Scotty Dazzler

Happy days are here again… after last week’s blip against Arbroath, and having successfully negotiated my release from domestic duties, I travelled to Methil not exactly with high hopes. I figured that if Steven Ferguson was back in the starting line up we would stand a chance, otherwise it would be backs to the wall, and 90 minutes of torture while we hold on to a 0-0 draw. Whether Ferguson would be fit was a mystery. One thing Campbell Money was good at was keeping us up to date with goings on at the club through his regular column. Since he left, Money/Coughlin Talks has not been updated, for whatever reason; so I had no idea what the prognosis was on Ferguson’s injury. Would he be fit or wouldn’t he? What about Ross Hamilton and Steven Hampshire? Surely there are goings on at the club that those without direct access to management and the board would like to know about. Back to the game – boy, is New Bayview a depressing, soulless haunt. Ochilview might not be the most impressive footballing theatre but at least it has a bit of character, and is most definitely “Ochilview”. East Fife’s new ground could be one any number of the new plastic grounds popping up over the country. When developing new grounds is this really all that is on offer? We played relatively well; very solid and difficult to get round. Bit like our manager I guess. East Fife, unlike their manager, lacked any sort of punch. While there is no doubt they are the best team in this league, I can’t help feeling that their Neanderthal tactics will get their comeuppance in the 2nd division. The tactic of punting high balls, occasionally in the direction of their 7’9” striker was less than effective, and McCulloch and Mailey coped easily enough with everything thrown at them. Up front Scott Dalziel is proving a more than capable player at this level. Up against 3rd division defences he looks a real handful. Very pacey; deceptively so. Whether he would be able to cope with the step up in leagues is another question. Hopefully he will get a chance to prove he can, next season!

So this weekend brings another big game with the visit of Stranraer. Should be interesting. Hopefully we will have some of our key players back from injury, but I suppose I’ll just have to wait until 3 o’clock on Saturday to find out.