East Fife 2-0 Elgin

Feb 24 2008 John Hughes Reports

A SECOND-HALF strike by Paul Stewart and an own goal maintained runaway league leaders' East Fife's momentum.

The strong wind made it difficult for both sides and the first chance fell to Elgin after 30 minutes.

A Ross O'Donoghue corner was punched out byCraig Wight but Paul Kaczan's mistimed rebound effort sailed wide.

Wight then flapped at another O'Donoghue corner but Zander Sutherland blazed a shot over.

Just before the interval Elgin keeper Ally Ridgers did well to hold efforts from Bobby Linn and Paul McManus.

After the restart the visitors were pinned further and further back.

Midway through the second half Linn just failed to connect with a McManus cross and a Kevin Fotheringham strike shaved the outside of the post.

The deadlock was broken in 63 minutes when a Kaczan mistake allowed Stewart to slot the ball home.

The Fifers' lead was doubled when Ridgers blocked a Fotheringham drive but the ball hit off unlucky Steven Mackay and rolled into the net.

Both McManus and Linn went close as the Fifers went for a third and Elgin survived a scare when Ridgers failed to hold sub Gary Greenhill's 18-yard strike.