www.stjohnstonefc.co.ukThere were three changes in the Saints line up for this first cup match of the new season with Kevin Rutkiewicz replacing Jim Weir, Willie Dyer in for the injured Kevin James and Martin Hardie taking over from Darren Sheridan.
It was the Fifers who started the better of the two sides and John Martin was not far away in the 5th minute when he fired just high and wide after a nice four man passing move and a couple of minutes later Methil keeper Iain Ross was tested for the first time in the evening but he was happy to watch as Paul Sheerin’s effort from the edge of the box went past his left hand post.
Next up on a surprisingly airy evening was a Rutkiewicz header from a Paul Shererin corner but the contact wasn’t sufficient to trouble the keeper and the big central defender was called into action at the other end on 15 minutes he had to put in a well timed tackle on Martin who was about to pull the trigger after being set up by Ryan Blackadder.
It was the visitors who had their tails up and Bryn Halliwell was called into action to tip over a Jonathon Smart header from a Blackadder free kick but Saints continued to live dangerously and when Halliwell failed to get a good clearance on a Stanic backpass Kevin Gordon was quick to pounce and control the loose ball but thankfully from a Saints perspective he dragged his shot into the side netting.
There was a blow for the Fifers in the 28th minute when veteran Scott Crabbe had to go off injured and he was replaced by another experienced player, Paul Ritchie.
East Fife were certainly looking like the more effective side after half an hour and anything that Saints could throw at them was being comfortably dealt with by a well marshalled defence.
It was goalless at half-time and Owen Coyle was sufficiently concerned with matters
to make a double substitution at the interval with Derek Young on for Willie Dyer and Peter MacDonald replacing an ineffective Steven Milne.
There was a nervy moment for Fife keeper Ross in 49 minutes when he spilled a cross ball but McGowan was on hand to mop up the danger albeit at the expense of a corner.
Jason Scotland had a half chance but he couldn’t take the zip off a Paul Sheerin cross sufficiently to get the ball under control 8 yards from goal.Following on from the goalless match on Saturday, the home crowd were understandably getting restless for a goal and as is so typical in those situations two came along at once, thankfully both for Saints.
The first, in 60 minutes, was set up with a sublime Derek Young pass, whose defence splitting ball was right into the path of Jason Scotland and the Trinidad man hesitated for just a second before firing the ball under keeper Ross and the crowd were barely back in their seats when Saints made it 2-0 as Martin Hardie sent in a looping header from a MacDonald cross and the ball looked to have just crossed the line before an East Fife defender, in attempting to clear, made sure.
After such a struggle in the first half it was almost a surprise that
Saints found themselves in control of the game now and that control was further strengthened with a third goal in 70 minutes. Peter MacDonald released Jason Scotland and he drew the keeper before firing home for 3-0.East Fife made a double substitution in a bid to turn the tide and in 76 minutes they got a goal back when Kevin Rutkiewicz was powerless to prevent the ball striking his knee and into the net from a dangerous cross ball.
That goal sparked the visitors into life and twice in as many minutes they could and arguably should have scored – Halliwell’s goal leading a charmed life. However, Saints held on reasonably comfortably for the 3-1 win.
SAINTS: Halliwell, Lawrie, Stanic, McManus, Rutkiewicz, Dyer (Young), Mensing, Hardie, Milne (MacDonald), Scotland (Jackson), Sheerin.
Subs not used: Stevenson, Cuthbert
EAST FIFE: Ross, Smith, Linton, Smart, McGowan, Courts, Blackadder, Jablonski, Crabbe (Ritchie), Martin (O’Reilly), Gordon (Smart).
Subs not used: Fortune, Dodds.