Fife Shape Up With Another Stern Test

22nd Jul 2008: Forfar Athletic 1, East Fife 2 (Friendly)

Like the last time we visited Station Park this was, to all intents and purposes, nothing more than a bump match; tonight just a means of getting another game under our belts and improving match fitness. However, just like last time, the fans were actually treated to a great game of fuba with both sides making decent chances; the sharpness and quality of the Fife ultimately proving to be the real difference between the teams.

If there was any doubt that the signing of Stevie Crawford earlier in the day was having any adverse impact on the self belief of the other strikers in the team, their performances and attitude soon dispelled any such negative thoughts. Shagger and the Boaby were DB's preferred opening combo and were soon up to speed, connecting well to make the Loons' defence look pretty foolish right from the off.

So confident was McManus that it took him less than ten minutes to open the scoring. For the second game on the bounce he took advantage of a defensive error; tonight's opportunity, however, left him with somewhat more to do than simply tap the ball away - it was an absolute cracker of a goal, struck with the outside of his boot and always too good for the despairing keeper.

My eyes and ears for the night actually manifested themselves in Stephen Manson (his wages from Forfar Athletic are just enough to keep him gainfully employed at Bank of Scotland wi' folk like me...) who spent an hour or so on the bench before coming on and trying to turn it around for the home side in the final twenty. He tells me that, even though he thought his team mates put in a great shift, he had to hand it to Shagger - 'honest, Ian, his goal really was a thing of beauty' (or something similarly poetic; it's no' easy for a boy fae Tranent....). It's a hell of a journey fae Edinburgh to Forfar on a Tuesday night, especially when yer just gonnae be warmin' the bench. But, to be fair, the big lad was treated to another hardworking display from the Fife. And that's always got to be a treat - even if you're playing for the opposition!

So dominant were we in the early stages that just moments after the opener, Linn nearly doubled our lead when he blasted an effort from twenty five yards, only to see the Loons' keeper comfortably collect the ball. Inspired by our possession, we kept at it but soon had to face a far sterner examination from our hosts that we did in any of the four competitive games last term. They'd taken a severe boot in the baws last weekend at Inverurie (what a day oot that was for us last year; remember Tweedie scorin' with his arse?) so back home in front of three dozen of their own fans, they really tried to impress.

And much tae Mr Manson's chagrin (no' often he's called 'Mister' and less likely he'll even know how to pronounce chagrin....), the boy keepin' him oot the team was having a blinder. Kev McLeish had already threatened with a decent headed effort but just on twenty minutes he dragged the Loons right back into it, taking the ball for a wee dribble (please feel free to land him on his arse any one of Greig, Jay, Tweedie or Dougie....) before bangin' in a great shot from the edge of the box and watching triumphantly as the ball evaded the Fife keeper and ended up in the net - get a hold of yersel, Kev, yer team's still officially the worst in the land!

Aye, well, mebbe the team's shite but McLeish looks the biz. On the half hour mark he blasted a free kick from just outside the box and nearly broke the crossbar. Could be a long, lonely season for Manson - they'll be painting his name on his seat in the dug out...

After that the Loons enjoyed their best possession in the game, pretty much bossing us around until the half time interval. Even in the first fifteen minutes of the second half we showed little of our early dominance and were a wee bit fortunate to keep our hosts out. However, Dave Baikie proved again and again last season that he's in control and can read the game as well as anyone (he's certainly better than me an' the mob ah go tae the fitba with...). A number of substitutions were made but probably most significant was the appearance of Stevie Crawford in an East Fife shirt.

He might be an auld codger (but so am ah'), he might have a somewhat dodgy footballing background (fuck, ah'm one tae talk...) and he might appear tae be something of a small town boy (hey, ah get homesick when the missus takes me shopping in Glenrothes) but the man's certainly got a touch. He had twenty minutes to make an impact in this one and showed his class (at this level anyway) by taking less than half that to bag the winner, sneaking it past the Forfar keeper from close range.

So, give the boy his due, if he works hard he'll be fightin' his way tae Baikie's door lookin' for a starting position. There are, of course, a number of established players further up the pecking order and on the basis of tonight's game, they'll all be struggling to force their way past Shagger and Boaby who, already this season, have, at times, looked irresistable. From the fans' point of view, it's all starting to look pretty damn good - don't think we're five tae two favourites yet but as the pre-season continues, it's all starting to shape up nicely...

A toughie awaits us on Thursday when the Accies come to town and then it's right in to round one (of six) against Brechin at the weekend. Then we'll really see what we're made of. I'm excited to be part of it...