East Fife 0, Cowdenbeath 1.

Fife Cup First Round

Attendance 171

A GOAL from Jordan Garden seven minutes from the break, at New Bayview, on Saturday, saw Cowdenbeath progress to the semi-finals of the Fife Cup where the Blues will now have a home tie with Raith Rovers, writes Andy Mullen.

Billy Brown, as with his Methil counterpart Darren Young, took the opportunity of utilising his squad with several players who had been on the fringes in recent weeks coming back into the starting line up while young midfielder, Jordan Leslie, made his first team debut.

The defence had a fairly ‘regular’ look about it with Matt McInally and Harvey Swann in the full-back positions and skipper Scott Rumsby and David Syme in the centre, but Dave McGurn returned between the sticks.

They all played their part in ensuring Cowdenbeath made East Fife have to work hard for a goal but the midfield also were full of players showing a real determination to get a result.

In attack Jordan Garden and Cammy Muirhead worked well and posed the East Fife rearguard plenty of questions.

All in all a decent Cowden show and a morale boosting result before Saturday’s Scottish Cup-tie.

With 10 minutes gone Syme sent a shot over from 10 yards while at the other end Reilly did likewise for the home side.

Muirhead then saw a 25 yard drive go wide of the post while the returning McGurn, in the Cowden goal, held a Reilly shot.

The deadlock was finally broken in 38 minutes when Jordan GARDEN was put through on goal by Brad Smith, beating both the East Fife offside trap and keeper Goodfellow, with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Then right on half-time Robbie Buchanan squared the ball to Muirhead but his 20 yard shot was held by the ‘keeper.

The second-half opened with a shot from Mutch being deflected for a corner and minutes later a 20 yard free kick from Lamont whistled just over the bar.

At the other end a Brad Smith shot was cleared in the six yard box by Reilly as the Blue Brazil looked to double their advantage.

McGurn then had to be alert to pull off a diving save from Wilkie’s 14 yard shot as East Fife looked dangerous at times, then just after the hour a Buchanan corner saw the ball bobble in the East Fife box but the danger was eventually cleared and soon after Mutch sent a cross into the Cowden box but Duggan dragged his shot wide of the post.

Duggan then saw another attempt blocked by Rumsby while a tame 25 yard free kick from Lamont was held by McGurn.

As the game drew to a close another Duggan shot was blocked in the six yard box and as the play switched to the other end Muirhead was put through on goal by Brad Smith but his final shot was blocked by Goodfellow.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn; Matt McInally, Harvey Swann; David Syme, Scott Rumsby, Jordan Leslie; Jack Whitaker (Charlie Denton 77), Robbie Buchanan, Jordan Garden (Josh Morris 90), Brad Smith, Cammy Muirhead. Subs not used –Blair Penman, Ryan Connelly & Lyle Kellichan.

Eaat Fife: Goodfellow; Kane, Page; Watson, Lamont (Slattery 73), Smith (Duggan 62); Wilkie (Dunsmore 73), Wilson, Millar, Mutch & Reilly.

Referee: Scott Lambie.