Fifers return to top spot

Previous action
By Methil Milan Man (summary by KotS)
January 2 2003

Top scorer Kenny Deuchar's second half opener set East Fife off to a win in the first match of their Cenenery year. Craig McMillan added a second to ensure a 2-0 victory. The Fifers now sit back on top of the league all-be-it having played one more game than rivals Morton and Albion...

(by KotS)
East Fife started with Gilbert and Graham in for Farnan and Love who start on the bench.

With a storm blowing from the sea end, EF won the toss and played with the wind at their backs in the first half.

Neither side made much headway in the first 45 mins, with the best chance falling to Montrose's No 9 who bursts through only to be denied by an excellent Butter save as the big keeper dived low to his right to block the shot.

The weather is the real winner in this game but EF improve after the break and get the breakthrough in 73 when the Mo keeper drops the ball under pressure, and with the visitors appealing for a foul, Deuchar crashed the ball home for 1-0.

Just two mins later, it was 2-0 after a Deuchar effort was blocked by the keeper only for the big striker to square the rebound across the goal when Love's shot is blocked but falls to McMillan who fires home at the back post.

Montrose didn't threaten much after this and EF ran down the clock to ensure that they go to Coatbridge next week as league leaders.