East Fife beat nine-man Annan Athletic in play-off first leg

Annan Athletic’s hopes of League One survival suffered a blow after they lost 3-2 against East Fife in the play-off final first leg.

East Fife made a dream start at Bayview Stadium through Alan Trouten’s fifth-minute opener, and an Andy Munro header doubled the League Two side’s advantage.

But Michael McKenna put an attempted defensive clearance into his own net just before half-time, which gave the visitors a lifeline, and Aidan Smith equalised four minutes into the second period.

Annan, through, had Scott Hooper sent off following a reckless 72nd-minute challenge, and Munro hit the winner eight minutes later before Hooper’s team-mate Layton Bisland was dismissed for a second yellow card as Annan finished with nine players ahead of Friday’s return encounter.