Archives | East Fife 2 Dunfermline 5

It was John McLaughlan who took charge of a Development XI that faced the League One club on Tuesday evening as Dunfermline took on East Fife in the Quarter Finals of the 2025-2026 Fife Cup.

Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal at the sea end and Freddie Rowe got a shot in just 15 seconds, unfortunately over the crossbar. The visitors went ahead from an eighth minute free kick after Lucas Fyfe was fouled 20 yards out. Taylor SUTHERLAND stepped up and fired the setpiece wide of the wall to find the right side of the East Fife net. 0-1

The Pars second goal came on the quarter hour when Sam Fisher on the right touchline sent the ball in for Rowe to switch it to the unmarked CAMERON on the left and he advanced into the East Fife box to bury the ball low into the bottom right. 0-2

The home side`s first attempt on goal came in 23 minutes when Zach Martin broke through the middle but Thomas Margetts came to the rescue with a fine stop. Five successive Pars corners followed in 27th minute with eventually the ball being cleared. Fyfe had the ball in the net as he followed on to a long ball out of defence by John Tod but the offside flag was raised. Instead it was the black and gold who got the evening`s third goal. Gregor NICOL enjoying time to slot the ball low past the outstretched Margetts. 1-2

A deflected Ngwenya shot led to another two corners but the defence came out on top. A 45th minute corner was fisted away by keeper Matthew Rollo and was returned from 30 yards out by Cameron only to be held by the man in yellow. It was not a bad first half from Dunfermline but with Zeke Cameron a continual threat down the left, the interval lead should probably have been greater.

Half time: East Fife 1 Dunfermline 2

Within a minute of the restart a powerful run up the left by Rowe delivered a lay off that Fyfe smashed on target but the keeper`s punch denied the goal.

East Fife equalised on 50th minute from a well worked free kick from 35 yards out. Nicol sent the ball wide to Fairley on the right and his cross to the near post was headed home by Pat SLATTERY who had made a really clever run. 2-2

Dunfermline restored their lead in 61 minutes when a penetrating run down the right by Fisher was punctuated by a perfect ball for SUTHERLAND to turn in from close in. 2-3

A Fyfe effort narrowly escaped left of target before Taylor SUTHERLAND completed his hat-trick netting again from a Ngwenya won free kick 20 yards out. 2-4

Dunfermline then threatened to run riot. Hoggan was desperately unlucky to see his finish on a Sutherland cross kept out by a defender on the line. Fisher was penalised as Dunfermline forced three 83rd minute corners. Sub Jack Quinn used pace to create the chance to cross for SUTHERLAND in front of goal to grab his fourth and Dunfermline`s fifth.

A comfortable victory for Dunfermline through to a Semi Final where they await the winners of Kelty Hearts v Cowdenbeath.

EAST FIFE: 21- Matthew Rollo: 2-James Linton, 3-Joe Donaldson (4- Rhys Berry HT), 5-Hayden Wilson (27- Lewis Latona HT), 6- Jaiden Fairley, 8- Pat Slattery (c), 9- Zach Martin (18- Jake Watson 80), 10- Reece Hay (19- Keir Loughran 80), 11- Max Gallagher (17- Daniel Bell 73), 12-Gregor Nicol, 20- Mamadou Bah
SUBS NOT USED: 1- Kobie Thomson, 7- Jess Norrie,
SCORERS: Nicol (34), Slattery (50)

DUNFERMLINE: Thomas Margetts: Liam Hoggan (Jack Quinn 78), Sam Fisher, Sam Young (Alasdair Davidson HT), John Tod, Kieran Ngwenya: Mark Beveridge (James Hardie 78), Freddie Rowe, Zeke Cameron (Danny Dobbie 56): Lucas Fyfe, Taylor Sutherland (c)
SUBS NOT USED: Leighton Farquarson (GK)
SCORERS: Sutherland (8, 61, 68, 88), Cameron (15)

REFEREE: Jordan Curran
ATTENDANCE: 370
WEATHER: Fine 8⁰C