The stage is set for a thrilling second leg of the Scottish League One Play-Off final as Annan Athletic host East Fife on 16 May 2025. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 CEST in Italy, Germany, France and Spain, with a 19:30 BST start in the UK. Fans of both sides will be tuning in or heading to Galabank expecting an all-action encounter.
After a sensational first leg that ended in a 3-2 win for the visitors, the home team knows they must overturn a one-goal deficit. The previous match saw Annan Athletic reduced to nine men late on, making this second leg even more crucial for their hopes of promotion.
How are both teams coming into this?
East Fife take a slender advantage after that five-goal thriller at Bayview. They demonstrated great attacking intent on the road, grabbing three vital goals and showing they can cope under pressure. Confidence is high, especially given their ability to score away from home in such a high-stakes fixture.
Meanwhile, Annan Athletic will feel hard done by after the first leg but know that a home crowd can inspire a strong comeback. Discipline cost them dearly in the opener, yet playing at Galabank gives them a solid base to press forward, particularly if they can maintain composure and avoid further cards.
Our forecast
We expect an open and competitive affair, with both sides keen to attack. East Fife may sit slightly deeper to protect their lead, inviting pressure from the hosts. That strategy could open up space on the counter, so look for opportunities at both ends of the pitch.
Given the first leg’s high goal tally, backing both teams to score again seems sensible. However, with Annan needing to chase the game, there’s value in a draw or an East Fife win on the 1X2 market if you favour the visitors’ resilience under pressure.
Best odds
- Bet365: East Fife 2.10 / Draw 3.30 / Annan Athletic 2.75
- William Hill: East Fife 2.15 / Draw 3.25 / Annan Athletic 2.80
- Betfair: East Fife 2.12 / Draw 3.28 / Annan Athletic 2.78
