Young eager for derby against Pars on new Bayview pitch

PETERHEAD 1 EAST FIFE 0

East Fife boss Darren Young is hoping to break in the new Bayview surface in style tomorrow night when Dunfermline Athletic come visiting.

Over the summer the grass pitch at Methil was ripped up and replaced with an artificial surface.

The supporters will get a chance to see it for the first time when Fife rivals Dunfermline visit for the second Betfred Cup group stage game.

The two sides couldn’t be heading into the match under more different circumstances, East Fife having been beaten 1-0 at Peterhead on Saturday while the Pars trounced Elgin City 6-0.

Young said a Fife derby presented the perfect opportunity for his side to respond in the right manner.

He said: “It’s a derby game for us so we’ll look forward to that.

“It’ll be the first match on the new pitch as well.”

Aaron Dunsmore, Mark Docherty, Craig Watson, Ben Gordon, Paul Willis and Nathan Flannigan were all new faces for an East Fife side which barely resembled the one that finished last season.

Striker Ross Mutch spent the majority of last season out on loan, while the player/boss listed himself among the substitutes.

The rain lashed down at Balmoor, creating conditions more like mid-winter than the end of pre-season.

The home side are more than used to those elements and opened the game well.

They grabbed the lead on the 10-minute mark when Rory McAllister broke clear on the East Fife goal and did what he does best, finished calmly.

Young added: “Apart from their goal, defensively we looked pretty solid and comfortable.

“We created a few chances but need to create more from the middle to front.

“We don’t want to make excuses but there are also five first team regulars out.”

East Fife boss Darren Young.