East Fife double up for Ladbrokes League 2 March awards
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East Fife have been rewarded for a fine run in March by claiming the Ladbrokes League 2 Player and Manager awards for Kyle Wilkie and Gary Naysmith respectively.
In what has been a super-competitive division, the Methil club have eked out a lead at the top, after three wins and a draw saw them go unbeaten last month.
Even more impressive were some of the scorelines, with the Fifers scoring 14 times in March, including a 4-2 win over Annan and a 6-0 thrashing of Stirling Albion.
Playmaker Wilkie has been at the forefront of his clubs’ success in those four games.
He said: “It’s great to receive recognition when you’re playing well. But playing in a good team helps too.”
Wilkie believes the momentum gained from their excellent March results can help spur his side on to complete the job of winning the League 2 title.
He said: “The title has always been in our sights, even from the beginning of the season. But we need to take each game as they come and be wary not to get ahead of ourselves.
“I think the run can continue. Previously we were attacking well but defending poorly and then we were defending well but attacking poorly. Thankfully now it’s all coming together and we have every chance of keeping the run going.
“I think that’s why we’ve been playing so well because we’re just taking it one game at a time.”
The midfielder admits to having set personal targets for himself this season but is clever enough to know not to give away his secrets, but he did tell Ladbrokes News: “I do always set targets for a season but I like to keep them to myself.
“I wanted to give it this season to get back to full-time, get my fitness back. But it’s there now where previously I might’ve been in and out of the team with injuries.
“This is the fittest I’ve felt since my Hamilton days and I’m playing with real confidence. I set goals and if they work out, then I might bring them up.”
Wilkie was full of praise for his gaffer Gary Naysmith too: “Our manager deserves his award for the run we’ve been on. I don’t think it could have gone to anyone else! The way the boys have been playing has been great.
“Even when earlier we might not have been winning we were still playing well. I think that’s what the gaffer is all about.”
East Fife – 1/3 favourites to win League 2 this season – and in action again this weekend at home to Montrose.
Naysmith will be hoping to avoid the dreaded Manager of the Month jinx by guiding his side to another victory at 4/9.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
