the course of the game proved fruitful however, and Michael McKenna grabbed his second goal of the night, with this finish the pick of the bunch. The ball was cleared from the box to East Fife’s number 22 on the edge of the box, and McKenna fired his effort right into the top corner on the half volley. The goal gave an entertaining finish to what was an enjoyable game of football between the two teams.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Michael McKenna.
Sam Culbert put in some shift on Friday night but I simply cannot ignore McKenna’s finishes, and work rate as he played in a more advanced role. He was instrumental in the victory that has teed us up for the knockout rounds of the KDM Evolution Trophy.
East Fife – Rollo, McLeod, Peggie, Munro, Bah, Norey (Millar 81’), Latona, McKenna, Culbert (Nicol 78’), Austin, Jones (McManus 60’). Subs not used: Thomson, Newton, Slattery.
Celtic B – Rice, Crawford, Kyle (Rachwal 77’), Simpson-Pusey, Borland, K Daly (Sedwell 78’), Keenan, Isiguzo, Obidiwe (Hartington 68’), Osmand, Summers. Subs not used: English, Shaw, Haney, C Daly, Clearie.
Referee – George Calder
Attendance – 616
