East Fife player-boss Gary Naysmith hailed his side for bouncing back from their “worst ever performance” in beating Montrose 3-0.
Just a few days before Saturday’s game, the Fifers were convincingly turned over by Berwick Rangers 4-1 on their own patch.
Naysmith admitted that the performance had been a shocker but was happy with they way the Methil men got back on track at the weekend.
He said : “It was the worst ever performance in my time here against Berwick. We were a bit edgy at the start of the game and the crowd were too.
“But we caught Montrose cold with a couple of set-pieces which calmed us down a bit. It was very professional.
“At this stage of the season and after being beaten 4-1 at home it was all about getting the three points. Towards the end of the game it was really comfortable and I was confident about keeping a clean sheet.”
With a strong wind sweeping around Bayview both sides struggled to create much in the way of clear cut chances.
But as the first half went on it was the home side who stamped their authority on the game.
They took the lead when Gary Naysmith’s pinpoint free-kick was met by the head of Nathan Austin and he nodded home.
Montrose look doomed for a relegation play-off battle with either Brora Rangers or Edinburgh City and did their slim hopes of avoiding bottom spot a great deal of damage by handing East Fife a second.
Kevin Smith attempted to play a pass to Nathan Austin but in trying to intercept and put the ball out for a corner Paul Watson thumped the ball into his own net.
What was already an uphill struggle was made almost impossible when East Fife added a third and, again, it was a gift from the visitors.
Marvin Andrews was caught woefully short with a back pass and it allowed Nathan Austin to take advantage and lob Stuart McKenzie.
Montrose gaffer Paul Hegarty said his side would need to buck up their ideas.
He said: “The score obviously reflects that it was a poor performance. We started off OK but it was soon backs to the wall.
“We can’t legislate for the second and third goals. It’s not as if any club has opened us up badly it’s down to our inept and poor defending.
“So where are we going to go from here? If it is the play-offs then that is not going to be easy. You have a Brora side full of goals and Edinburgh City who have won their league.
“It’s all about players and they’re not doing the business at this present time.”