Match Report | East Fife v Peterhead – Saturday 11th April 2026

East Fife 2-1 Peterhead – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆William Hill League 1
📍MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
🗓️Saturday 11th April 2026 | Kick-off: 3:00pm

East Fife at long last claim victory against Peterhead, taking a massive leap towards survival in their first season back in William Hill League 1.

Goals from Brian Easton and Sam Culbert were enough to seal the three points against the Blue Toon, maintaining a six-point gap between the Fifers and the relegation play-offs, with just three games to go.

The Fifers controlled the game in large spells, with chances flowing, as Peterhead were restricted for the most part, except from spells at the beginning of both halves.

The Methil Milan looked to take their time warming into the game, as the Highland side started the faster of the two teams, without creating too many opportunities.

After ten minutes, East Fife played themselves into a spot of danger with an under hit back pass to goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey, but he was able to clear his lines, and from there, East Fife grew into the game.

Kieran Millar had a chance after fifteen minutes, as he hit the crossbar from range, trying to lob the Peterhead goalkeeper following a clearance from a corner.

East Fife didn’t have much longer to wait however, as captain Brian Easton headed the Fifers in front just minutes later, nodding home from a Pat Slattery corner, beating Newman at the front post.

East Fife played well enough to be further ahead at the interval, with Sam Culbert having an effort cleared off the line by Henry James, less than five minutes after the opener.

Nathan Austin also had a crack from a free kick, though Newman was able to bat away from his near post.

In the final moments of the half, Michael McKenna burst through on goal, though his effort from close range was smashed off target.

Peterhead clearly had a spring in their step and came out for the second half with a bit of gale.

A scrappy opening ten minutes saw the Blue Toon look the better side, and they capitalised on a slight defensive lapse from East Fife on their right-hand side of defence, to cross the ball into McGuffie. He rolled it into the far away bottom corner, undoing all of East Fife’s hard work in the first half in an instant.

Peterhead had moments then to take the lead, as it was East Fife’s turn to clear an effort off the line, which proved to be the turning point in the half, allowing East Fife to gather some momentum of their own.

After sixty-five minutes, East Fife retook the lead in the contest. Kieran Millar and Pat Slattery jostled excellently in individual battles to keep possession, before the latter slipped the ball to Fash down the right. Austin then laid it off to Michael McKenna on the wing, who drilled the ball across the six-yard box, finding Sam Culbert, who fired home for East Fife, scoring a crucial goal in the fight for survival.

East Fife had chances to then double their lead, most notably through McKenna, though his attempt was diverted away from goal.

There was relief all round at the full-time whistle as East Fife held on to claim just their second victory of 2026.

East Fife – Hemfrey, Halsey (Bah 88’), Easton, Peggie, Munro, Millar (Latona 88’), McManus, Slattery (Scally 73’), Austin, McKenna, Culbert. Subs not used: Harek, Rowe, Halliday, Healy, Dunford.

Peterhead – Newman, Carnwath, Steele, James (Jones 80’), Kerr, McGiffie, Smith (M Ross 39’), Pawlett (McGinn 73’), Forrest, S Ross (J Brown 73’), Shanks. Subs not used: Duffy, Strachan, McKelvie, Jo Brown.

Referee – Iain Sneddon

Attendance – 663