Cowdenbeath 0 , Dunfermline Athletic 3.

Betfred Cup Group C

Attendance-1481

THE Championship Pars finally turned their overall superiority into goals but it took them into the second period to make the points safe.

It was Cowdenbeath’s third match against a team from a higher division within a week and it began to tell late in the game, at Central Park, on Saturday.

The Blues played well enough in the first period and could have scored at least once.

Without strikers Chris Renton and Gary Glen, Craig Johnston had to play a loan hand but did well with his pace posing the Pars a few problems.

At the back Craig Sives and Gerry McLauchlan worked really hard and time and again denied the lively Dunfermline front men and in midfield Chris Turner and Burton O’Brien were livewires alongside Kyle Miller.

The pressure exerted by the visitors told in the closing stages of the tie although Dave McGurn did not deserve to be beaten three times.

Dunfermline opened confidently and Joe Cardle’s low cross was brilliantly held by McGurn under pressure from Gavin Reilly.

Dean Brett and Fraser Mullen were making good progress down the right hand side for Cowden but the Pars threatened when Jason Talbot sent over a dangerous cross and Michael Moffat’s header was brilliantly saved by McGurn.

Cowden forced a corner in 22 minutes after good work by Johnston and Mullen’s corner put pressure on the visiting defence but a strong Richards-Everton header cleared the danger.

However, on the half hour Moffat got free of the Cowden cover and his fierce 12 yarder brought out another great save from McGurn.

Cowden got into a threatening position in 37 minutes when O’Brien prodded the ball through but Johnston was blocked by Ashcroft then a long Brett cross was athletically cleared by Williamson.

Four minutes from the break it was McGurn to the rescue again with a super block from Cardle’s fierce shot.

The Pars continued to have the bulk of possession in the second period and the opener came in 56 minutes when from a Kallum Higginbotham corner Andy GEGGAN fired a tremendous 12 yard volley which gave McGurn no chance.

However, Cowden hit back and Johnston fired inches wide before O’Brien headed past from only eight yards out.

But the clincher came with 22 minutes left when ASHCROFT turned the ball home from only ten yards out.

However, with eight minutes left home sub Cammy Muirhead should have pulled one back but he shot wide from only five yards out.

But the killer third came with six minutes left and GEGGAN again was the marksman from close range.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (8); Fraser Mullen (6),Craig Sives (7), Gerry McLauchlan (6), Greg Ross (6); Dean Brett (6), Kyle Miller (6), Brian Ross (6), Burton O’Brien (6) (Cammy Muirhead 73 (3)),Chris Turner (6) (David Robertson 69 (3)); Craig Johnston (7).

Subs not used, Harvey Swann, Rory George, Jordan Leslie, Charlie Denton and Jamie Sneddon.

Dunfermline : Hutton (7); Williamson (6), Ashcroft (7), Richards-Everton (7); Higginbotham (6) (McMullan 70 (3)), Geggan (7), Wedderburn (6) (McCabe 55 (3)), Cardle (6) (Spence 70 (3)); Moffat (7), Reilly (6). Subs not used, Martin and Gill.

Referee-Colin Steven (6).