07-03-55: East Fife (a) 2-1 (HT 2-1) Crowd (?)

In a game to mark the official opening of Bayview's first set of flodlights, East Fife took an early lead through striker Tommy Wright. In the twenty-second minute they should have increased that lead when Ian Gardiner was brought down in the penalty area. Don Emery took the penalty kick but the ball sailed wide of the target when it was claimed that a camera behind the goal flashed and put Emery off. Leeds took advantage of their good fortune and, in the thirty-third minute, they equalized when Bob Forrest netted. Six minutes later they took the lead when Centre-Forward Barry Smith scored and went into the Half-Time break with a 2-1 lead, which was also the final score. (East Fife team and match details courtesy of Steve Bell).

Match Report (Courtesy Steve Bell)

Yorkshire Post: 8th March 1955

United hold out

EAST FIFE 1 LEEDS UNITED 2

Leeds United were lucky on their first visit to Methil. A goal down at the interval, East Fife's second-half pressure left all except Charles groping and groggy. It was astonishing how Wood's charge escaped the bombardment. Wright gave East Fife the lead after ten minutes, and they should have increased it when Gardiner was brought down in the penalty area. A camera flashed as Emery took the spot kick and he shot wide. Leeds came into the picture with some pretty pattern-weaving forward play, and Forrest equalised in the thirty-fifth minute. A rasping long-range shot by centre forward Smith gave them the lead six minutes later, and there the scoring finished.

East Fife: Curran; Emery, S. Stewart; Cousins, Finlay, Bonthorne; Wilson, J. Stewart, Wright, Lishman, Gardiner.

Leeds United: Wood; Hair, Dunn; Gibson, Charles, Kerfoot; Webb, Nightingale, Smith, Forrest, McCall.