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We paid a heavy price for some very poor defending as East Fife secured all three points in our cinch League One clash at Bayview Stadium.

First half goals from Aaron Steele, Kyle Connell and Scott Mercer proved too much of a hurdle for us to overcome.

We looked to have raised our hopes when Robbie Leitch pulled a goal back right at the start of the second period – but those were blown away again when Connell claimed his second of the game within two minutes.

In fairness to the players, we went on to dominate possession and forced home keeper Jude Smith to make saves.

Morgyn Neill also pulled another goal back, from a header, but the damage had already been done during those disastrous first 48 minutes or so of a match to forget.

Shay Logan and Iain Vigurs returned after being rested the previous weekend.

There was also a start for midfielder Jamie Masson, with Harry Milne and Blair Yule absent because of injury.

We started brightly, with Connor Scully meeting Smith’s punched clearance, from a Masson corner, to hit a powerful drop-volley that was on the way in until it was blocked by a defender.

But from the 12th minute, when East Fife scored the opener, it made grim viewing for the small but loyal band of Cove fans who had made the trek to Methil.

The goal came from a corner that only came about because Stuart McKenzie was forced to make an excellent save from Connell, after he had been allowed to break clear through the middle.

Connor McManus took the kick, from the left, and his cross should have been cut out before it reached STEELE, who rose at the back post to score with a close range header.

We were unlucky not to equalise within two minutes, when Vigurs sent a corner over from the right and the ball broke to Leitch.

Home keeper Smith did well to block the midfielder’s net-bound shot to safety with his legs.

It was 2-0 in the 16th minute, when slack play in midfield led to the ball landing at the feet of CONNELL. The East Fife man was also given far too much space, but made the best of it by lashing a spectacular 25-yard shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Smith rescued East Fife again in the 34th minute, when he beat away Masson’s powerful shot, from a tight angle on the left.

The third goal came from a controversially awarded free-kick, after Connell tumbled to the turf while Scott Ross challenged him from behind.

It looked to be a harsh decision and referee Scott Lambie then sparked a reaction from some our players by ordering the defensive wall to retreat a distance that appeared far more than the required 10-yards.

 Lambie then booked Ross and Fraser Fyvie and East Fife also brought on former Cove player Daniel Higgins, for the injured Ross Dunlop, before the kick could be taken.

The long delay didn’t bother MERCER though. He lashed home a wonderful 22-yard free-kick that gave McKenzie no chance as it bulleted into the net.

We looked to be back in it when we scored just 50 seconds after the restart.

Mitch Megginson played a pass through to LEITCH and his shot, from the edge of the area, flew past the diving Smith.

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Unfortunately, we then gifted East Fife another goal within two minutes.

Mercer should never have been allowed to dance in from the right, almost on the byline, before squaring the ball for CONNELL to hammer home from close range.

Our lads at least had a go at saving the game.

We were unlucky in the 55th minute, when Masson passed the ball to Megginson and his shot was kept out by an excellent save from Smith.

McAllister was also just inches away from getting on to the rebound before it was booted clear, from the edge of the six yard box.

Leitch should have done better than send a free header wide, from a Vigurs corner, in the 64th minute.

Defender NEILL pulled a goal back, in the 73rd minute, when he met another Vigurs corner and netted with a downward header from inside the East Fife six-yard box.

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Our best move of the game came in the 74th minute, when a series of passes forward ended with McAllister laying the ball off to Megginson and his powerful shot was finger-tipped over the crossbar by Smith.

Scully then crossed from the right to McAllister, but Smith was well placed to save the striker’s deft flick at the front post.

Substitute Ola Adeyemo also set McAllister up when he headed the ball on in the last minute, but Smith saved his 16-yard shot as well to ensure East Fife held out for the win they deserved.

EAST FIFE: J Smith, C Higgins, Dunlop (D Higgins 43), McManus, Slattery, Wallace (Brown 88), Mercer, Watt, Steele, Newton, Connell (Semple 79).

Subs: Gallacher, Denholm, Smith.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Neill, Scully, Ross (Strachan 46), Megginson, Masson (Adeyemo 58), McAllister, Vigurs, Leitch (Robertson 66), Fyvie, Logan.

Subs: McIntosh, Anderson, Gourlay.

Referee: Scott Lambie.

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