East Fife2–1Dumbarton

In many games this season, the main topic of post match discussion has been the lack of chances created in the 90 minutes. After this trip to Methil, it had changed to one discussing the many chances created and failing to convert them.

After a sparkling opening 10 minutes where four cast iron chances were created and missed, like an express train coming down a long straight mainline, you could see what was going to happen. And it did.

The chances started coming in only the second minute of the game when Tomas Brindley sent in a powerful shot from outside the box which just skimmed the wrong side of the bar. Four minutes later and the ball fell to Jaime Wilson. His shot from just inside the corner of the box was on target at tipped over the bar by Jordan Hart in the Fifers' goal.

Three minutes later, great work from PJ on the left saw him find space to send in a curling cross across the six yard box that beat the entire defence as well as the onrushing Wilson. Finishing off this spell of Sons pressure, Ross Forbes curled in another great cross. This time Wilson got his head to it but his effort flew over the bar.

East Fife then had their first effort on goal that called Sam Ramsbottom into action with a fine stop. That was just the warning and on 28 minutes Aaron Dunsmore opened the scoring for the home side. Dumbarton weren't finished though and produced two more chances through Forbes and Quitongo but neither were converted.

The second half wasn't quite as frantic, perhaps an indication of the hard slog the fixture list has caused both sides this month. Ten minutes in and Nick McAllister's effort hit the bar as he then collided with the post. It looked a nasty one but he was quickly up on his feet.

On 68 minutes East Fife made it 2-0 through Aaron Steele which sparked Sons back into life, particularly in the latter stages of the game. The players got their reward when PJ Crossan harassed a defender, took the ball off him and prodded it home past the advancing Hart. Then Ruaridh Langan nearly stole a point right at the end but his powerful shot sailed over the bar.

There were two ways of looking at this result: first it sent us deeper into trouble near the foot of the table, or we played the best side in the bottom five away from home and thanks to Peterhead's win over Clyde ended up two goals better off in the goal difference battle with the sides around us.

You choose. One down, three to go.