The game didn’t start off as a classic but Leighton McIntosh had the first chance for the Lichties but his shot was just wide in the 10th minute before Craig Thomson blazed over for East Fife after getting into a good position in the 22nd minute.

Arbroath took the lead in an usual style when a Michael McKenna cross from the wing evaded the East Fife defence with Gavin Swankie dummying a strike to fool home keeper Ben McKenzie and the ball rolling into the net in the 33rd minute.

The Lichties doubled their lead in the 39th minute when a surging run forward by Scott Martin set up Ryan Wallace who went past two defenders before curling the ball into the net.

East Fife won a free kick on the stroke of half time and David Hutton kept the Lichties well and truly in the match when he somehow flew across the goal and tipped over Chris Duggan’s deflected free kick.

Leighton McIntosh scored Arbroath’s 3rd goal 10 minutes into the second half when he showed great ability to stretch and lob McKenzie after he connected to a Gavin Swankie flick after Michael McKenna headed the ball into the box.

Colin Hamilton made it 4-0 with a thumping header at the back post when he latched on to a Ryan Wallace corner in the 60th minute.

Arbroath made a triple substitution with Bobby Linn, Blair Yule and Omar Kader coming on for Michael McKenna, Mark Whatley and Colin Hamilton who had picked up a yellow card.

East Fife’s Chris Kane was sent off in the 74th minute after picking up his second yellow card of the game after catching Bobby Linn.

Bobby saved the best goal for last as he cut in from the wing taking on the East Fife defence before curling the ball into the top right hand corner.

It was a fantastic Arbroath performance against an East Fife side who seemed low on confidence.

My personal Man of the Match would be Scott Martin and Gavin Swankie.

Both players controlled the midfield with Martin showing his hunger and desire chasing after loose balls in the 86th minute whilst 5-0 up and Swankie showing his experience all day long to play some clever balls and being in the right place at the right time when helping in defence.

Very cruel on the rest of the team as everyone played their part and the strikers all did very well this afternoon.

C’mon the Lichties!