CHAMPIONSHIIP leaders Ross County scraped through to the Irn-Bru Challenge Cup Final by the narrowest of margins at the Global Energy Stadium last night.
League One East Fife, bidding to reach their first national cup final for 66 years, certainly gave it their best shot against a County side showing seven changes from the one held to a 2-2 draw by Highland rivals Inverness earlier in the week.
But it is County who will face the winners of today's second semi-final between Connah's Quay Nomads from Wales and Edinburgh City.
First-half goals from Daniel Armstrong and Declan McManus should have provided the home side with a comfort zone as East Fife attempted to turn the clock back to 1953 and the last of three League Cup final triumphs.
But Anton Dowds' header close to half-time ensured that the home fans would be made to sweat before County qualified for their fifth final appearance.
East Fife never appeared intimidated by their rivals' superior status, a fact highlighted by Scott Linton's cheeky attempt to catch out the defence with a shot from distance that only just missed the target.
But East Fife's hopes of upsetting the trophy favourites suffered a set-back in the 17th minute when they fell behind.
Armstrong scored direct from a corner kick on the right to turn an already difficult task into an uphill struggle.
But East Fife did not suddenly wilt and it required a desperate goal-line clearance under pressure by Kenny Van Der Weg to deny Aaron Dunsmore a 28th-minute equaliser as he hunted down an Anton Dowds cross.
The home side responded almost immediately with a counter-offensive and first Ross Stewart and then Josh Mullins threatened to increase their lead.
It looked like curtains for Darren Young's side when County increased their advantage after 37 minutes when McManus, following up, tucked away the rebound after Long had blocked Stewart's initial effort.
But Dowds threw the Methil men a lifeline six minutes from the interval, getting up to head a cross from Craig Watson past Munro to reduce the leeway.
It was a timely reminder for County that what their opponents may have lacked in guile they more than made up for with effort and commitment.
Josh Mullin had a chance to kill the tie with eight minutes remaining but shot wide after East Fife had been caught on the break.
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