Greig McDonald headed the winner from a Brian Sairdairn cross six minutes from time, but Arbroath's win at Berwick condemned the Fifers to relegation.

East Fife's Euan Donaldson had earlier struck a superb free-kick against the crossbar.

McDonald was denied by a fine save from Willie McCulloch before his winner.

Gary O'Connor made an equally fine stop at the other end to turn away Paul Murphy's header from Tony Smith's corner.

Stenhousemuir: Willie McCulloch, Harty, Paul Murphy, Smith, Booth, Lauchlan, Cosgrove, Morrison, Carr, Brown, Savage.
Subs: Kerrigan, Sinclair, Craig, Easton, Orr.

East Fife: O'Connor, Hall, Mathie, Blair, Lumsden, McMillan, Mortimer, McDonald, Donaldson, Mitchell, Gilbert.
Subs: Bain, Herkes, Fairbairn, Deuchar, Graham.