In what was a proverbial game of two halves, Spartans raced to a 0-2 lead courtesy of goals from Jamie Dishington and Blair Henderson however it was East Fife who were to come out after the break to score four without reply to win this SPFL encounter at Bayview.
It was a game that started off in blustery conditions that were to impact the game throughout. Spartans were looking to turn things round from the last outing against East Fife and they got off to the perfect start in the 17th minute. Jamie Dishington finding himself in the penalty area and he sent a fierce effort into the bottom right hand corner to open the scoring.
That lead was to double shortly before the break when Lewis Hunter was bundled to the ground inside the box for a Spartans penalty. Blair Henderson stepped up to take the kick – only for the fierce Fife wind to blow the ball off the spot. He settled himself – and the ball – before slotting home to extend the advantage.
The second half was merely eight minutes old before the hosts had managed to draw level with Alan Trouten and Michael McKenna both netting early after the restart.
Spartans manager Douglas Samuel rung the changes midway through the half with Blair Henderson, Mark Stowe and James Craigen replaced by Liam Morgan, Bailey Dall and Brogan Walls.
Both sides were looking to make that breakthrough as the game progressed, East Fife coming close following a stramash in the penalty area that saw the ball cleared off the line and finally rested in Blair Carswell’s hands.
Aaron Preston was replaced by Josh Laing as the game entered its final stages however moments later, it was the hosts who were to score that crucial next goal with Nathan Austin heading beyond Carswell to give East Fife the lead for the first time in the match.
Archie Wylie made it his third appearance in as many days (Scottish Schoolboys, Under 20s and SPFL) when he replaced Hunter before play could restart.
The pendulum then fully swung in East Fife’s favour at the death with Austin sending the ball beyond Carswell to make it 2-4.
Full Time: East Fife 4-2 The Spartans
