Fife Exploit Highland Errors And Bag Three More Points...

23rd Feb 2008: East Fife 2, Elgin City 0 (Barrs Scottish League Division Three)

When I was going to work this morning, it didn't matter in what direction I was walking, the wind and the rain were still blasting right in my puss. Thankfully, by the time we got to Bayview this afternoon, at least the rain had abated. The North Sea gale remained, however, and still appeared to be defying all the laws of physics - it was coming from every direction! With such conditions to contend with, it wasn't a great surprise that both teams struggled in the early stages.

But the blustery weather could do nothing to dampen the enthusiasm that the boys once again showed. No matter what happens in the remaining games this season, every one of us will do well to remember that, this season, we've been gifted with the best group of players we could ever have hoped for. Yet again today they were a credit to the shirt - even if it was the red and white away one...

After picking up his booking last week at Dumbarton, Smartie was watching this one from the stands. It was no surprise that Greig stepped into his place in the centre of the defence. But Baikie did throw a bit of a curve ball by asking Paul Stewart to fill in at right back. Within only a few minutes, however, it was apparent that he'd have no trouble adapting to the role; leaving aside his outstanding goal for the moment, if we had any doubts about just how good a player he is, they were well and truly dispelled today - Paul Stewart was outstanding!

Having said that, it was still hard going in the first half. The weather certainly didn't help but, give Elgin their due, our opponents also proved very obstinate. As we all already know, at this stage of the season we can only expect that every other team in the league will be coming to Bayview even more determined than ever - there surely can be nothing better than giving the Champions Elect a bloody nose. Elgin had even more to motivate them - another defeat today would leave them with the unenviable record of 'played four, lost four' against the Fife this term.

So, despite all our best efforts, the seven hundred who'd turned up (including three from Elgin....) had to be very patient, the paucity of any clear-cut opportunities (for either side) meaning that we had to be content, for the most part, simply ripping the pish out of the big lanky nearside linesman. Apart from that, the only other things worth getting excited about in the opening forty five minutes were a couple of decent efforts from Bobby Linn and Paul McManus late on; sadly, neither posed much trouble for the Elgin keeper. Mind you, if you thought all this was tough for the paying customers, it was an even bigger shame for our very own Captain James K Kirkstorphine who'd been asked pre-match to boldly go where no Fife photographer had gone before...

He told me in the bar that 'he'd had a call' from The News of the World. Apparently, their usual(??) East Fife correspondent hadn't been able to make the game today and were wondering if he could take a few action shots for them.... Either that or they were asking him to confirm the story that's been racing around the Neuk all week about him, Ashley Cole's estranged wife and a large roll of gaffa-tape.... (no' that there's anything other than two great fotos of today's game in this week's paper, mind).

The second half was to prove far more fruitful for our photpgraphic hero (although he - and me - still managed to miss the first goal....). The team came out and really took the game by the scruff of the baws (wherever that is....). Right from the ref's whistle we got stuck into Elgin who, even at this early stage, looked like it was going to be far more troublesome than the first half. And so it proved to be. Bobby Linn and Lloyd Young continued to boss it in the centre of the park and slowly but surely our visitors were pegged back into their own box. Templeman and McManus were also still working hard (although I have to say that Paul looks a bit better to me when he plays through the middle rather than out on the wing) without being able to really trouble Ridgers in the Elgin goal.

However, just past the hour mark we grabbed the opener that we certainly deserved. Paul Stewart was able to forget about his defending duties and had been moving forward at every opportunity. Linking with Linn and McManus, he found himself in space and headed towards the Elgin box.

His touch at first appeared to have let him down as the ball trundled towards the goal line. However, Stewart refused to give up and continued his run forward. And that was to be the undoing of Paul Kaczan (he's no' fae roon here; wi' a name like that ah'd guess Coatbridge.....) who tried to nurse the ball over the line but failed miserably when Steward snuck in and grabbed it from his feet. Seconds later we were a goal up as he'd somehow managed to then slide the ball past Ridgers from the most accute angle. It was nothing less than scintillating stuff; a perfect goal by a player who was having a cracking game.

And the fans just loved it - speechless for a second or two until what they'd just witnessed had time to sink into our collective psyche. Unbelievable goal and just what we needed to settle the nerves and start to really enjoy the afternoon. We'd only just settled back in our seats when we doubled the lead. If the first had come about by some sloppy defending, you can be sure that Elgin will be trying to forget this one as soon as...

Paul McManus tracked back but couldn't believe his luck when he easily took the ball from the foot of one of the Elgin midfielders on halfway. Charging forward against pretty much fuck all of a defence it was a doddle for him to unselfishly slide the ball through for the Great Fozzmundo (fuck knows what he was doing so far up the park.....) who ran onto the ball and cracked a great effort goalwards. He was unlucky not to score but as Ridgers came out to parry the shot, the keeper could do no more than knock the ball against his team-mate, Steven Mackay, and then look on in disbelief as the ball slowly trickled into the open goal.

Even though our visitors came close just a minute later (good move but a terrible finish....), this one was by now well settled. We continued to press and City simply went through the motions and tried to stop it getting any worse. How we failed to add to the scoring is a question that maybe should be posed to Shagger and big Chris. Both continued to work hard and get into great positions but failed to make the most of the inevitable opportunities that came their way. But if they played for a team in the SPL we'd just be going on about them 'gettin' into the positions' so we can't be critical of them. Their effort was unquestioned and that's good enough for me; the goals will certainly come...

But maybe not today. With about ten minutes to go (and with the Fife swarming all over Elgin) we should have added a third. With the visitors' defence posted AWOL, it looked the easiest of tasks for Shagger to bang one in (if you'll excuse my language...) but somehow he contrived to miss a gaping target (sorry...) and skelped it wide from no more than four yards out. Nevertheless, we continued to press and only a decent save was to stop us adding a third.

Gary Greenhill made an appearance late on, replacing Lloyd Young, and just moments later came close with a great effort from the edge of the box. Sadly, Ridgers was just about good enough to make the save and clear the danger. Craig O'Reilly, who'd also made a late entry to the game, was his usual hardworking self but failed to make an awful lot of impact and slowly the game drifted to its conclusion. The ref found a few minute's injury time from somewhere but eventually blew and put Elgin out of their misery.

It had taken a while to get started but, once again, the boys had showed us all just what they're made of. The conditions hadn't made it easy but our second half performance had proven to be more than value for money. The fans drifted off home happy that another three points had been safely bagged and secure in the knowledge that, with games running out, we can all start preparing for what's going to be a great celebration some time early in March. Mr Corstorphine, of course, had reasons to be cheerful right now. Not only had he managed to get a few decent pictures for the paper (aye, right, Jim...) in the second half, but had young Cheryl waiting for him somewhere up the coast with a roll of silver sticky tape and a smile that suggests she knows just what tae do with it.... Enjoy what's left of the weekend, big man!

And see the rest of you all next week in Stranraer - remember to get rid of the beer bottles before you reach the city walls!