East Fife recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over East Stirling in the only Division Three game not to fall foul of the Scottish weather.

The cold, windy conditions threatened to wreak havoc with the managers' plans, but it was East Stirling, who seemed to master the tricky conditions early on with Steve Hislop causing problems for the Fifers' defence.

Hislop was denied after 13 minutes when a low punt from John Clark found him in space.

He controlled the ball expertly, but East Fife midfielder Paul Mortimer slid in with an excellent saving tackle.

Somewhat against the run of play East Fife took the lead on 22 minutes through striker Murray Hunter.

Barry Moffat rose above the East Stirling defence to flick the ball into the path of Hunter, who ran clear of the Shire cover.

Pushing the ball past the flailing keeper, Moffat then ran the ball into the net to give his team the lead.

Midfielder John Gallagher almost doubled the lead shortly afterwards as East Fife started to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Cutting in from the left he unleashed a swerving shot which just missed the Shire's far post.

East Stirling managed to hold on until half time though, making their way to the dressing rooms only one goal in arrears.

Hislop thought he had grabbed the equaliser for East Stirling ten minutes into the second half when he slid in to convert Dave Lorimar's cross-shot.

But his celebrations were cut short when he realised the flag had gone up for offside.

East Fife then began to consolidate their lead. John Allison made it 2-0 after 61 minutes when he followed up a blocked shot from a corner to fire into the Shire net.

Three minutes later, Stuart Mackay made the game all but safe when he collected Moffat's cut-back and calmly slotted the ball past Jim Butter in the East Stirling goal. East Fife continued to press and forced a series of corners which a beleaguered Shire struggled to deal with.

Hislop gamely tried to cap his performance with a consolation goal but in the act of shooting Richard Gibb nicked the ball off his toe.

He did manage to grab a consolation goal on 88 minutes though when he headed home a free-kick.

But the final result was never really in doubt as East Fife held on to record an impressive win.