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Mitch Megginson netted a hat-trick as we claimed our first cinch League One victory of the season in an action-packed encounter with the Fifers at Balmoral Stadium.

Megginson’s second was an absolute screamer in an afternoon when we did more than enough to entertain the 541 fans inside the stadium and earn all three points.

Robbie Leitch netted the opener, with Rory McAllister capping a fine personal performance by scoring our other goal, from the penalty spot.

We made three changes to the side that began the previous game, which meant starts for Connor Scully, Scott Ross and veteran striker Rory McAllister.

It was also great to see Jamie Masson on the bench and involved for the first time since suffering a serious ankle injury in April.

We dominated straight from the first whistle and were unlucky not to go ahead in the 13th minute, when a sweeping move ended with McAllister gaining possession just inside the East Fife area, on the left. The striker could easily have taken a shot at goal, but instead chose to unselfishly play the ball over to Megginson, whose strike from 10-yards was going in until it was cleared off the line by East Fife defender Scott Mercer.

Ryan Strachan then played a long pass up to Megginson, who jinked about to create space to send in a shot that rolled just wide of keeper Scott Gallacher’s right post.

The opening goal our constant pressure deserved finally arrived after 18-minutes. Harry Milne went on the latest of several great marauding runs down the left wing then fired the ball low across the face of the East Fife goal for LEITCH to sweep home at the far post.

Shay Logan set up our next chance with a cross to McAllister and his low shot on the turn, from the edge of the area, was saved by Gallacher.

East Fife’s best chance so far came in the 22nd minute, when Kyle Connell managed to beat Scott Ross to the ball and hit a 20-yard shot wide of Kyle Gourlay’s right post.

We should have gone two up in the 35th minute after Megginson picked out McAllister with a cross from the left, but the striker directed his header wide from inside the six-yard box.

East Fife replied with a diving header from Jamie Semple that was comfortably saved by Gourlay.

Our second goal came in the 41st minute, after keeper Gallacher had done well to parry a powerful shot from Iain Vigurs. McAllister could have had a go from the rebound but, once again, chose to lay the ball back for MEGGINSON to curl it into the top corner.

Vigurs almost made it 3-0 seconds before the break with a powerful 19-yard free-kick that Gallacher pushed wide of his right post.

The East Fife keeper had suffered an injury so was replaced during the interval by youngster Jude Smith.

He had only been on the pitch 30 seconds when we were awarded a penalty after McAliister’s right wing cross was handled by Chris Higgins.

McALLISTER took the spot kick and calmly slotted the ball into the goalkeeper’s left.

East Fife pulled a goal back in the 56th minute when Milne tripped Jamie Semple to concede the game’s second penalty, which was expertly converted by Connor McMANUS.

Logan earned loud applause from the Cove fans in the 66th minute when his neat footwork helped him dance past three East Fife forwards as he carried the ball away from a dangerous situation.

The goal of the day arrived in the 76th minute, after McAllister had again set-up strike partner MEGGINSON, with a pass in from the left. Our skipper did the rest by unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard shot that gave keeper Smith no chance as it raged into the net.

The Cove fans were cheering again when Masson made his long-awaited return, when he replaced Leitch after 76 minutes.

East Fife scored again three minutes later when slack defending allowed Kyle Connell to cut the ball back from the right and Kevin SMITH netted from close range.

MEGGINSON completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute when he met yet another excellent left-wing cross from Milne and directed a seven-yard header beyond the visiting keeper.

Masson was very busy in the latter stages, seeing two shots saved by Smith and also receiving a booking rather than a penalty when he appeared to be fouled inside the East Fife area, which was encouraging when you consider how long he had been sidelined.

COVE RANGERS: Gourlay, Milne, Scully, Ross, Strachan, Yule, Megginson (McIntosh 83), McAllister (Watson 83), Vigurs, Leitch (Masson 76), Logan.

Subs: McKenzie, Neill, Anderson.

EAST FIFE: Gallacher (J Smith 46), Mercer, Dunlop, C Higgins, Slattery, Denholm, McManus, Newton, Semple (K Smith 61), Connell, Watt (Dunsmore 75).

Subs: Steele, D Higgins, Brown.

Referee: Euan Anderson.

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