East Fife 4-2 Stranraer

Stranraer have held every league team they've played for the past six weekends to a draw, but the Fifers strolled into a 4-0 lead against them.

They'd achieved something no other side had managed for month and a half, putting some daylight between themselves and the Blues.

Stranraer have shown they don't lack fighting spirit and pulled a couple of goals back late on, but it was all too little too late.

The win means East Fife retain their place inside the top four and sit just three points behind third place Airdrie.

Stranraer had a couple of early sights of goal, Andy Stirling should have done better when he was played in on goal and James Hilton's drive had Brett Long beat but sailed wide of the post.

The couple of chances sparked East Fife into life and they muscled their way into the lead when Ryan Wallace sent Anton Dowds clear on Max Currie's goal.

The in-form striker blasted his finish beyond the Blues goalie.

The goal really settled the Fifers down and they camped out inside the Stranraer half.

Scott Agnew went close, as did Dowds again, as the hosts pressed.

They eventually got the second goal shortly before the break when Ryan Thomson was penalised for a handball inside the box.

Agnew stepped up and found the net with ease.

Two goals up, East Fife looked comfortable.

Danny Denholm, who had his best game in a Fife shirt for some time, added number three when he finished off Ryan Wallace's cutback.

It was soon 4-0, Wallace using full advantage of the blustery conditions to send his corner kick into the top corner of the Stranraer net.

Darren Young's men should have simply closed the game out but gave their visitors a glimmer of hope when Scott Robertson netted.

From the centre the Fifers gifted possession back to Stranraer and Joao Victoria made them pay the price by rattling in number two.

But a full comeback failed to materialise and East Fife saw out the rest of the game with ease.

Boss Young said: “Overall it was brilliant and that’s six points we’ve won from the three games we’ve played this week which we probably would have taken.

“We scored four goals at home and at the same time had another three or four opportunities to really put the game to bed.

“The guys have been brilliant and have worked so hard for us."