A thoroughly professional performance all over the pitch today ensured that the full three points went to the deserved victors. Sadly, for those of us of a black and gold persuasion, it was Stenhousemuir who enhanced their play-off chances and easily dumped a lacklustre (that'll please a couple of folk on the forum...) East Fife side well and truly on our arses. Earlier in the season we'd knocked seven past this mob and, even when losing to them just before Christmas, we could justifiably argue that, perhaps, we'd been a bit unlucky. There can be no doubts about today, however; we were done by a (considerably) better side.

We've grown used this season to seeing the boys play astute, clever football. Once or twice we've been caught out by conditions but, by and large, have managed to impose our game on the opposition. Today was different - but we'd probably better get ready for more of the same in the run in this season. It was apparent last week that East Stirling really raised their game for the trip to Bayview. If we needed any reminding today that everyone will be coming to Methil with something to prove, it took until about five past three to realise that the Warriors were in no mood to settle back and let us do our thing....

Having said that, in the opening forty five minutes we just about held our own. Paul McManus made a welcome return to the side (sadly, that meant that Keven Davison had to miss out and warm up the bench for an hour or so....) so it was with high hopes that we had settled down for kick-off. Everything looked set for a great afternoon - pleasant weather (can you believe that the sun was so strong that it screwed up loadsa ma foties?); a buzz of anticipation around the ground and the secure knowledge that we were better than Stenhousemuir. Ah, if only. Right from the off it was far closer than we'd expected. We looked in the mood but Stenny, too, were obviously just as prepared; some of their early tackles were outstanding (granted, a few were also criminal) and their passing game looked just as impressive.

That didn't stop us creating a few early chances, mind. Just ten minutes in, we should have been awarded a penalty when a cross in from Dougie Cameron was dummied by Templeman (well, we'll say 'dummied' rather than 'missed completely') only for the ball to bounce up and hit the Stenny right back's hand. The ref had a clear view from only yards away but determined that no foul had occurred (you work it out). Just a minute after that, Lloyd Young was unlucky not to open the scoring when his neat little header from Cameron's cross slid just over the bar. It was beginning to look like we'd have to rely on quality today and no' good luck.

At the other end, the Warriors were also causing problems. Tweed, Smartie and Greig McDonald all put in great shifts but were frequently harried by some wonderful interplay by the 'Muir midfield. For me, the pick of our defence today, however, was Dougie Cameron who, time after time, made brilliant tackles to snuff out what looked like promising moves for the opposition. The quality of our opponents today meant that every one of our boys would have been fuckin' knackered by full time. But Dougie stayed with it throughout and was as likely to be in the Stenny last third as he was in his own. His overall display was enough for me so I'll turn a blind-eye to his 'role' in the goal.... Otherwise, great performance ma man!

By the time the game was twenty minutes old it was evident that any points we would win today would be very hard fought for. Indeed, such was the composure that the Warriers were displaying in possession, if anything, it looked like they might take the lead. Only their own sloppy finishing stopped them opening the scoring when ex-Fifer, Graham Gibson, made room for himself in the box before unselfishly sliding a neat pass to his colleague, Alan Lindsay. The goal was gaping open but the forward somehow contrived to blast the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

It was the wake-up call that Fife needed but, sadly, it looked like someone had hit the 'snooze button'. Stenny continued to press forward with Scott Dalziel (practice how you say it, you'll be needing it again later unfortunately....) in particular proving to be a real handful for McDonald at the back. There can be no questions asked about the big defender's effort and attitude; the poor bastard just came up against an opponent who was on fire today! It was Dalziel's superb movement that pulled Greig out of position just before the interval and let Alan Gilbride have a clear sight of goal. How he could fashion an effort that threatened only the ball-boy behind the goal is something that you'd really have to ask him. It was a shocking miss but, for the first time in twenty minutes, I started to think that maybe we'd get in at the break on level terms.

Just seconds later the ref blew for half time. It had been as testing a forty five minutes as we've faced all season and, on the balance of play, we were probably just about value for the nil-nil score. The players trotted off for a well earned break - some of the play might have been disappointing at times but it was unquestionable that their efforts shouldn't be recognised. And that was reflected in the response from the crowd - it was encouraging that everyone in the stand was still right behind the guys. We'd all seen a tough examination of the team but, come what may, it was only positive comments that could be heard from the crowd. Good on us!

Any plans we had for the second half were washed away almost immediately. It took less than two minutes for our visitors to take the lead. Straight from kick-off they'd pushed forward and were rewarded with an early corner. It looked initially like we'd managed to clear the danger but they were well capable of reaching the ball to fire another cross from the edge of the box. Both Steven Tweed and Dougie Cameron appeared to be auditioning for a part in the re-make of The Invisible Man so neither seemed aware of the potential danger. As the ball trundled towards the line, Alan Lindsay looked like to only player on the park willing to chase it down. He curled his foot around the ball and slid it across the six yard box, leaving Dalziel the easiest of jobs to simply poke it home for the only goal of the game.

What did assuage our most pressing worries, however, was that the team didn't let the setback upset their rhythm. Almost immediately we pushed forward in an attempt to equalise. It was a great move, started off by Johnnie Smart (who, even at this early stage, was pushing further and further forward) who slid an inch perfect pass through to Templeman. Paul McManus had bust a gut to keep up with play and picked up the ball from big Chris and headed goalwards. Unfortunately, the Warriors' keeper had his wits about him and made a decent save at Paul's feet.

We continued to work hard and try to press the Warriors' defence. Unhappily, however, they were refusing to be intimidated and continued with the calm, calculated football that they'd been playing since the opening minutes of the game. If we're being completely honest (and, I appreciate that for those of you who know me, honesty's not a word that often crops up in my diction), you have to give Stenny some credit. They'd come to Bayview today with something of an attitude and it was going to take quite something to break them down.

Unbelievably, instead of trying to get back into this one by matching them in footballing terms, we panicked and reverted to Route One fuba (hey, we've got a centre forward who's seven feet tall; bang a few high balls up, he's bound to score). Coming out of the ground after the game today I heard more than a few comments about the guys getting complacent. For me, however, it was all about the tactics today. From where I was watching it, I couldn't criticise any of the players. Every single one of them worked their socks off today and did their very best to get back into the game. Fuck sake, Johnnie Smart was virtually camped in their penalty box for the last twenty minutes!

I'm reluctant to moan too much; especially when we're still eighteen points clear of the rest. But I have to say that the Boss's tactics today left me somewhat bemused. It's apparent that we have the best players in this league, and from just watching the game today it's equally evident that each and every one of them is desperate to keep on winning. Their effort and commitment this afternoon got more focused as the minutes ticked away. But the gaffer appeared not to trust that they'd be able to play their way back into the game.

Earlier in the week, Baikie was reported as saying that he thought that the boys were becoming more difficult to motivate. But it looked to me that we have no problems there at all. The pain that they felt was fuckin' tangible today. They could hear the fans in the stand (and, no doubt, the taunts from the Warriors' supporters) and were obviously doing their absolute best to do anything to get back into it. However, the instructions from the sideline meant that we persisted in lumping balls forward. The first time we tried it, the Stenny defenders dealt with it without concern. And, unsurprisingly, every other time that we tried the same thing.... Well, you work it out... pity that Baikie didnae!

That wasn't to say that we didn't threaten at times. With twenty minutes remaining it was some gutsy defending that stopped us getting a shot on target. It wasn't too surprising when, by keeping the ball at our feet, we'd managed to make progress forward. Bobby Linn picked up the ball at the edge of the box and easily wrong-footed his marker. He headed towards the goal and looked to have a great chance to shoot from the edge of the six yard box. However, the Stenny left back rushed to cover and was able to lunge forward in a desperate tackle that blocked Linn's shot and cleared the danger. We were unfortunate but it surely showed what we could do if we just played football....

Alas, it was not to be. Craig O'Reilly came on to replace Linn with fifteen minutes remaining but, despite his best efforts (he only had a quarter of an hour but worked his baws aff), he was to be ineffectual against a Stenny defence that grew more and more confident as the game wore on. With time running out, O'Reilly did manage to evade his marker and slid through a great pass to the tireless Lloyd Young. His effort on goal, however, was rather pensive - we'll say that he got his angles wrong and leave it at that. Let's just say that the Stenny keeper didnae have tae worry too much.

The time eventually ran out and Stenhousemuir had picked up a valuable three points in their attempt to reach the Div Three play-offs. The Fife players left the field looking as dejected as I've seen them. And that, in a perverse kind of way, is all the more encouraging. It's apparent to me that there are no problems at our club with motivation or belief. We were up against a decent side today and certainly didn't get the rub of the green. But for effort, commitment and courage you just couldn't fault the team. I'm disinclined to hassle the manager but what I would say is stop worrying about the guys getting complacent and start concentrating on the tactics when things aren't going so smoothly.

We've got a group of players at the club who don't need any encouragement to get them going. They played their hearts out against the Warriors and simply weren't just good enough on the day. That happens so we'll have tae live with it. However, I've no worries about where we go from here. We have the best team in this league and I have no concerns about next week's trip to Dumbarton. It's a truism that, from now until the end of the season, we'll face the stearnest of tests. But I for one have no concerns about that. We're well capable of facing up to and overcoming those tests. We just need our manager to realise and trust the guys to play football. The league's there to be won; let's go and do it with the style that we've come accustomed to.

C'mon the Fife - remember, WE ARE THE KINGS OF FIFE!!!!

....