Cowdenbeath 1, Arbroath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-501.

AFTER a good run of results Cowden’s form slumped in this crucial match with the promotion chasing Red Lichties.

Yet after a fairly ineffective first hour, at Central Park on Saturday, the Blue Brazil eventually got going and started to pose the visitors a few problems.

Defensively the hosts were twice caught out and really both goals conceded could have been prevented.

And without the suspended Kris Renton the attacking aspect of the Cowdenbeath game was not so effective as in recent weeks with Liam Henderson pushing forward from midfield to help Dale Carrick.

However, late in the game Cowden started to look the better side and really there was a chance to take something from the fixture late on but it was not taken.

In three minutes a long David Gold pass almost fell perfectly for Steven Doris but Jamie Sneddon was alert and came off his line to grab the ball.

At the other end Lewis Moore cleverly beat two defenders but his 18 yarder was blocked by Colin Hamilton.

In eight minutes the Lichties forced their first corner and Ryan McCord played a neat pass across the Blues’ six yard box but Fraser Mullen cleared.

In 21 minutes the visitors went ahead. McCord’s free kick sprung the home cover and DORIS ran through to cleverly dink the ball past Sneddon.

For a spell Arbroath dominated but a neat Cowden move in 38 minutes saw Mullen get a chance 20 yards out but he delayed his shot and Mark Whatley blocked his drive.

Three minutes into the second period the second goal came for Lichties. McCORD was given too much space 12 yards out and his crisp finish gave Sneddon no chance via a deflection.

However, in 61 minutes Cowden struck back when Shaun Rutherford’s corner was headed past Ricky Gomes by skipper RUMSBY from six yards out.

But Arbroath came back at the Blues and it took a fine save from Sneddon to deny Bobby Linn in the 65th minute.

Cowden kept battling and in the closing moments the ball fell to David Syme 14 yards out with a clear view of Gomes but his shot was straight at the ‘keeper.

Cowdenbeath: Jamie Sneddon (6); Jamie Pyper (6), Shaun Rutherford (6); David Syme (6), Scott Rumsby (6), Kyle Miller (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Burton O’Brien (6) (Craig Johnston 54 (3)), Dale Carrick (6), Lewis Moore (6) (Robbie Buchanan 70 (3)), Liam Henderson (6) (Cammy Muirhead 88 (2)). Subs not used, Gerry McLauchlan, Matt Rooney and Davie McGurn.

Arbroath: Gomes (7); Gold (6), Hodge (6); Little (7), Hamilton (7), Whatley (6); Smyth (6), McCord (8) (Mallin 89 (2)), Doris (7), Scott (6) (Prunty 90 (2)), Linn (7) (Ferns 72 (3)). Subs not used, Sukar, Mallin, Kader, McCallum and Douglas.

Referee-David Munro (6).