Steven Ferguson was East Fife's two-goal hero as the 10-man Methil side held off a late Elgin challenge to secure a 3-1 win.

It took only 11 minutes for Ferguson to set the visitors on their way as he rounded keeper Martin Pirie to score.

Having dominated the first-half action, East Fife picked up where they had left off after the break and within 15 seconds of the restart they had doubled the advantage as Paul Mortimer headed home from Raymond Sharp's cross.

But within the space of six minutes provider Sharp turned from hero to villain as he was sent off after a tussle with Elgin striker Stephen Clinton.

Despite enjoying the numerical advantage, Elgin struggled to make the extra man pay and they went further behind just short of the hour mark when Ferguson netted his second.

Elgin struck the post for through Clinton in the 63rd minute before David Ross fired home a late consolation on the stroke of full-time.