The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Runaway league leaders held by stubborn hosts
LEAGUE 1: East Fife miss penalty as Lichties stay on course for title
EAST FIFE 1 ARBROATH 1
Arbroath nudged another step closer to the League One title at Bayview last night – but had to settle for a point against their stubborn hosts.
They were perhaps fortunate to take even that from the game with the Fifers missing a penalty late on.
East Fife started the game the brighter of the two and they took an early lead when on-loan Hearts striker Rory Currie picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and lashed a great strike beyond Darren Jamieson.
The goal spurred the Lichties on and talisman Bobby L inn raced straight up the park, only to be crudely brought down on the edge of the Fife box by Ross Davidson.
Linn took the subsequent free-kick but couldn’t find a way past Brett Long.
It was all Arbroath and it came as no surprise when they pulled level on the 25 minute mark. Luke Donnelly’s shot was saved by Long but the Fife goalie could do nothing about the rebound which Donnelly finished clinically for his first goal for Dick Campbell’s side.
Despite their early opener the Fifers had failed to really pose much of a threat going forward and rarely troubled Jamieson’s goal.
At the other end Donnelly had another sight of goal from a Linn corner which Long did well to block.
East Fife needed the half-time whistle to come and whey they reappeared for the second half looked much more fluent.
On-loan Motherwell forward Broque Watson broke through the heart of the visiting defence and got a shot away which rebounded off the base of the post.
The hosts kept up the pressure and Currie tried to bag his second of the game from distance but sent his drive whistling past Jamieson’s post.
Currie was a man on a mission in attack and continued to try and bag his brace.
He had another sight of goal on 64 minutes but this time failed to trouble the Arbroath goal.
East Fife wasted a great chance to get back in front when Thomas O’Brien fouled Aaron Dunsmore inside the area.
Mark Docherty stepped up to take the spot-kick but his clipped effort down the middle was beaten away by Jamieson.
East Fife–Long, Duns more, Doc her ty, Watson, Slattery, Court (Dowds 72), Murdoch, Davidson, Meggatt, Linton, Currie (Smith 72). Subs – Terry, Dunlop, Watt, Bell.
Arbroath – Jamieson, Thomson, Gold (Swankie 80), Little, O’Brien, Whatley, Kader, McKenna (McCord 72), Wallace (Spence 22), Donnelly, Linn. Subs – Denholm, Doris, Hamilton, Hill.
Referee – David Munro.