Albion Rovers may well be League Two’s champions elect, but Fife assistant Dougie Anderson says there was no way Bayview would be hosting a title party.
With only three games of the season remaining, Darren Young’s side are five points clear of second-placed Queen’s Park.
Had they beaten East Fife on Saturday and Queen’s Park slipped up at home to Annan, they would have wrapped up the title there and then.
However, Anderson said, that with East Fife still trying to secure fourth spot, his side had been in no mood to allow Rovers to be handed the title on their patch.
He said: “We can only take care of our own business.
“We knew they’d be coming here with the intention of winning the league but, with all due respect, that’s something you don’t want to happen on your own ground.
“We needed the three points for a different reason.
“We dealt with that and I thought we matched them in every department all over the park.
“We had the energy and endeavour, won the 50/50s and we edged it even though it was a close game,” he said.
“It’s the business end of the season now and we bounced back from the defeat last week.
“We had a really inexperienced midfield and they were fantastic.”
The Fifers started the game really well and could have taken an early lead when Ross Brown’s corner, which was held up in the wind, bounced down off the Rovers cross bar.
Kevin Smith looked dangerous every time he burst forward for the Methil men, and his cut-back for Jordan Leyden only lacked a decent finish.
But Smith did get his assist when he picked out a pass to Sean Dickson six yards from goal, who bundled the ball home.
As news filtered through from Hampden that Queen’s had taken the lead Rovers looked deflated.
The Methil men should have been handed the chance to go two up when Nathan Austin’s drive seemed to be blocked by the hand of Michael Dunlop.
Despite the Fife protests no penalty was given.
Rovers ended the game with a flurry as they tried to salvage at least a point.
The introduction of John Gemmell from the bench caused a headache for the Fife defence, but they stood firm and held on for a crucial three points.