East Fife missed out on the chance to hoist themselves into the promotion play-off zone last night as they were beaten 2-0 on their home patch.
The Fifers knew that a good win over Queen’s Park could have seen them end the evening as high as second in the chase to escape League Two.
But second-half goals from Gavin Mitchell and Paul Woods ensured the points left with the Spiders.
Bayview boss Gary Naysmith, whose side haven’t played since a trip to Elgin in late November, said his side had appeared out of sorts.
He added: “I’m really disappointed.
“When you have a break for 17 days like we have and you have three players starting who haven’t started for a long time it can go one of two ways.
“It’ll either work that you’re revitalised, energetic and the players coming back give you a lift or it’ll go the other way and you look like a team which hasn’t played for 17 days with players who have been out for a long time. Unfortunately for us that’s how we looked.”
Naysmith was able to welcome back club captain Kevin Smith and the experienced Steven Campbell and Allan Walker to his squad.
Also taking his place in the squad was Jordan Austin, younger brother of Fife top scorer Nathan, who was listed as a trialist on the home bench.
The home side started the game well and dominated early play. But they came up against a five-man defence which they found difficult to get in behind.
Queen’s managed to weather the early East Fife storm and started to venture forward a bit more themselves.
Chris Duggan went desperately close to opening his side’s account with a strike which pinged back off the post.
Mitchell should have broken the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when he broke free on to the home side’s goal but keeper Ryan Goodfellow was off his line quickly and blocked his strike.
Goodfellow was helpless on the 53-minute mark though when Queen’s took the lead. A Jamie McKernon free-kick was blasted straight into the Fife wall and Mitchell reacted first to fire home.
It went from bad to worse for the home side shortly after the hour-mark when Mitchell’s quality cross was turned into a gaping net by Paul Woods.