Fifers hopes in balance after Bayview draw

EAST FIFE 1 STENHOUSEMUIR 1

East Fife’s promotion hopes remain in the balance after they surrendered an early lead in their first-leg play-off.

Ross Brown got the home side off to a flier after just a couple minutes, but they were to be pegged back by Stenny in the second 45.

Bayview gaffer Gary Naysmith said there is plenty to feel optimistic about ahead of the second leg at Ochilview on Saturday.

He said: “If Stenny had put that performance in against us at the start of the season we maybe would have lost the game.

“A positive is that we weren’t anywhere near our best and we didn’t get beaten.”

The Fifers headed into the game on a rich vein of form and having scored six goals in their past two games.

It didn’t take long for the Fifers to find the net again.

Allan Walker’s cross was deflected into the path of Nathan Austin, whose shot was blocked.

The ball broke kindly for Brown, though, and the midfielder fired home from 12 yards.

East Fife’s defenders held their visitors at range, but Stenny gradually worked their way towards the home goal, and only a block on the line by Jonathan Page stopped Ciaran Summers equalising.

The second half started at the same pace as the first, but this time it was Stenhousemuir who started brighter.

The equaliser arrived when Paul McMullan’s corner swung into the box and Stenny centre-half Alan Lithgow headed it past Fleming.

Stenny went on to force the Fifers on to the back foot but the home side stood firm to go in to Saturday’s game level.

We weren’t anywhere near our best and we didn’t get beaten