ANNAN Athletic head back to Galabank for the second leg of their League One play-off final trailing East Fife by a single goal, following a five goal thriller at Bayview on Tuesday.
The Black and Golds did well to come from behind to level the game at 2-2, but the home side netted in the closing stages to claim a 3-2 victory on the night.
Athletic desperately held on in the closing moments with just nine men on the field.
The match started frantically, Luca Ross found himself in a great position in the opposition box but Andy Munro did enough to usher the winger off balance.
Moments later at the other end, Nathan Austin’s effort was saved fantastically by Jamie Smith before the striker collided with Scott Hooper and asked for a penalty, again the referee waved away any claims for a spot kick.
The match was only five minutes old when East Fife opened the scoring. Alan Trouten redirected a shot into the net following a quick break forward.
It could have got worse for Annan shortly after when Austin found himself clean through, but his tame strike was easily gathered by Smith.
Tommy Muir then made a vital block to stop Reis Peggie from adding a second.
However, the Fifers managed to extend their lead after the half hour as Andy Munro headed home.
Annan managed to pull one back before half-time. A great ball down the line by Aidan Smith was latched onto by Ross. He fired in a cross which Michael McKenna kicked into his own net.
The visitors levelled four minutes after the restart from a wicked Ryan Muir corner.
Hooper won the flick on and Aidan Smith headed the ball into the net.
On the hour, Muir swung another brilliant delivery in from the right. Both Smith and Josh Dixon were a matter of inches away from applying the finishing touch.
In another great chance, Tommy Muir took a great touch round the keeper but he failed to connect with the ball.
Annan were reduced to ten with 18 minutes left on the clock as Hooper was shown a straight red after barging down Robert Jones right on the edge of the area.
East Fife added a third eight minutes later. Jones headed the ball down to Munro who hammered it high into the roof of the net.
Annan had to play with nine for the final minutes after Layton Bisland received a second yellow after getting in a tussle.
And just before the referee blew for full time, Smith made an unbelievable save on the line to deny McKenna from making Friday night’s task any more difficult.
