Blue Toon shock Fifers with late leveller
East Fife squandered a two-goal lead, drawing 2-2 with Peterhead in a game hindered by controversial refereeing decisions.
It was most certainly a game of two halves, with the Methil Milan racing out of the blocks quickly, before being pegged back by the Blue Toon.
The scoring opened inside 10 minutes after a fast start from the Fifers when Nathan Austin’s effort was deflected into the back of the net, handing East Fife an early lead.
It could have been 2-0 moments later as well, as Austin broke through once more, though it was turned round the post by goalkeeper Caleb Goldie.
The home lead was doubled after 23 minutes, as Johnny Page was the first recipient of a whipped cross from a corner and he tucked it home.
After 26 minutes, it could have been 3-0 after Page found the net again, although the referee adjudged there to have been a foul in the build-up.
Peterhead were given a controversial penalty after 39 minutes as Page fouled Brown, but goalkeeper Allan Fleming saved Kieran Shanks’ spot-kick.
Peterhead were back in the game after 56 minutes, as Jordon Brown curled an effort into the far-right corner.
The Aberdeenshire outfit should have gone down to 10 men shortly after, though, but the referee produced only a yellow card to Danny Strachan for a lastman challenge on Shepherd.
The hosts then had an opportunity to go 3-1 up when Austin timed his run well and was at least two yards onside. However, as he ran through on goal, the linesman’s flag went up and it remained 2-1.
In the fifth minute of timeadded, the wind was knocked out of East Fife’s sails as Shanks made up for his earlier penalty miss to nab an equaliser for Peterhead with the last kick of the ball.
STENHOUSEMUIR 1 STRANRAER 0
A bizarre own-goal gave league leaders Stenhousemuir three points.
Although the Warriors enjoy that lofty position in the table were sitting top of the table, it was the visitors who looked the more likely in the opening exchanges, with ex-stenhousemuir player Tam Orr coming close on a couple of occasions.
Stenny weathered the early storm and gradually came into
the game and took the lead in the 28th minute when Ross Meechan’s drilled cross went in via a combination of Matty Aitken and Kyle Girvan.
A couple of minutes later, another Meechan cross caused problems and Stranraer keeper Lewis Budinauckas brought off a fine save after a smart swivel and turn by Adam Brown.
The visitors almost got back into the game just before the interval following a series of corners, but the home team stood firm.
With no more scoring in the second half, the three points moved Stenhousemuir 16 points clear of Peterhead in second place.