East Fife 0 : 0 Peterhead - Play-off deadlock remains

Posted Thursday, May 16, 2013 by PA

East Fife and Peterhead played out a goalless draw in the first-leg of their Irn-Bru Second Division play-off final.

Peterhead, runners up to champions Rangers in the fourth tier this year dominated the first half before the Fifers came into the contest, which remains tightly poised ahead of Sunday's second leg at Balmoor.

Injury-ravaged Peterhead went into the match searching for an 11th consecutive win and Andy Rodgers, one of the men playing through the pain, volleyed wide from the edge of the box in the 17th minute.

Midway through the half, visiting midfielder Bryan Gilfillan volleyed tamely wide from David Cox's cross.

Top scorer Rory McAllister then twice tried his luck but East Fife reached the interval unscathed.

Early in the second half a corner from Craig Johnstone almost caught out Peterhead goalkeeper Graeme Smith, before Scott Durie, Paul Willis and Scott McBride launched speculative efforts.

At the other end, Dean Cowie smashed over as the hour approached, but Colin Samuel called Smith into action twice more as East Fife played their part in a more even 45 minutes.

Home keeper Calum Antell did well to parry a Rodgers shot to safety before Willis and McAllister spurned headed opportunities from corners for their respective sides in the closing stages.