Naysmith going for win that will wrap up group

Three points against Forfar tomorrow night will ensure East Fife qualify as winners of Group A ahead of Premiership Dundee

One thing is for certain, if we win in 90 minutes we’ve won the group and nobody can do anything about that. GARY NAYSMITH

EAST FIFE 2 PETERHEAD 1

Gary Naysmith’s Fifers stand on the brink of a Group A win, and the Bayview boss says they’ll be going all out to wrap it up at Forfar.

Three points against Gary Bollan’s side tomorrow will ensure qualification as group winners is secured for the Methil men.

Premiership Dundee had been expected to convincingly top the table, with Championship Dumbarton and League One mainstays Peterhead battling it out for second.

But the Fifers have been simply terrific in this season’s competition, racking up eight points from a possible nine.

At the weekend they recorded three points with a 2-1 win over Peterhead.

Boss Naysmith said: “Do we look at it and say eight points will be enough and it doesn’t matter? That would be wrong.

“Is one point enough? We may not get in with nine, so we have to go up to Forfar and try to win the game in 90 minutes.

“One thing is for certain, if we win in 90 minutes we’ve won the group and nobody can do anything about that, so that’s what we’ll try to do.

“We needed to dig deep against Peterhead, and the first 25 minutes weren’t us.

“But we didn’t fold. We showed a different side to us and battled well.”

The game was a bit of a slog, with the main battles taking place in the middle of the park.

The visitors, who went into the match having beaten Forfar in their only other game, took the lead when Jonathan Page fouled Rory McAllister on the edge of the box.

McAllister himself took the free-kick but Willie Muir managed to get his body behind it.

The Fifers’ keeper didn’t do enough to clear the danger, though, beating the ball back out into the six yard box.

First to react was Jordon Brown, who rammed home the rebound. But East Fife weren’t behind for long. The visitors conceded a corner and from the set-piece Mark Lamont swung in a fine delivery which was met by Page. His powerful header gave Graeme Smith no chance.

East Fife came out in the second 45 full of intent and it didn’t take them long to get their noses in front.

Ross Brown broke into the Peterhead box where he was bundled over by Kevin Dzierzawski.

Referee Kevin Graham pointed to the spot and it was veteran hitman Paul McManus who stepped up, sending Graeme Smith the wrong way.

The Fifers held on for a crucial three points which leaves them within touching distance of the knockout stages.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Ross Brown, who was bundled over for the penalty that gave the Fifers victory over Peterhead.