Losing battle to the power of 10

EAST FIFE 1

LIVINGSTON 4 6min Moffat 31min Bingham 45min Wilson 75min Wilson 77min Britton Livingston crushed East Fife's cup hopes despite going a goal down and having a man sent off.

They took the game to their hosts with Stevie Tosh bursting into the box unchallenged and squaring for Barry Wilson who poked it just wide.

However, East Fife shocked their highly-fancied opponents with a goal in six minutes in their first attack of the game. Chris Devine's incisive pass sent Barry Moffat clear and he calmly drilled the ball past Neil Alexander from the edge of the box.

The game then erupted into controversy when Tosh was red-carded for a two-footed lunge on John Allison who had to be replaced by John Gallacher in 10 minutes.

Rattled, Jim Leishman's side lost their rhythm and it was East Fife who almost increased their lead after a smart move in 22 minutes. Stewart Mackay swung in a tempting cross and Moffat got in front of Marvin Andrews to slash a header narrowly wide.

Alan McManus and David Hagen both had efforts which failed to stretch Andy Stewart but the team found their scoring touch in 31 minutes. A front post corner was flicked on by Brian McPhee and David Bingham had the simple task of side-footing home from three yards with hardly a defender in sight. Alexander made a tremendous stop when Paul Mortimer's shot was deflected before Bingham came close with a swerving free kick.

On the stroke of halfway Livingston took the lead with a 30- yarder from Wilson which soared into the top corner with Stewart helpless. But East Fife were not ready to throw in the towel and must have thought they'd equalised through Devine's outstanding volley in 62 minutes but Alexander produced a world class stop.

Wilson put the match beyond doubt when he took Brian McPhee's pass and hit a deflected 75th minute shot past Stewart. Substitute Gerry Britton added some gloss with a tap-in on 77 minutes after Bingham laid the chance on a plate.

Moffat almost grabbed a late consolation for Fife but his strike rattled off the crossbar.

Copyright 2001
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