Arbroath 0, Cowdenbeath 2.

Betfred Cup

Attendance-421

COWDENBEATH closed their Betfred Cup Section C programme last night in encouraging fashion at Gayfield.

With new striker Nicolay Todorov posing the red Lichties all sorts of problems the Blues won well, although 'keeper Dave McGurn played his part by saving a penalty.

Cowden were short of several players through injury but still were able to field a useful looking line-up with Craig Johnston and Todorov the marksmen.

There was a downside though to the win with centre-pack Gerry McLauchlan having to go off injured before half-time.

Cowden opened this fixture in aggressive fashion and Todorov signalled early warning that he is going to be a handful for League 2 defences during his loan spell from Hearts and he twice brought Arbroath 'keeper Robbie Mutch into action.

The Blues grabbed the opening goal in 14 minutes when the Bulgarian striker nodded on for JOHNSTON to shoot low past Mutch.

Then Todorov got free himself in the box and Mutch produced a superb save.

Arbroath threatened when Ryan McCord fired in a fierce shot which McGurn dealt with then the hosts claimed for a penalty when Bryan Prunty went down all too easily but the referee was not impressed.

Then three minutes from the break the Fifers doubled their lead.

A cross was swung over from the right hand side and there was TODOROV lying handy to fire a header past Mutch.

In the second period Arbroath were a much more lively unit and Bobby Linn caused problems before Todorov again tested Mutch.

The Lichties had another chance in 55 minutes when Omar Kadar was tripped by substitute David Robertson in the box but it was McGurn to the rescue with a fine save.

However, at the other end Mutch had to pull off a fine double save from Todorov as the Bulgarian theatened to run riot.

Arbroath finished the game strongly though and when Kadar was fouled on the edge of the Cowden box McGurn made a fine save from a free-kick from former Cowden player Liam Callaghan.

So Cowden ended the Group C programme with three points in fourth spot.

Arbroath: Mutch (7); Thomson (6) (Callaghan 67 (3)), Philips; Dunlop (5) (Gold 46 (5)), Hamilton (6), Whatley (7); Kadar (7), McCord (7), Prunty (6), Doris (6) (Hester 79 (3)), Linn (7). Subs not used, Main and Gomes. 

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (8); Fraser Mullen (7), Shaun Rutherford (7); Craig Sives (7), Gerry McLauchlan (4) (Davie Robertson 40 (66)), Greg Ross (6); Kyle Miller (6), Burton O'Brien (7), Nikolay Todorov (9), Craig Johnston (7) (Cammy Muirhead 78 (3)), Brian Ross (Charlie Denton 87 (2)). Subs not used, Jordan Leslie, Harvey Swann and Jamie Sneddon.

Referee-Mike Roncone (6).