A BLANK scoreline on a bleak evening in Methil does not smack of much in terms of entertainment value but this was an enjoyable encounter, which bodes well for the return leg in Peterhead on Sunday.
If Jim McInally, the visitors' manager, was disappointed at his side failing to record their 11th victory on the trot, he was not letting on. "It doesn't matter to me at all," he said. "I'd happily have taken a draw and a win before the play-offs started, and I'm really proud of the players. I thought in the first half we were pretty much in control and created a couple of chances. I didn't know what it was going to take for a player to get on the ball and make a pass. But you'll get that in the play-offs."
Perhaps the torrential rain had a little to do with that. The sliding tackle was de rigueur and the game was peppered with fouls during the early stages. The stormy conditions almost helped Peterhead take the lead when a cross was caught up in the wind before being headed goalward by Brian Gilfillan. Callum Antell in the East Fife goal proved to be equal to it.
Retaining possession seemed alien to East Fife and Peterhead looked to take advantage. The home side had a massive let-off when the normally lethal Rory McAllister shot over the bar from six yards. The same player failed again when he rounded the goalkeeper, but his heavy touch allowed the ball to run away from him and it was scrambled clear.
The Fifers almost punished this profligacy when Bobby Barr bore down on goal after a Craig Johnstone clearance. Graeme Smith appeared to have plenty of time to pick up the ball but he dithered and allowed Barr to nick it from under his feet before managing to fall and smother it.
Antell was still the busier of the two goalkeepers and blocked an Andy Rodgers strike after a one on one.
East Fife belatedly came into the game and Scott Durie's drive was blocked by Graeme Sharp. Liam Gormley then had a chance to secure a home win but his close-range header failed to trouble Smith.
Billy Brown has famously shown his frustrations with his players this season but the East Fife manager seemed content with the result.
"I was happy with what I saw tonight. If we'd showed a little bit more of that during the season then I don't think we'd be in the position we're in. Peterhead are a good team – they've been on a good run – but we defended well and we had a couple of chances as well. We looked nervous in the first half but I thought we were a lot better in the second. It's still all to play for and maybe we're just a wee bit better away from home."
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