SHIRE 0 EAST FIFE 3

Jim McInally's first match in charge was over almost as soon as it had started.

It took East Fife just twelve minutes to remove any doubts that Shire might rain on their parade with two Paul McManus goals. The rest of the match was an academic exercise and a long wait for the travelling fans before they could finally celebrate winning the Third Division title.

McInally only took charge of Shire on Wednesday but he wasted no time in putting his own stamp on team selection.

Former Ross County, Alloa Athletic and Berwick Rangers centre-half Michael Bolochoweckyj and ex-Celtic youth team player, Dean Richardson, both made their debuts in a re-organised defensive formation.

Gordon Moffat and Andy Rodgers were suspended while Sean Simpson and Stephen Oates were left on the substitutes bench.

East Fife were frustrated last week by Albion Rovers in their bid to clinch the title. This time they were a team in a hurry.

But it was Shire who created the first opening, a Scott Gibb cross that presented Derek Ure with a half chance that was eventually cleared to safety.

The visitors got themselves on the scoresheet with their first attack. Gary Kelly needlessly gave the ball away in midfield and Paul Stewart raced clear. He slipped the ball inside for Bobby Linn who, in turn, found McManus at the back post. And although Gary O'Connor saved his initial drive McManus fired home he rebound.

Six minutes later they doubled their advantage. McManus collected a throw out from his own keeper, raced over the halfway line before exchanging passed with Linn and again shooting low past O'Connor at his near post.

Shire could well have been crushed by the East Fife juggernaut but, to their credit, the home team re-grouped and did their best to restrict the visitors scoring chances in the remainder of the first half.

The closest they came was a McManus effort after 23 minutes that flew across the face of goal and wide. Shire responded with another Ure effort which forced Craig Wight into a decent save.

Four minutes after the break Linn was clean through on goal but he was denied by a great save from O'Connor and a minute later Scott Gibb's slip let McManus get a scoring change but he dragged the ball across the face of goal and wide.

Paul McBride and Sean Simpson were sent on early in the second half and it was McBride who was next to test Wight with a decent 20 yarder after a mazy midfield run. But the East Fife keeper made a routine stop.

Skipper Andrew Brand made Wight work harder not long after; the keeper was forced to make a great full-length diving save to stop the Shire captain scoring.

Simpson shaved the outside of the post with a 25 yard feee-kick and then crossed from the right for Ure to send a powerful header crashing off the East Fife crossbar.

Bt Shire couldn't make their spell of pressure tell and the result was inevitable. After 76 minutes Kevin Fotheringham's corner was chipped in to the near post and Greig McDonald rose highest to flick the ball into the net with the faintest of touches.

East Fife could have gone on to score more after that but O'Connor held them at bay with a couple of good saves late on.

Shire : O'Connor, Gibb, Richardson, Bolochoweckyj, Thywissen, Kelly, McKenzie(P. McBride 60), Brownlie(Simpson 49), Savage(K. McBride 66), Brand, Ure.

East Fife : Wight, McDonald, Cameron, Smart, Tweed, Fotheringham(Greenhill 78), Young, Stewart, McManus, Linn(Gordon 78), Blackadder(Nicholas 78).

Referee : C. Boyle

Attendance : 864.