East Fife 1 Albion Rovers 1

Last updated : 29 October 2005 By Footymad Previewer

East Fife's promotion hopes were dealt a blow and they had to rely on a late leveller for a point against dull Albion.

Rovers punished the Fifers for slack defending after 11 minutes when Craig Lumsden lost the ball to Scott Friel. The skipper spotted Ian Chisholm, and his cross was tapped into the net by Scott Chaplain.

Rovers had their tails up and Scott Morrison had to race off his line to deny Chisholm moments later.

John Bradford nodded over the top and Craig Smart fired wide as East Fife attempted to draw level.

Lumsden almost made amends after 34 minutes when he showed great control in the box, but his shot on the turn whistled wide. But Rovers still carried a threat, and George Wallace was out of luck after 38 minutes when his angled volley bounced off the crossbar.

Stuart Noble should have levelled on the stroke of half-time, but he smacked his shot across goal and past the post.

East Fife boss Jim Moffat went for more aerial power with Ross Graham replacing former Rovers man Bradford, and Martin making way for Sean Paliczka.

Smart came close after 65 minutes when his header was clawed off the line by Jamie Ewings.

Greg McDonald gave the Fifers a lifeline when he headed in Smart's corner after 77 minutes.

They were lucky just moments later, however, when Wallace was just inches away from converting Chisholm's cross for an Albion winner.

With the game in its final stages, Rovers boss Jim Chapman was sent to the stand by the referee for swearing at a Fife player.