Fifers scrape narrow win against tough opposition

SCOTTISH CUP: Edinburgh City make life difficult for Methil side

Edinburgh City 0 East FiFE 1

East Fife began life without Gary Naysmith with a narrow Scottish Cup third round replay victory against Edinburgh City last night.

The two met last week with the Methil club struggling to get past their League Two opponents in a 1-1 draw.

East Fife, managed on the night by Dougie Anderson, struggled to break down the City defence in the first tie at Bayview and again found the capital defence in mean spirit last night.

A Ross Brown drive was well blocked as the Fifers probed, and the visitors passed up a chance to break the deadlock in 25 minutes when Scott Robinson was picked out six yards from goal by a Kevin Smith cross, but with the goal gaping he headed over the bar.

City went close to grabbing the lead shortly before the break when Ross Allum raced free on Ryan Goodfellow’s goal, but luckily for East Fife Chris Kane was scrambling back to clear the shot.

East Fife got their noses in front when City were unable to clear their lines from a corner that was met by Chris Kane.

The Fifers stayed on the attack with Kevin Smith unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.

City boss Gary Jardine went for broke with a triple substitution 20 minutes from the end. Ousman See, who scored City’s goal in last week’s 1-1 draw, was introduced alongside Dean Cummins and Mark McConnell.

The subs injected new life to the home side and forced the Fifers back into their own half.

Cummins tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort deflected off Chris Kane and spun wide, then just a few moments later crashed a free-kick past the East Fife post.

Dougie Gair was next to test his luck with a piledriver from 20 yards that Goodfellow shovelled around his post. Attendance: 397. Edinburgh City: Stobie, Caddow, Dunsmore, Harrison, Laird, Mushin (McConnell 72), McFarland (Cummins 72), Gair, Allum, Guthrie (See 72), Mbu. Subs not used: Dunn, Porteus, Donaldson, Antell.

East Fife: Goodfellow, Mercer, Kane, Page, Kerr, Brown, Wilkie, Slattery, Robinson (Wallace 67), Insall (Austin 87), Smith. Subs not used: Hurst, Mutch.