There was to be no festive cheer in Fife on Saturday as a depleted Spartans succumbed to a 5-1 defeat at blustery Bayview.
Under 20s skipper Jake Cunningham made his first senior start for the side whilst Danny Denholm was set to make his 50th following his appearance from the bench.
The forecast suggested a blowy day was in order and home keeper Liam McFarlane was to be the first witness to this as his attempted bye-kick in the opening moments took several attempts as the ball failed to stationary for the stopper.
Spartans were on the offensive from the off however James Craigen’s attempted long range effort was blocked by a East Fife player who needed to count the contents of his selection box in the aftermath.
Claims for a penalty in the home ranks saw a difference of opinion from the respective Twitter accounts based on their interpretation of proceedings: “24’ East Fife denied a stick on penalty after McManus was scythed down in the box” vs “There’s appeals from the hosts for a penalty however it’s a finely timed challenge in the box by Aaron Scott.” The only opinion that counted was the man in the middle who didn’t appear to give it a second thought.
However the hosts didn’t have long to wait before they were awarded an opportunity from twelve yards when Jake Cunningham looked to launch a Callum Booth pass back into the Forth only for Alan Trouten to anticipate, nip in front and take the defenders toe and hit the deck.
Trouten dusted himself down and despite the valiant correct guessing efforts of Blair Carswell, the pace of the strike was just to much for the keeper.
It was the same man who delivered a second for the home side with ten minutes left til the interval with a decent finish into the top corner after the Spartans defence just couldn’t clear their lines.
Cammy Russell came within a crossbar’s width of halving the deficit when his free-kick from some 30 or so yards flew past the wall and thudded off the top the goal frame.
Half-Time: East Fife 2-0 Spartans
As cliches go, the next goal would likely prove crucial. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was to come from Connor McManus who blasted home from close range after the wind played havoc with the attempted clearance.
Five minutes later, the Spartans goal did come and a fine finish it was from Mark Stowe who wrapped his foot round the ball before delivering it into the top corner.
Boosted by Stowe’s strike to get his side back into the game, Cammy Russell was next up to seek a further breakthrough only for his attempt to be held by the keeper.
Any hopes of a tricky comeback were to be upgraded to Lazarus status when Scott Shepherd flicked the ball into the net from six yards with the Spartans defenders remonstrating with the match official for the lack of offside intervention.
A double swap in the Spartans ranks saw Archie Wylie and Danny Denholm replace Aaron Scott and Mark Stowe.
It was shortly followed by Wylie’s Under 20s team mate Harvey Chisholm, making his 1st team debut and Rory Whittaker replacing James Craigen and Callum Booth.
Then, with the game in its dying moments, the hosts rounded off their scoring courtesy of Kieran Millar.
FT: East Fife 5-1 The Spartans
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Bradley Whyte
Whilst a disappointing defeat on the road, it was comforting to see no fewer than nine players in the match day squad who have come through the Spartans Player Pathway.
