Scottish 2nd Division
Sunday 16th November 03
New Bayview, Methil

How the press reported the match.

BBC

East Fife failed to close the gap on league leaders Morton as the top two fought out a goalless draw in front of a near capacity crowd.
Morton remain seven points clear of the Fifers but saw their 100% away record come to an end.

Alex Williams almost opened the scoring for Morton in the 10th minute when Gary O'Connor tipped his shot on to the post.

The visitors went even closer four minutes before the break, Paul Walker's shot headed over the crossbar by Euan Donaldson.

However, East Fife controlled the second half and Kenny Deuchar almost grabbed the winner in the 67th minute, but Craig Coyle saved his powerful header.

Scotsman

BAYVIEW was packed to capacity for this top-of-the table clash and supporters from both club’s left relatively happy, with the game ending in stalemate.

A draw was a fair result although Morton could have put the game beyond doubt during an exciting opening period. The visitors made a blistering start to the game and could have been 3-0 up within the first 11 minutes, with the hosts defence struggling to keep the lively Alex Williams and Peter Weatherson at bay.

Eleven minutes had elapsed when Paul Walker produced a deep cross which found Williams at the back post. The striker nodded the ball back across goal for Weatherson, but he headed over from close range. Weatherson had a chance to make amends for his earlier miss, but again he headed wide from a Walker cross.

In comparison, East Fife rarely created many goal scoring opportunities and were forced to shoot from outside box. However, Steven Nicholas found the towering Kenny Deuchar in the box, but the hitman’s header from 12 yards went inches over.

Five minutes before the interval Williams should have opened the scoring. The ball broke kindly after the keeper failed to smother but Euan Donaldson headed off the line.

The Methil outfit looked more composed in the second half as the normally-deadly Deuchar looked dangerous.

Goalkeeper Craig Coyle made a save from a Deuchar header from six yards and the marksman should have done better later in the game, but he twice bulleted headers over the bar.

East Fife: O'Connor, McMillan, Lumsden, Hall(16,46), Donaldson, Stewart(84), Blair, Kelly, Gilbert, Deuchar, Nicholas. Subs: Mortimer(16), McDonald(46), Mitchell, Fairbairn(84), McQueen.

Morton: Coyle, Henderson, Bottiglieri, Macgregor, Greacen, Marco Maisano, Millar, John Maisano, Williams, Weatherson, Walker. Subs: Bannerman, MacDonald, Gaughan, McAlistair, McGurn.

Referee: H Dallas

Attendance: 1757

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