Fife bounce back from tough week with cup tie win

The manner of the performance and how it came was irrelevant - just get through to the next round.

Safe to say this wasn’t a match which will be released on DVD any time soon.

It wasn’t a classic and those who watched last week’s tight tie at Bayview between the two sides, which ended 1-1, would have arrived at Meadowbank with a rough idea of what to expect.

Edinburgh City went into the game on form and on an eight game undefeated run.

The Fifers had been on a poor run of results and were hoping their fortunes would change against the improving capital side.

Of course, all the chatter in the stands before the game was about the departure of Gary Naysmith and who would replace him.

With the action on the park pretty hard on the eyes, those peepers were instead trained on the stand to see which of the bookies favourites were watching on.

Former Fife captain, and the man who helped relegate East Fife a few seasons back while boss at Stirling Albion, Greig McDonald, was amongst those taking in the game.

His price with the bookmakers has taken quite a tumble, and now sees him almost favourite with current Kelty Hearts boss Tom Courts.

Fife ‘keeper Ryan Goodfellow admitted after the game that the players knew their next gaffer could be in the stands so were keen to impress.

In the first half they faced a strong wind which saw them struggle to really put too much together.

The impressive Ross Brown tried to grab the game by the scruff of the neck but his runs towards goal were cut out by the City defence.

Scott Robinson could have put East Fife ahead when he headed a Kevin Smith cross over the bar from just a few yards out.

With the wind at their backs in the second 45 it was a different East Fife which used the conditions well to secure an advantage.

The visitors took the lead when City couldn’t clear their lines from a corner and Robinson hooked a sublime ball back into the box.

With the defence racing to get out, this left Chris Kane free inside the box and he clipped the ball past Andrew Stobbie.

The goal seemed to visibly lift a Fife side which has been labouring for confidence in recent weeks.

Within a few minutes Smith had a decent shout for a penalty snubbed when he went down under pressure.

The home side tried to change things up and introduced all their subs in one swoop with 20 minutes to go.

But managerless East Fife held firm to set up a fourth round tie with Livingston.

After the game, ‘keeper Goodfellow told the East Fife Mail: “If there’s a new manager coming in then boys want to prove a point.

“He could have been at the game watching so we wanted to put ourselves out there and catch his eye.

“It’s been different with the manager leaving.

“I thought he did brilliantly when he was here and we wish him all the best.

“But we needed the win for ourselves as well - we’ve been working hard and deserve it.”

Dougie Anderson, who took the side in Edinburgh and is likely to stay in that role for the weekend when they travel to Brechin in the league, paid tribute to the players.

“The gaffer is away now and the players are feeling that,” he said.

“But what a great bunch of guys they are, they played for the club and got them through to the next round of the Scottish Cup which I can only commend them for.

“We’ve been on a bad run of late and confidence was low but hopefully that win can give them a bit more self belief.”