One point needed for Toon to secure promotion

Last updated : 09 March 2005 By William Duncan
Peterhead travelled to East fife knowing that a win puts them even closer to securing promotion. With Gretna beating Cowdenbeath this means they have secured promotion to the second division. Peterhead also moved closer to division two by winning 2-1. This result now means that one point from the next game would see Peterhead promoted, although it is all but certain just now. Cowdenbeath can still equal us on points but the Blue Toon have it secured on goal difference.


The Match

Peterhead should have been ahead after just six minutes when the Fifers lost the ball cheaply and Dougie Cameron sent Scott Michie racing through. His perfect cross was met by Robert Linn, but Scott Morrison got down to his right to make an outstanding stop.

East Fife went with an attacking three up front but the visitors didn't give them a sniff, and Michie was only denied by a desperate Craig Lumsden tackle.

Linn was then defied by Morrison, again after another slip in the home defence, but it was third time lucky for the striker after 22 minutes. He combined with Scott Michie on the edge of the area before curling a superb shot into the top corner.

Unfortunately he limped off after 37 minutes after a heavy tackle, and the Fifers' Steven Nicholas came close with a drive that was deflected just wide.

Peterhead substitute Martin Bavidge sent a 49th minute shot narrowly past the post, but his team got lucky after 53 minutes when Allan Youngson's left-wing cross sailed over Morrison and into the net.

Kevin Steele shot weakly wide for the Fifers, but Peterhead weren't finsihed and a great running shot from Bavidge was only stopped by the keeper's fingertips.

East Fife rallied, and Greig McDonald had a shot headed off the line by Cameron in the 75th minute. Steven Nicholas then sparked a late surge and he rifled an unstoppable shot past Paul Mathers in the 82nd minute, but it was too little too late.

Full time score : East Fife 1 Peterhead 2
Goals : Nicholas 82 Linn 24, Youngson 53