Crawford rallies the troops as East Fife slip further from safety

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Stevie Crawford insists nobody will be giving up around Bayview despite East Fife slipping eight points from safety at Dumbarton.

The Methil men knew what was at stake going into the game.

A win would pull the bottom-of-the-league Fifers to within two points of the Sons.

Defeat, though, would see East Fife cut adrift eight points at the basement of the division.

Second-half goals from Joshua Oyinsan and Gregg Wylde wrapped up a win for Dumbarton which now gives East Fife it all to do.

Crawford said: “My reflection on the game is that we’ve not hit the target enough and not worked their keeper.

“But when we lose the first goal it seems to be a common occurrence that we lose another at the back of it.

“It’s not what we wanted but there’s still 15 games of the season to make sure that we rectify the problems we’re coming up against at the moment.

“We have to remain upbeat. If I’m not upbeat then how can I expect my players to behave in that manner?”

East Fife started on the front foot as they took the game to their hosts.

With just a couple of minutes gone Kyle

Connell’s snapshot drifted a foot wide of the post.

Sons soon grew into the game themselves and Scott Gallacher had to get down to stop Carlo Pignatiello’s drive.

East Fife were asking plenty of questions of their own during what was an opening and entertaining start to the game.

The visitors didn’t look a side short on confidence despite going into the match on the foot of the league.

Connell and Ryan Wallace linked up really well together as they continued to press for the opener.

The Methil men started the second half well and with barely seconds gone went close to breaking the deadlock when a Wallace cross almost reached Danny Denholm at the back post.

It was to be the Sons to find the net first, though, Joshua Oyinsan nodding home a Gregg Wylde from close range on 55 minutes.

The goal gave the home side a lift and they penned East Fife deep inside their own half.

They managed to get the game’s crucial second goal 10 minutes after scoring the first.

Wylde was afforded space deep inside the East Fife half and he punished the visiting defence by netting an absolute screamer in off the post.

Stevie Crawford’s East Fife need wins desperately.