East Fife consigned to bottom half after loss

East Fife were stunned in Airdrie as their top five and promotion hopes were extinguished by the Diamonds last night.

Both sides knew a point would be enough to see them finish ahead of the split inside the top five.

Darren Young made a few changes from the side which beat Peterhead 2-1 on Saturday, into the starting XI coming Aaron Dunsmore, Sean Brown and Cole McKinnon.

Neither side really created too much in front of goal, although the visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession.

East Fife almost created something resembling a chance on the half-hour mark but Scott Agnew’s through ball for Ryan Wallace was intercepted by Callum Fordyce.

Agnew had East Fife’s best chance of the half when Darren Young’s side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. His effort was a decent one but drifted just wide of the top corner.

East Fife started the second half brighter and Agnew again had a sight of goal with a snapshot which sailed just over.

The second half was a lot more open than the first and it was Airdrie who grabbed the crucial opening goal when Calum Gallagher turned in Kyle Connell’s delivery.

The Fifers needed to go for broke, their season’s ambitions depending on the final 25 minutes.

But on 77 minutes Airdrie added to their advantage and knocked the stuffing out of the Fifers.

Kyle Turner was tripped inside the box by Danny Denholm and ref Alan Newlands pointed straight to the spot.

Brett Long stopped Dale Carrick’s kick but the striker was first to react and knocked home the rebound to leave the Fifers in the bottom half of League One.