Gary Naysmith admits Stenhousemuir’s 2-2 draw against East Fife ‘felt like a defeat’ after his title-chasing side gave up a two-goal lead.

The Warriors, who could have went top of the Scottish League One table with a win after leaders Inverness Caley Thistle drew 1-1 with Queen of the South on Friday night, couldn’t reach the summit for the first time this season.

And that looked likely with twenty minutes remaining at Bayview – with Gregor Buchanan’s cracking effort and Michael Anderson’s strike either side of half time handing the visitors a strong advantage.

Stenny, however, conceded two headers in two minutes to drop two points. Andy Munro’s looping header was a touch of class but Nathan Austin’s from close range could have been defended way better.

Gregor Buchanan opened the scoring for Stenhousemuir against East Fife (Photo: Kenny Mackay)

placeholder image — Gregor Buchanan opened the scoring for Stenhousemuir against East Fife (Photo: Kenny Mackay)

Speaking to the Warriors TV, Naysmith conceded: “If we are two-nil up against anyone, we would back ourselves to get the three points, so it felt like a defeat. We had a ten minute spell where we didn't defend properly at set-plays. We had a couple of warnings from East Fife and we then conceded from a long throw and a corner kick.

“And it knocked the stuff out of us real. We went again towards the end of the game but a bad ten minutes has cost us. The team talk after was very brief because it doesn't really matter what I said to the players, it was always going to hurt for a couple of days but then they need to get over that. We still have a game to go top of the league before Inverness come back to the league after their cup final this weekend.”

The former Scotland full-back also called out George Calder’s decision not to send off East Fife stopper Robbie Hemfrey after he wiped out striker Matty Aitken right on the edge of his area.

“I watched it back from two angles,” Naysmith said. “It's a stonewall penalty on Matty (Aitken) in the first half. We're one goal up and the goalkeeper cleans Matty out. For the referee to say there was no contact – it had to be them going down to ten men. I don't really generally comment on the referees, but I think they've got a big call wrong there.

East Fife staged a remarkable comeback against Stenhousemuir (Photo: Kenny Mackay)

"The referee when watches it back, we should then be getting a phone to call to say that ‘we’ve made a mistake there’. He has clipped him. But we then still went and got that second goal. We didn’t see it out after that out. We have to learn from these things.

"We could have been top of the league. But it is another point and you have to credit East Fife too – they have gambled, put more players forward and went for it. They brought on height and asked us questions and on two occasions we didn’t have the answers.”

Stenny, who are 14 league matches undefeated, still have the chance to go top this Saturday when they host Hamilton Accies at Ochilview Park. Leaders Caley Thistle are one point better off but they are in KDM Evolution Trophy final action this weekend.

A win against the full-time strugglers would send the Warriors top of the table ahead of a crucial home game against the Highlanders the following weekend, which is being broadcast live on BBC ALBA.