Weir hails new boys’ role in vital victory

league one: Fife boss Young bemoans frustrating transfer window

EAST FIFE 1 FORFAR 2

It was a familiar story for East Fife at Bayview as Darren Young’s side once again lost a goal and any chance of the win due to sloppy marking.

Conceding from set-pieces has been the downfall of the Methil men this campaign, and the visitors took full advantage of East Fife’s generosity.

The win was crucial for Jim Weir’s side, with the three points easing them off bottom spot.

Dylan Easton opened the scoring for Forfar from the penalty spot before Mark Docherty levelled matters, also from the spot.

The game was won in the second half by Matthew Aitken.

Weir praised loan signings Ross Maciver and Tony Dingwall, who joined last week from Ross County. “I’m delighted for the two young lads who came in,” he said.

“That’s commitment; to travel from Dingwall and leave at three in the morning shows the attitude of the players.

“Sometimes when you try to get young lads on loan some aren’t willing to travel half an hour.

“I’m really pleased to be off the bottom and closer to the pack above.

“There’s a long, long way to go, still, and although we’re running out of games we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance.”

Forfar, who arrived at Bayview bottom of League One, started the game well. Easton clipped the top of the bar but they didn’t have to wait much longer for the opener, which came when referee Stephen Finnie penalised Scott Linton for a foul on Josh Peters inside the box.

The decision looked harsh on Linton. East Fife almost pulled level straight away with Craig Thomson rattling the post after a sweeping move involving Kyle Wilkie and Chris Duggan.

East Fife then won a penalty for another soft looking challenge, this time Jamie Bain on Craig Watson.

Mark Docherty stepped up and found the bottom corner.

East Fife set out in the second 45 to secure the three points, Duggan going close with a drive Mark Mccallum had to beat away.

But it was Forfar who grabbed the game’s crucial third goal, Dingwall’s corner being headed home by Matthew Aitken.

Frustrated Fife boss Darren Young said: “They had one good chance against us but we’ve lost a penalty and a setpiece.

“It’s terrible.

“The way we’ve played the whole season has been so erratic. “We’ve been up and down.

“It has to be better all over the park. “It’s been a frustrating transfer window as well.

“We’ve been trying to get bodies in but have lost out to teams further up the divisions.

“We want to improve and better the squad but are finding it difficult.

“But the whole result and performance was poor.”

The way we’ve played the whole season has been so erratic. DARREN YOUNG

Pictures: SNS. Forfar loan signings Ross Maciver and Tony Dingwall were praised by boss Jim Weir.