Arbroath 0-1 East Fife

Jan 27 2008 Graham Mann At Gayfield

NEW signing Chris Templeman produced the goods as table-toppers East Fife rubber-stamped their title credentials.

The striker netted his first goal for the club since his switch from Morton and it was enough to earn the runaway league leaders the points.

The Fifers had to battle hard against an Arbroath side that gave as good as they got but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. East Fife gaffer Dave Baikie said: "I was delighted to see Templeman score his first goal for the club and it helps take us another step closer towards our own ultimate goal.

"I didn't see complacency from my team, just a group of players doing their best against a good side." It was the home side who carved out the first chance thanks to a neat one-two on the edge of the box but Alan Brazil shanked his shot hopelessly wide.

At the other end Robbie Raeside put his defence in trouble when he misjudged a long ball by Greig McDonald.

Bobby Linn looked set to capitalise but the striker hit a weak shot straight at Darren Hill.

The home side kept probing and Barry Sellars' pass found Andy Reilly in space on the left.

The forward picked out Roddy Black whose stinging drive was blocked on the way to goal by Steven Tweed.

Black threatened again soon after when his looping cross arched over keeper Willie McCulloch and hit the bar.

But it was the Fifers who grabbed the lead in 36 minutes.

Kevin Fotheringham lofted a free-kick from his own half into a crowded box and Templeman used his height to rise above the waiting pack and pick his spot past the exposed home keeper.

Arbroath tried to hit back before the break and McCulloch had to look sharp to hold a fierce shot from the industrious Black.

Things began to heat up after the interval and ref Steven Nicholas had to step in to keep Raeside and Fotheringham apart.

Raeside continued to sail close to the wind when he barged into Lloyd Young but the ref only issued a warning.

Arbroath thought they'd hit the equaliser in 64 minutes but Bryan Scott's header crashed off the bar before the linesman flagged for offside.

Templeman then earned a yellow card when he lost out in a challenge to Black and halted an Arbroath counter by grabbing the ball as he fell in a heap.

With 10 minutes to go Scott tried his luck from the edge of the box and his rasping drive brought a great save from McCulloch.

Kevin Gordon could have settled East Fife's nerves near the end when he went clean through but the striker fired wide.

Arbroath boss John McGlashan said: "There is a fine line between winning and losing and we got caught on our heels from a quickly taken free-kick.We just didn't get the rub of the green."

HERO

CENTRE-HALF Steven Tweed marshalled the East Fife defence superbly and the skipper was outstanding as he helped protect keeper Willie McCulloch from the home side's probing attacks.

VILLAIN

STRIKER Chris Templeman may have scored the winner but he also blatantly cheated when he lost possession and then grabbed hold of the ball to prevent a promising Arbroath counter-attack.