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WE earned what could end up being another valuable point on the road in what was a keenly contested League One encounter at Bayview Stadium.

It could even have been a victory had skipper Mitch Megginson not seen his second half penalty – and shot from the rebound – kept out by a marvellous double save from East Fife keeper Brett Long.

Having said that, we also got a break deep into injury-time when Ryan Wallace rattled our crossbar with a free-kick, so a share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome in the end.

Draws at Partick Thistle and now East Fife can still be seen as a pleasing return after more than 10 weeks without a game and keep us well placed in the fight to be in the top half when the league splits ahead of the final four matches.

There were two changes to the starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Partick.

Scott Ross returned from injury and there was also a first start for Connor Smith, who is with us for the rest of the season on loan from Hearts.

The first chance of the game came our way when Megginson fed the ball left to Jamie Masson and his curling shot from just inside the area sped wide of the target.

We threatened again in the 23rd minute when Ross sent a long throw in from the right.

The ball was nodded on by Leighton McIntosh to Megginson and his low 14-yard shot was held by keeper Long.

The home side’s first real chance came a minute later, although Wallace’s shot from a tight angle on the right went well over the crossbar.

Our next attack began with an excellent 40-yard crossfield pass from Ross Graham to Scott Ross, who was out on the right wing.

His driven low cross was booted away from Megginson at the edge of the six yard box.

East Fife had a chance to snatch the lead in the 31st minute.

Danny Denholm managed to break into the area but was denied the chance to shoot by an excellent last gasp tackle by Ryan Strachan.

Defender Strachan made an even more important interception in the 37th minute.

Wallace crossed to Watt and his 14-yard shot got past Stuart McKenzie but Strachan was perfectly positioned to clear the ball from inside the six yard box.

We broke forward almost immediately and Masson was unlucky to see his 10-yard shot beaten away by keeper Long.

We started the second period strongly, with Yule feeding the ball wide to McIntosh and his low cross from the right was hastily booted clear by Davidson before it could reach Megginson. 

Strachan then went on a great run through the heart of the park that took him to the `East Fife area. He then passed to Masson and his shot was blocked by an excellent last gasp tackle by Higgins. 

East Fife broke forward in the 55th minute and when Wallace crossed from the right Austin just failed to connect with the ball as it sped across the face of our goal.

We had a gilt edged chance to break the deadlock in the 58th minute when we were awarded penalty after Watt blatantly tripped Smith just inside the home area.

Megginson took the kick but saw his effort kept out by an excellent diving save from Long.

The keeper also recovered quickly to push Megginson’s second attempt from the rebound wide for a corner.

That appeared to give East Fife a lift and Scott Agnew went close with a well hit 16-yard volley.

We made five changes in the latter stages in an effort to win the match, which meant debuts for Kevin Hanratty and Kieran Ngwenya, who joined us on loan from Aberdeen earlier in the week.

The home players screamed for a penalty in the 85th minute when Davidson tumbled after being denied a shooting chance by a fine tackle from Yule and the referee rightly awarded a corner to the home side.

We threatened to snatch the winner with two minutes to go when Fraser Fyvie’s long pass was nodded down by Rory McAllister to Megginson but his shot from the edge of the area went wide of the target.

East Fife almost stole the points three minutes into injury-time. 

They actually thought Aaron Dunsmore had scored when he tapped the ball home from close range but the referee had already clearly blown for a foul to East Fife just outside our area before the ball had been played in.

Wallace took the free kick and was desperately unfortunate to see his rocket shot hit the underside of the crossbar and rebound to safety.

It was a lucky break for us, but one we had earned for the effort put in over the course of the game. 

EAST FIFE: Long, Murdoch, Watson, Higgins, Slattery, Davidson, Watt (Swanson 68), Agnew (Newton 68), Denholm (Smith 59), Austin (Dunsmore 82), Wallace.

Subs: Dunlop,  Brown, Fenton, McKinnon, Hart.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Scott Ross (Ngwenya 79), Smith (Watson 73), Strachan, Graham, Livingstone (McAllister 79),  Yule, Fyvie, Masson (Seb Ross 73), McIntosh (Hanratty 73),  Megginson.

Subs: Scully,  Higgins, Logan, Demus.

Referee: Mike Roncone

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