Central Fife Times | Sport | Injury crisis worsens

Friday, 5th September, 2008

Published: Thursday, 10th April, 2008 12:00

Injury crisis worsens

By Jim Stark

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Cowdenbeath moved nearer to the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division relegation play-offs on Saturday but their injury crisis showed no signs of letting up.

After a season of plugging gaps from one week to the next manager Brian Welsh saw his side finish with ten fit players against Alloa Athletic having made three substitutions through injuries.

Centre-back Bryan Gilfillan had to go off with a hamstring injury at half-time then in the second period Mark Ramsay went off with an ankle knock and then Paul McQuade limped off minutes after he had put his team ahead with a calf injury.

Then later Scott Gates injured his groin which left him struggling to move and he found himself limping about up front in the closing minutes.

Manager Welsh is finding the continuing problem with injuries a bit wearing and said, “It was a real sore one to take, for I felt that we deserved to win that one.

“Yet we were forced to make three substitutions to cover for injury and then Scott Gates did his groin late on and that proved costly.

“In the situation that led to their goal Gates would normally have been expected to be back their covering but he such was his mobility he had to play up front and it proved costly.”

The manager added, “With our draw and Queen’s Park winning at home to Peterhead it is increasingly looking like the play-offs but as I said last week all our remaining fixtures are important as we want to go into the play-offs playing with confidence”.

Cowden head for Airdrie this Saturday to meet a side who still need points to reach the promotion play-offs.

Mr Welsh added, “I do not know if any of the guys injured on Saturday will make this weekend.

“We may have to bring in a few more youngsters for this game but we will go out there to try and win the three points”.

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