East Fife -V- Inverness CT - League1
With the prospect of a title winning celebration happening this weekend, a big crowd is expected at Bayview Stadium, Methil. It's certainly not a formality by any means, however, there is a distinct possibility that something could happen and that will swell the crowd. East Fife have had to review their seating allocation to try and accommodate this surge in ticket sales and we are still waiting for further developments regarding ticket sales as of Monday at 21:00. It did open but sold out quickly and we now await more seating to be released by East Fife. A win for the Caley Jags will secure the title outright regardless of what Stenhousemuir do against Alloa Athletic. A draw might be enough but that depends on Stenhousemuir losing or at worst, drawing, something that is not a common occurrence at Ochilview this season. A defeat for both clubs hands Inverness the title and promotion. Defeat at Bayview takes it to the final day against Accies as long as Stenny get the win, and a draw at Stenny would probably suffice for us given our superior goal difference.
It's all ifs and buts at the moment.
It's only this season that our paths have crossed again after a 27 year hiatus in League games. We did have a League cup win over them in 2020 when Shane Sutherland scored the only goal of the game. We have been pretty dominant this season so far scoring nine goals and conceding one in the first meeting this season in a 4-1 win in the Highlands. Our overall Head 2 Head meetings with East Fife is good with 10 wins, two defeats and two draws in the 14 fixtures played since we first locked horns in a Scottish Cup tie in 1996. That one ended in a 1-1 draw: A team of volunteers cleared a 2 inch covering of snow to allow this game to go ahead. The first chance fell after 5 minutes to East Fife's Trinidadian Arnold Dwarika but Jim Calder saved his 25 yard drive. Two minutes later Calder touched a Robert Scott shot round the post. Five minutes later lain Stewart had the home fans roaring when he opened the scoring - a long pass from Graeme Bennett found Stewart with a little space on the right edge of the area and he chipped (surprise surprise) the ball over Lindsay Hamilton. It was nearly two in 15 minutes but Richard Hastings 30 yard free kick flew narrowly past the post. The home side had other first half chances through Stewart and Hercher and East Fife came close in 41 minutes when Calder touched away a David Beaton free kick. The home side continued to impress in the second half and had excellent chances through Teasdale and Hercher. In 78 minutes East Fife drew level - Alex Hamill slipped the ball to Dwarika on the right and without breaking stride he curled the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net from 25 yards. Caley Thistle fought back but could not find the net - their best effort was 6 minutes from time when a well timed tackle from John McStay foiled Alan Hercher. The home side were disappointed not to have held on to their lead and East Fife headed south greatly relieved.
<Both Reports by Ian Broadfoot>
The replay was also drawn 1-1 thanks to an injury time equaliser from Alan Hercher who cancelled out Scott's opener on 75m. A tremendous victory for Caledonian Thistle but only after an injury time equaliser in normal time and the drama of penalty kicks.
The match was played at a furious pace on a wet and windy evening and several hundred Inverness fans witnessed an historic victory. East Fife had the better of the first half as the visitors battled into the gales - the best chances for the home side fell to Mark Donaghy who hit it over the bar in 8 minutes and to player/manager Steve Archibald who did the same from 6 yards in 24 minutes. Caley Thistle dominated the penalty shoot out with the home players clearly very nervous. Iain Stewart, Mike Noble and Daisy Ross all scored for the visitors while East Fifes Allan hit it over the bar, Jim Calder saved from Hope and McStay scored.
At 3-1 Colin Mitchells penalty was saved by Hamilton but the match was over when Hutcheon hit the post. A superb night for Caley Thistle and a place in the last 16 of the Cup.
February 12th, 1996, 7:30 PM at Bayview Park, Methil:
Crowd: 1345
Those were the days with big names like Steve Archibald, Pele, Jim Calder, Iain Stewart
This one is filling up fast. Be there or be square.
⛔ As of Tuesday, our Allocation has been sold out ⛔
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Match/Ticket/Info
DIRECT LINK FOR AWAY TICKETS
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Last 4 games v E Fife. 3 this season and a L/Cup fixture 2020
3 - 0 (H)
2 - 0 (A)
4 - 1 (H)
1 - 0 (H)
Last Saturday's squad that squeaked through against Kelty Hearts. Paul Allan still claiming the goal but officially it's still an og credited to Alex Ferguson. We seem to be holding strong in the run in with two crucial wins at Peterhead and at home to Kelty after a run of three draws. A third win will see us Promoted as Champions in front of a big crowd at Bayview.
Last Six League1:
W D D D W W
Admission Prices:
o Adults: £20
o Concessions: £16 [Over 65s and full-time students]
o Under 16: £5
o Parent & 1 Child: £23
o Parent & 2 Children: £25
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview.
Disabled Supporters
Supporters requiring additional assistance should contact East Fife’s Disability Access Officer,
Stephen Mill ([email protected]) in advance of the match.
East Fife are still requiring points to be safe at the bottom end and with Accies having a vastly superior goal difference then every point is a prisoner for the Fifers. After three draws in a row, the last draw being a comeback point from 2-0 down v Stenny, they then lost 1-0 at Montrose but stunned Peterhead with a 2-1 win at Bayview before last weeks 2-0 defeat at Alloa.
Last Six League1:
D D D L W L
Nathan Austin helped our cause with the second comeback goal against Stenhousemuir. Sam Culbert on loan from Livingston has been on the scoresheet as well. He's one to watch, as is former Arbroath striker Michael McKenna.
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
1
ICTFC
34
35
65
2
Stenny
34
20
61
3
Alloa
34
16
53
4
QotS
34
8
50
5
P'Head
34
-12
43
6
Monty
34
-17
41
7
Cove
34
-5
34
8
E Fife
34
-27
34
9
Accies
34
11
31
10
Kelty
34
-29
26
Sounds like a full squad for Fife
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tm4tj in Previews 2025-26 ·
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