Need for a ruthless edge

Last updated : 05 March 2012 By Fargone

hippoFrom the Sunday Mail:  FRUSTRATED Paul Sheerin reckons his side have to find a ruthless streak after they threw away a twogoal lead for the second time in four days.

His men passed up the chance to take a grip on the title race despite sweeping 2-0 ahead after an early double from on-loan Liam Caddis.

Just as they did in a midweek draw with Airdrie, the Angus side surrendered their advantage with Steven Hislop and Robert Sloan netting to earn a point for the 10-man Fifers.

Arbroath remain a point adrift of leaders Cowdenbeath. And Sheerin said: "That's another opportunity gone.

"We are lucky that everyone else cut each other's throats but we need to sort ourselves out and make a real push in the final quarter of the season to try and win the title."

Arbroath got off to the best possible start when Caddis netted on six minutes after drilling in a low cutback from Collin Samuel.

Samuel set up Caddis again nine minutes later as he picked up the ball inside the East Fife half and drove into the box before slipping in the winger to fire beyond Michael Brown.

That could and should have ended the game as a contest - but Gordon Durie's battlers had other ideas.

Sloan clawed it back to 2-1 just before the half-hour as he made space on the edge of the box to plant the ball into the bottom right corner.

Arbroath almost had an instant response.

Darren Hill's long throw out to Caddis sent the winger on a mazy 60 yard run into the box. He crossed for Steven Doris but the former St Johnstone striker fired a low effort straight at Brown.

But East Fife levelled just before the break as Darren Smith skinned player-boss Sheerin before crossing for Hislop to head in from 10 yards.

The Fifers also emerged stronger after the break and only a stunning stop from Hill to push away Sloan's 20-yard strike denied them the lead in 47 minutes.

That was the closest any of the sides got to a clincher and East Fife were reduced to 10 men in the dying seconds.

Defender David White had already been booked when he fouled Doris and picked up his second yellow.

However, it was too late to impact the result.

It was an excellent day for East Fife stand-in boss Durie, who is favourite to replace John Robertson after he was sacked on Thursday.

And Durie admitted: "I'd like the job on a permanent basis.

"I've spoken to Robbo and while I'm disappointed for him he has told me to go for it."