A late second half spot kick denied Spartans what would have been a merited share of the spoils against league leaders East Fife at the Vanloq Community Stadium.
Spartans opened the game on the front foot and a third minute cross from Cammy Russell to the back post picked out Bradley Whyte who saw his header find the breadbasket of the East Fife keeper Liam McFarlane to prevent an early deadlock breaker.
Russell was once again searching for a way to unpick the men from Methil’s defence a short while afterwards following some fine build up play on the edge of the area between Blair Henderson and James Craigen however McFarlane was once again equal to the task with a fine save.
Just after the half hour mark, Jack Healy went hunting for the opener for the visitors however he was denied by a tremendous block by Spartans skipper Kevin Waugh.
There were metaphorical hearts in Spartans mouths ahead of the interval when Reis Peggie’s cross found Andy Munro however his header thankfully went wide.
HT: The Spartans 0-0 East Fife
The opening quarter of an hour after the interval largely failed to make any highlights reel with an attempt from long range by Bradley Whyte one of the few notable moments, only for his ambitious 35-yard effort to land off target.
An hour had passed by and the game almost sparked fully into light when a cross into the Spartans box was nodded on by Nathan Austin. In the most diplomatic of match report writing fashions, suffice to say that the visiting bench was unenthused by the decision offered by the Ref when Alan Trouten found the back of the net instead of the ball as Callum Booth stood his ground almost under the crossbar to send the Methil man off balance as he looked to pounce.
Hamilton Loanee Arran Preston put his body on the line next when he blocked a fierce drive as the game began to open up.
At the other end, Cammy Russell’s long throw made its way to Kieran Watson and his semi-acrobatic effort saw the ball go over the bar.
Then, the match defining moment seconds later at the other end. Jack Healy progressed into the Spartans penalty box before being felled by Preston and the man in the middle pointed straight to the spot. Alan Trouten stepped up to send Carswell the wrong way to put the Fifers ahead.
Spartans looked to respond and soon made a double change with Brogan Walls & Mark Stowe replacing Preston & Craigen.
As the clock reached 90 minutes, Spartans continued to search for the equaliser and Blair Henderson’s effort that would have troubled the keeper at the very least, was blocked, sending it over the bar for a corner.
Substitute Liam Morgan came close as his attempt was saved by the feet of McFarlane as the game entered the final moments of the five added minutes and with that, the equaliser proved to be elusive for a Spartans side who pushed their visitors right to the very end.
FT: The Spartans 0-1 East Fife
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Kevin Waugh
