Montrose 1, Cowdenbeath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-393

A MUCH needed win and a decent performance on the road which has Cowden moving the right direction in the table.

Both teams really needed to win this game at Links park on Saturday to kick-start their campaigns and it was not a game that was loaded with good flowing football.

However, both teams were determined to win it and over the 90 minutes the Blues just edged it.

After the defensive lapses of previous away games the Cowdenbeath side had a different look to it with James Creaney making his debut at left-back and centre-back Gerry McLauchlan returning to action.

Both gave really solid performances and McLauchlan's presence gave a more solid look to the rearguard while Nikolay Todorov made a surprise appearance alongside him and did well, although his foul led to a first-half penalty.

In midfield Dean Brett and Kyle Miller provided good width and much needed defensive assistance at times while in the central area David Robertson made his first start alongside Brian Ross.

This duo battled away to keep Cowdenbeath in the picture and while some of their passing could have been sharper they kept the team moving forward, especially in the second-half.

Up front Gary Glen and Kris Renton both scored and their pace certainly asked questions of Montrose defence.

With both teams desperate for a win it was not surprising that the early stages were a bit cagey.

Montrose had big Chris Templeman in attack and his height meant that Cowdenbeath had to be careful at set pieces and he got in one header that Dave McGurn dealt with well.

Brett got over some good crosses but Renton and Glen failed to capitalise on these and Allan Fleming, the former Kelty Hearts 'keeper, did not have much to do.

It looked like being a goalless first period when a minute from the break FRASER was shaping up to get in a effort when Todorov caught him.

The referee pointed to the spot and the striker coolly converted.

But Cowdenbeath raced to the other end and this time GLEN was in the right place to send a diving header wide of Fleming to square things after a Brett cross.

The second-half saw Cowden have much the better of things and Fleming had to deal with a Brett effort before RENTON tested him.

Then in 54 minutes the Blue Brazil went ahead when the former Newtongrange Star striker scored from close after a Glen shot had been parried by Fleming.

Recently Cowdenbeath have been guilty of throwing away goals after scoring but not this time.

Yes McGurn had to save well from Fraser and then Scott Hynd had a go which the 'keeper dealt well with and they coolly held on to win.

Montrose: Fleming (7); McKay (6) (Anderson 62 3)), I Campbell (6); Masson (6), Bolochwekjy (6), Steeves (6); McWalter (R Campbell 62 (3)), Ballantyne (6), Fraser (7), Templeman (7), Hynd (6). Subs not used, Watson, Court Pazcazio, Ferguson and Millar.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Fraser Mullen (6), James Creaney (7); Nicolay Todorov (6), Gerry McLauchlan (8), David Robertson (6) (Chris Turner 65 (3)); Dean Brett (7), Brian Ross (7), Gary Glen (7) (Aaron Murrell 85 (2)), Kyle Miller (7). Subs not used, Craig Sives, Lewis Moore, Shaun Rutherford, Burton O'Brien and Jamie Sneddon.

Referee-David Lowe (6).