East Fife recorded a stunning derby victory over SPL neighbours Dunfermline in the second round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at New Bayview.
The incredible upset by the part-time Second Division side was even more astonishing considering they had eight players out injured and had lost 3-0 at Arbroath at the weekend while the Pars were triumphing against Dundee United at Tannadice.
John Robertson’s side took a shock cup lead in the opening five minutes thanks to Bobby Linn with Dunfermline pulling one back shortly after through Liam Buchanan.
However, East Fife took the lead for the second and decisive time just after the break when Scott Dalziel lashed the ball home.
A delighted East Fife boss John Robertson said: “That was an unbelievable result. When you are in a crisis everyone needs to stand up and be counted and that’s what we did.
“I thought we dominated the game and just hung in there. Tonight wasn’t a fluke though and I am sure Jim McIntyre would agree with me. We could have had many more.
“But Paul Gallacher in their goal pulled off some wonder saves.
“It is a fantastic result for the fans and hopefully it will give the players, who have gone bananas in the dressing room, a bit of self-belief as well. That is one of the finest results of my career.”
Devastated Pars boss McIntyre graciously said: “The best team won. They were better than us on the night and thoroughly deserved their win. We did not start well and were never at the races.
“We are gutted to be out of the cup but the players were well warned and we got what we deserved.”
Robertson made two changes from Saturday’s loss at Arbroath with Scott Durie and Ryan Wallace coming in for David Cowan and Steven Campbell.
McIntyre shuffled his pack from the weekend with Kevin Rutkiewicz, Liam Buchanan, Andy Barrowman and Steven McDougall replacing Martin Hardie, Gary Mason, Joe Cardle and Andy Kirk.
The Second Division outfit came close to making a dream start in just the second minute when Craig Johnstone played a ball over the top to the onrushing Wallace who managed to beat the offside trap but he lifted his attempted lob over Paul Gallacher’s crossbar.
However, the home fans did not have long to wait for their shock opener in the fifth minute.
Dalziel played a ball to Linn in acres of space in the Pars’ penalty area. His first shot was parried away by Gallacher but Linn made no mistake with his second fierce drive which flew past the keeper from 15 yards.
East Fife came close to extending their lead shortly after when the same two home players combined again at a corner to present Linn with another shooting opportunity but Gallacher saved well at his near post.
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Dunfermline looked for a quick response and secured it in the 12th minute.
David Graham played an inch-perfect cross-field ball towards Barrowman who raced in on goal before hitting a crisp shot from the edge of the home penalty area which East Fife keeper Michael Brown did well to initially save but Buchanan was first to react and netted the rebound from close range.
Dunfermline tried to capitalise on that equaliser but were restricted as the half-hour mark approached to a couple of half-chance headers from Barrowman and a flashing angled drive across the face of Brown’s goal by Buchanan.
However, it was East Fife who came mightily close in the 43rd minute when Durie flashed a fierce shot narrowly wide of Gallacher’s far post.
East Fife started the second half brightly and stormed into the lead for the second time in the 55th minute. Linn crossed to Dalziel just inside the Pars’ penalty area and he chested the ball down before lashing it from 15 yards high past the stunned Gallacher, to record his first goal for the club.
The Dunfermline stopper had to look lively shortly after, diving to his left to turn away a 20-yard Linn free-kick.
The part-time outfit visibly grew in confidence while their higher league opponents began to look increasingly nervous and tentative.
McIntyre rang the changes in an effort to turn things around with talismanic striker Andy Kirk brought into the fray along with Paul Willis and Ryan Thomson.
However, it was East Fife who continued to belie their lower league status as they looked to hit the Pars on the break with Linn striking the side netting from one such foray on 73 minutes. Wallace was next to come close in the 78th minute as he cracked a shot just wide of Gallacher’s left post.
As the game entered its final stages, Dunfermline desperately pressed for the equaliser but were all too frequently undone by a poor final pass or cross.
Deep into injury time Barrowman had a header cleared off the East Fife line by Steven Hislop and the home side held on to record a stunning cup shock.
Photo David Wardle.