FIFERS STILL A POTENT FORCE

EAST Fife boss Dave Baikie is confident his side can creep back into the title race after Saturday's 3-1 victory over Elgin City.

The Fifers went nine games without a win until last week's victory over Albion Rovers and, with six points in the last two games, the optimism is returning.

Baikie said: "I'm noticing the confidence returning but we aren't back to the way we were at the start of the season.

"No one expected us to lead the division and we took a lot of people by surprise.

"I think in recent months there has been more pressure on the players.

"We were the surprise package but teams twigged that we weren't pushovers and their attitude changed towards us.

"We have to take each game as it comes and hope other teams falter.

"A lot of the top teams are playing each other over the coming weeks and something has to give. We need to close the gap and put pressure on them."

A change in preparation is one of the reasons the Fifers have found form, Baikie explained.

"In our training schedule we have been doing a lot more fitness work," he said, "which has helped us, as we have been the stronger team in the last 15 minutes of our recent games.

"Also in the week leading up to the Albion Rovers game, we felt we had to sit the players down and we discussed the need to improve our mental strength."
The Fifers face East Stirlingshire away at the weekend but Baikie is wary about the threat they face after losing 2-0 to the second bottom side at Bayview in January.

He said: "You just have to look at the last time we met when they beat us and that should be enough to ensure we aren't complacent.

"We will need to work really hard for the victory.

"They have a good work ethic with some decent individuals such as Paul Stewart, who we tried to sign in the window, who is a good, creative player."
East Fife are without long-term injury victims Jason Dair with a calf problem, and Jamie McGowan, who could return in a couple of weeks. Tom Courts also remains out with a cracked rib and thigh strain.

Meanwhile, Baikie has praised goal hero Craig O'Reilly, who has hit a rich vein of goal-scoring form with four from the last two games.
He said: "Craig has made a real impact since he came back into the side.

"He is only 19 so his form is going to be up and down. For a spell, he lost his confidence, but teaming up with Paul Ritchie, who has talked him through the games, has made a big difference."

Meanwhile, the club is proud to report its competition to design a strip took off in a big way during the two weeks before the end-of-February deadline.

"We had almost 90 entries, including 36 and 32 from Buckhaven and Aberhill Primary Schools respectively," said the club's Dennis Cook.

"Also, entries were received from south of the border and all over Fife.

"These entries will now be presented to the directors and the winners should be announced soon."
Dennis added East Fife FC was very grateful to everyone who participated, especially the pupils and teachers of the local primary schools.

07 March 2007

Ma wife says I am still a potent force – but she’s lying

my sperms got mair potent, and i am 82 years young with 12 bairns.