Scott stops a Fifers deja vu
Treble averts another shock
Scott Agnew’s hat- trick helped East Fife recover from a shaky start against lower-league opposition and banish some bad memories.
The Fifers have been knocked out by Brora Rangers and BSC Glasgow in recent years and the East of Scotland side shocked them by taking the lead after just four minutes.
But the home side rallied to grab the goals that saw them safely through to the third round.
Fifers boss Darren Young said: “We gave Tranent plenty of encouragement early on but it was good to see we hit back in the manner we did.
“Turning things round with two goals just before half-time changed my half-time team-talk.”
Tranent led following an Agnew foul on Steven Thomson 30 yards from goal. With everyone expecting a cross, Thomson caught keeper Brett Long out of position and his free- kick curled into the net. A leveller looked on f ive minutes later when Ryan Wallace ran clear but Ally Adams darted from his line to block.
Tranent almost made it 2-0 when Kayne Paterson ran n on to a long ball only y for Long to save with h his chest.
Danny Denholm m headed against the e bar for the home side a f ter 26 minutes before Thomson sent another clever set-piece against the East Fife woodwork.
Five minutes from the break the Fifers were level through Agnew’s penalty after Wallace had been brought down by Adams. It was 2-1 right on half-time as Craig Watson nodded in Luke Watt’s corner.
The Fifers were able to breathe a little easier after 55 minutes when an Agnew free-kick was fumbled into his own net by Adams and three minutes later he completed his treble with a deflected shot. Kevin Smith then made it three goals in seven s minutes when he tapped t in for 5-1.