After the disappointment of a third consecutive 3-2 defeat, Peterhead looked to bounce back as they took on league leaders East Fife at Balmoor on a chilly December afternoon in Peterhead. The visitors left it late to beat Elgin in their previous game to return to the summit and were looking to ride the wave of momentum that came from this victory. Peterhead made three changes to the back line which were defeated by Clyde with Blessing Oluyemi, Danny Strachan and David Wilson replacing Stuart McKenzie, Jason Brown and Scott Ross in the starting line-up.
Peterhead started the game on the front foot and created the first opportunity of the game, but Brian Easton did well to get in the way of Seb Ross’s effort and take the pace out of the shot. Less than a minute later, the Blue Toon hit the front as Danny Strachan whipped in a delightful cross to Kieran Shanks who planted a header into the top left corner and past the outstretched Liam McFarlane, grabbing his first goal of the season. Peterhead kept piling on the pressure and following a short corner, Cieran Dunne picked out Wilson but his header was claimed by McFarlane. Dunne then collected the ball around the halfway line and danced through the East Fife defence before picking out Seb, but unfortunately he couldn’t keep his effort on target.
It was very nearly a second goal for Peterhead around the 20th minute mark as Andy McCarthy looked to bend one into the far corner, however his left footed strike was the wrong side of the post. East Fife looked to grow into the game and created a couple of chances before the break: Jess Norey fired well wide from inside the box before Scott Shepherd forced a fine reactionary save from Oluyemi.
Half Time: Peterhead 1-0 East Fife
There were large appeals for a Peterhead penalty early in the second half as Jack Brown went down under a challenge from Sean Docherty but the referee adjudged the East Fife defender made contact with the ball first before Shanks forced a good stop from McFarlane. East Fife created their best chance of the game from a free kick as Easton fired over the bar from 6 yards out. Conner Duthie looked to lob the East Fife keeper from 12 yards out but Andy Munro recovered to head the ball off the line. Ben Armour did well to pick out Jack Brown but McFarlane made two fantastic saves to keep the score line down. East Fife really should have levelled the game with a few minutes on the clock as Norey’s cross found an unmarked Pat Slattery who somehow fired his effort wide from a yard out.
Full Time: Peterhead 1-0 East Fife (Shanks 8’)
Starting XI: Oluyemi, Danny Strachan, Wilson, Goldie, Dunne, McCarthy, Pawlett (Jack Brown 52’), Forrest, Barry (Duthie 70’), Seb Ross (Armour 78’), Shanks (McAllister 78’)
