Cowdenbeath 0, Montrose 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-302

COWDEN’S poor home form continued on Saturday when they made it nine consecutive matches at Central Park without a win.

The home side found it hard to make any inroads on a solid visiting side who were particularly strong at the back.

Cowden gave another outing to David Syme in midfield, instead of Brian Ross, and while the youngster worked hard he found it difficult to carve out the openings the home side needed to get a goal.

Liam Henderson also struggled and it was left to Fraser Mullen to do most of the spade work but ultimately there were too few openings for Dale Carrick and Kris Renton to work with.

The strong wind played its part in the game and helped Montrose in the first period and they used it pretty wisely forcing a few set pieces and the goals came from two of them.

In the second period Cowden flung several crosses into the box but a goal would not come.

Paul Watson fired in a 30 yarder in 10 minutes which flew just wide as the Gable Endies looked to use the strong wind behind them.

In 23 minutes Cowden threatened when Sean Rutherford sent over a fine cross from the left but neither Renton or Carrick could get on the end of it with Allan Fleming stranded.

It was the visitors who took the lead on the half hour when Cowden did not clear a corner and Michael BOLOCHOWECKYJ slammed a low eight yarder past Jamie Sneddon.

Two minutes from half-time Cowden almost got an equaliser when Mullen fired over a low cross which MacDonald knocked the ball past his own post.

Montrose made a good start to the second period and Rutherford knocked Gary Fraser’s shot off the line then Sneddon made a brave save from Templeman’s snap shot before Mullen stopped Terry Masson’s low drive on the edge of his six yard box.

In 54 minutes Cowdenbeath came close when Henderson’s low cross was perfect for Renton only six yards out but he stabbed his finish inches wide.

The game was scrappy for a spell but Cowden had a chance in 72 minutes when Mullen’s corner fell to Renton but he hooked the ball over from close in.

Five minutes later Montrose got number two when the home defence was caught out by a low cross, again when a set piece was not cleared, and sub Matty SMITH fired high into the net from seven yards out.

The Blues never gave up but just could not get a goal.

Cowdenbeath: Jamie Sneddon (7); Jamie Pyper (6), Shaun Rutherford (7); Gerry McLauchlan (6), Scott Rumsby (6), Fraser Mullen (6); Robbie Buchanan (5) (Craig Johnston 72 (3)), Liam Henderson (6) (Lewis Moore 63 (3)), Dale Carrick (6), Kris Renton (6), David Syme (5 (Kyle Miller 80 (2)). Subs not used, Gary Glen, Brian Ross, Cammy Muirhead and Dave McGurn.

Montrose: Fleming (7); Ballantyne (6), Steeves (6); Watson (7), MacDonald (7), Bolochowekyj (7); Allan (6), Masson (6) (Thomas 78)), Fraser (6) (Smith 72 (3)), Templeman (8), Callaghan (6) (Campbell 61 (3). Subs not used, Hay, Pascazio, Millar and Webster.

Referee-John McKendrick (6).