East Fife — Spartans: 2:2, Challenge Cup

Fife and Spartans played out a 2-2 draw in the Challenge Cup group stage on Tuesday evening. The result keeps both sides on level terms after the opening round. There is no value left at that number when you look at what actually happened on the pitch.

M. Stowe opened the scoring for the hosts in the 42nd minute. Spartans responded through M. Bah in the 77th, but the home side were caught in possession at the wrong moment. T. Milne headed an own goal past his own keeper in the 90th minute and 1 second. And here's the thing, B. Easton struck just two minutes later to salvage a point for the visitors.

Both sides finished with 50 per cent possession, though the shots tell a different story. Fife registered six shots on target and two off, while Spartans managed only two on target against four wide. To be fair, the visitors were reduced to defending deep and let the tie slip in stoppage time.

The hosts had 80 attacks and 5 corners, while the visitors recorded 83 attacks and 4 corners. Three offsides were called against Fife compared to just one for Spartans. Yellow cards came 4-2 in favour of the away side.

By then, both teams had shown fragments of their recent form. Fife had gone unbeaten in their last five league games, while Spartans had tasted both victory and defeat in similar numbers. By then, the group stage had barely begun and neither side could claim advantage.