Classy Fifers Take The Points

18th Oct 2008: Peterhead 0, East Fife 1 (Barrs Scottish League Division Two)

A fortnight ago we were taken tae bits by a team that souldnae even be in the same division as we are. Today we made the long trip north to take on a side that, on the opening day of this season, made us look like disorganised bairns. Of course, we had nothing to worry about... we were away from home and, as we've all become used to, we never lose on the road these days. It was always tough this afternoon but, at times, we were simply magnificent...

Ah headed north by train, bus and "followin' those two guys cos they look like they know where they're going", the weather improving all the time, clouds disappearing, leaving blue skies and sunny conditions. Peterhead might be above the Arctic Circle but this afternoon it was positively balmy as we arrived at the doors of the famous Buena BlooToonsta Social Club. The welcome inside from the locals was just as warm, the obligatory raffle seller making his way around the collected human detritus takin' a quid a go in return for a prize of two free tickets for today's game - draw to be made at half time!!!!

Ah suppose now would be the time tae tell you the joke that Jim Corstorphine told me about how tight the locals are round here but, instead, all ah'll say is that the fans and the officials of Peterhead FC were nothing but kind and welcoming to me and that, Jim, you should be ashamed of yersel, stereotyping people like that.... (the gag wis funny, mind - ho, ho, ho...).

Another great away crowd was there to cheer on the boys as they kicked off dead on three. It was immediately obvious that both teams were up for it but, already, it looked like Baikie had stolen a march on Blues' gaffer, Neale Cooper, by deciding to pack five into the midfield. It could've been a lonely afternoon for Paul McManus up front but, right from the off, we were bossing the ball in the middle of the park and Baikie's audacious tactics still allowed us to be flexible enough to get forward in numbers to support Shagger.

The first real chance, however, fell to our hosts, a speculative volley from just outside the Fife box just past the five minute mark. It was a decent shot but, encouragingly, Willie was more than able to smother the ball safely in his arms. Although the Blue Toon worked hard all afternoon, McCulloch would have been pleased to have known that that first save was gonna be pretty much as troublesome as it was gonna get all day. With Greig and Smartie still absent, it was grand to see our rearguard (led by the irrepressible Mister Tweed) cope so easily. Our makeshift defence gives the impression that neither of the injured boys will have an easy job breaking back into the team...

In the middle of the park we continued on the ascendancy, Stevie Crawford in particular looking far more comfortable wi the extra wee bit of time that he could find on the ball. He was as likely to be combining with Fozzie at the back as he was pushing forward with Shields and the Boaby; don't know if we can afford the luxury in the long term of paying a former international striker in the midfield but right now, with Shagger on fire up top, he's making a real impact.

Shields too was working hard but appeared to be just a touch off his game this afternoon, full of great ideas but not quite able to execute them. As a result, at times we seemed just a wee bit one dimensional in the first period, coming closest on the half hour mark when McManus' goal bound effort was cleared off the line by some desperate Peterhead defending. We continued to have plenty of possession and pushed forward almost at will but failed to come up with much of any great potency and when the cheat blew for the interval, had to be satisfied with honours equal. The Blue Toon would have been the happier but Baikie too would have been a bit concerned that we'd failed to capitalise on some great possession.

It remains uncertain whether it was DB's halftime talk or simply the team's professionalism and self belief but right from the whistle, the guys knuckled down and took up where they'd left off at the end of the first. The difference now, however, was that they looked altogether far sharper and focused. McManus kept up the pace and effort and was very soon back in the groove, at times making the home defence look foolish. It seemed only a matter of time before the goal scoring dynamo would open his account for the day; as it was, however, our first chance came from a less obvious source. We'd pushed the Peterhead defence right back in the first ten minutes of the second half and forced our hosts into conceding a corner.

The Boaby had screwed up on a couple earlier in the match but from this latest chance he whipped over a tight, swerving effort that almost caught their keeper offguard and ultimately forced him into tipping the ball just over the bar. What a way for Mr Linn to open his account for the season - he was, as we say doon ma way, a baw hair away from emulating Dougie C's feat from last season. Close, Bobby, but not quite close enough...

Meanwhile, at the other end Willie McCulloch and Steven Tweed had time for a blether - ah know Willie's aye keen tae tell you about the prize winning vegetables (ah'm sure ah've even heard him use the word 'brasicas') he grows in his back garden; how big Tweedie managed not only to stay awake but to actually appear interested, I'll never know. They had little to do throughout the second half, only once given a scare when Peterhead's Davie Ross fired in a hopeful lob from the edge of the box. As McCulloch contemplated his beans, the ball rattled off the top of the bar, giving the home fans an ooh-ahh moment but failing to do much to concern the visiting fans. For all their best efforts, Peterhead singularly failed to make any real impression - and if any of you are in need of some gardening advice, you know who to ask...

As the boys at the back were up to whatever, Shagger and the rest of the gang were pressing hard at the other end. McManus again came close just past the hour mark when another great effort was cleared off the line. They weren't gonna keep us out forever, though, and fifteen minutes from time Paul got his reward and made the day for the three hundred Fifers in the stand. Lloydie (who'd replaced Deno ten minutes later) had been tearin' a new arse for their hapless left back since he came on and now really rubbed it in (if you'll excuse my mixed metaphors...), taking the ball past the poor unfortunate before firing over a great cross. As the home defence huffed and puffed, McManus slid into the six yard box, connected sweetly with the ball and banged it home. Crackin' goal, no less than he deserved and, for once, ah was able tae get a foti!

In the main stand, the home fans were silenced but a wall of euphoric noise soon engulfed them as the Fifers' cheers errupted across the pitch. The locals had been nothing less than perfect hosts all day but had resigned themselves long since that the best they'd get was a draw. The Fife goal really did knock the stuffin' out of them all. But to be fair to Neale Cooper's team, they kept on trying right until the end. Konrad Kozminski (a local lad who always wanted tae play for his home town team) will feel unlucky not to have at least forced a save out of McCulloch when his late effort went just wide and Graham Sharp also had one slight chance in the closing minutes.

However, despite their best efforts, it was an easy afternoon for the Fife defenders who hardly had to break sweat in the second half to keep the Blue Toon at arm's length. As the seconds ticked away our hosts pumped the ball forward at every opportunity but the ref eventually realised that some of us had trains tae catch and decided to bring proceedings to a close. The home fans trudged away, disgruntled and dejected and Baikie's boys took their deserved applause from the guys who'd come north from the Kingdom. Another great performance on the road - if only we could do the same at home...

We have another opportunity next week when we welcome Arbroath back to Bayview. If you'd asked me a month ago, ah'd have put it down as a banker but after the Stranraer debacle two weeks ago, ah guess we simply must show them respect and concentrate fully on the task at hand. For the fans who made the trip to Peterhead today, all ah can ask is that you make as much noise as you did today. Wi that kind of support back home in Methil, we've surely got to start grabbing more points...

C'mon the Fife - fourth place now and continuing to head in the right direction!