|
East Fife reached the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup for the first time in fourteen years with a sparkling performance at New Bayview Stadium.
The homesters were the quicker side out of the blocks, opening the scoring in under 3 minutes when Kurtis BYRNE struck from 10 yards after Linn's shot was blocked by a defender. East Fife should have doubled their lead six minutes later but Lloyd Young hesitated with just Bino's keeper Christie to beat, who easily blocked his effort.
Stirling came back into the game, creating a series of chances before deservedly equalising in 29 minutes when Stewart DEVINE's in-swinging corner somehow evaded everyone in a packed penalty area to find the net. Two minutes later and it was nearly two as Fife keeper Baillie turned Ryan Borris's shot from point blank range round the post after good work from Corrigan.
As the interval approached, the Fifers began to gain the upper hand again, both and Young coming close to restoring the lead for the Methil men.
Half-Time: East Fife 1 Stirling Albion 1
East Fife began the second period where they left off and with 50 minutes on the clock found the net again with a delightful goal. David Muir's diagonal ball finding Durie on the overlap on the right, whose low cross was dummied by Crawford to allow Craig JOHNSTONE time to prod the ball home. The Fifers really had their tails up at this stage with player-manager Crawford, a late inclusion in the side for the injured Hislop, providing excellent support for his younger colleagues. Linn, Johnstone and Muir were all denied by Christie in the Albion goal but substitute Colquhoun could have levelled for the Bino's in 77 minutes but managed to direct his shot wide of the target instead.
The Fifers finally settled the issue with one minute remaining, Stuart CARGILL turning Byrne's low cross into the net from close range.
Final Score: East Fife 3 Stirling Albion 1
East Fife: Baillie, Durie, Deland, Muir, Smart, Murdoch, Linn, (Sloan), Byrne, Crawford, (Cargill), Johnstone, (Tansey), Young
Subs Not Used: Bryce, Brown
Stirling Albion: Christie, Corrigan, Forsyth, McDonald, Buist, (Kirwan), Kane, Gibson, (Colquhoun), Devine, (Robertson), Mullen, Borris, Taggart.
Subs Not Used: Aitken, Reidford.
Attendance: 512
|
