Falkirk prove too strong for East Fife

LEAGUE ONE: Second half goals close gap at top to one point

FALKIRK 2 EAST FIFE 0

East Fife managed to contain titlechasing Falkirk for the majority of last night’s game until the Bairns burst into life with 20 minutes to go.

Two goals deep into the second half were enough to ensure the hosts took all three points to keep the pressure on League One leaders Raith Rovers.

Darren Young made a few changes from the side which beat Peterhead 1-0 at the weekend.

Dropping to the bench were Aaron Dunsmore, Anton Dowds and Danny Denholm while Callumn Morrison, Liam Watt and Kevin Smith came in.

The hosts started brightly and had an early chance when Paul Dixon whipped in a dangerous cross. It drifted towards Conor Sammon but the big striker failed to make any connection.

East Fife went in search of the opening goal themselves and they should have nabbed it on nine minutes when Pat Slattery picked out Kevin Smith. The striker brought the ball down only to blaze high over the bar.

Falkirk were getting a lot of joy getting in behind the Fife defence and it almost paid off when Morgaro Gomis burst clear on goal. He had time to pick his spot but instead fired tamely wide.

The Bairns again managed to get in behind the Fife back four with Declan Mcmanus scampering in on Brett Long.

The Fife keeper managed to block the shot with Sammon caught on his heels and unable to reach the rebound.

East Fife weathered the storm and looked a lot more composed on the ball as the half rolled on. They managed to protect Long’s goal without causing too many problems at the other end.

The first half started to peter out but there was still time for Falkirk to fashion one final chance.

Aidan Connolly’s cross into the box couldn’t be cleared and broke for Michael Doyle at the back post, but he fired high over the bar.

The Bairns tried everything to get their noses in front in the early stages of the second half.

They stayed on the front foot and again should have taken the lead when the ball was worked to Louis Longridge on the penalty spot. However, he fired straight at Long.

The longer the half went on the deeper East Fife were made to retreat by a Falkirk side who could sense the opening goal was around the corner.

They penned the Fifers in but were too often wasteful in the final third.

To their credit Falkirk persevered and eventually it paid off.

Dixon’s cross into the box wasn’t cleared and Doyle took full advantage, lashing an unstoppable effort past Long.

The goal settled the hosts and they soon added another when a Mcmanus effort came off the post, hit Long and trickled into the net.

There was still time to add a third but Dixon’s thunderbolt shaved the post.

Falkirk – Mutch, Doyle, Dixon, Buchanan, Gomis (Telfer 67), Connolly, Mcmanus, Longridge (Todd 67), Hall, Miller, Sammon (Miller 78). Subs – Ferrie, Mcshane, De Vita, Mcmillan.

East Fife – Long, Morrison (Dunsmore 69), Murdoch, Dunlop, Higgins, Slattery, Agnew, Davidson, Watt, Smith (Dowds 60), Wallace. Subs – Scoon, Watson, Hunter, Denholm, Baker.