Stenhousemuir 1, Cowdenbeath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-312

VICTORY at Ochilview last night made it back to back wins for the Blue Brazil and now has their long suffering fans believing that they can catch the two sides above them.

It was a really bullish performance with loads of effort and it meant that within the space of four days two of the teams challenging for promotion play-off spots had been beaten.

Cowden were excellent in the first period and were well worth their two goal lead and when Stenny hit back after the break the defence worked superbly well with Dave McGurn outstanding between the sticks.

The entire back four, Fraser Mullen, Bryan Gilfillan, Jamie Pyper and Harvey Swann, earned their pay packets with some really hard work as the hosts smelled that they could maybe sneak a point late on. And not forgetting skipper Scott Rumsby who went on for the booked Gilfillan with 25 minutes left.

It was the Blue Brazil who got the first shot on target with a Brad Smith shot testing the Stenhousemuir 'keeper McMinn in seven minutes but soon after the dangerous Colin McMenamin brought McGurn into action with a well placed header.

McMinn pulled off a brilliant save from a Jordyn Sheerin 20 yarder, which had goal written all over it until the 'keeper got his fingers to it and in 22 minutes Cowden went ahead.

The Blues worked a good move and Blair MALCOLM was lurking about eight yards out and fired the ball high into the net.

Seven minutes later Cowdenbeath doubled their lead. Robbie BUCHANAN got the ball 22 yards out and fired an unsaveable shot over McMinn.

Stenny were stunned but tried to fight-back only for the visiting rearguard to defy them.

Stenhousemuir came out for the second period determined to get back in the game but Malcolm had the chance to put it out of sight for the Blues when he latched on to a cross but headed wide.

Then he dragged a shot wide from a good position and with 17 minutes left Stenny pulled one back when Jamie LONGWORTH headed home from Alan Cook's cross.

However, Cowden came close to another with nine left when Smith's shot looked to be heading for the net but just flew wide and in the closing five minutes McGurn saved from Michael Dunlop and Longworth saw two shots blocked as Cowden racked up another win.

Stenhousemuir: McMinn (6); A Dunlop (6), Meechan (6) (Cunningham 90 (2)); M Dunlop (7), Donaldson (6), Ferry (6); McGuigan (7), Paterson (6) (Ferns 64 (3)), McMenamin (7) (Longworth 64 (4)), Paton (6), Cook (7).

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Harvey Swann (7) (Ben Reilly 80 (3)); Jamie Pyper (8), Bryan Gilfillan (7) (Scott Rumsby 68 (4)), Kyle Miller (7); David Cox (7) (Matt McInally 90 (2)), Blair Malcolm (7), Jordyn Sheerin (7), Brad Smith (7), Robbie Buchanan (7).

Referee-Mike Roncone (7).