Elgin City 1, Cowdenbeath 0.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-609

ANOTHER red card proved costly for Cowdenbeath at Boroughbriggs on Saturday.

After a decent first-half, in which Cowden had chances to go in at the break ahead, Kyle Miller was shown the red card for a second yellow card.

The gallant ten battled on and they looked capable of getting a goalless draw until they eventually lost one with only five minutes to go.

The team showed a number of changes, with Blair Malcolm starting and new acquisitions Aiden Malone and Ben Reilly in for Cammy Muirhead and Jack Whittaker.

But unfortunately Malcolm lasted only 24 minutes before having to go off and it really affected the balance of the Blue Brazil side.

Defensively there was a change with David Syme recalled for the first time since Gary Bollan took over as boss, to resume his partnership with Scott Rumsby; and Jamie Pyper at right-back.

The defence played well throughout the game and came so close to giving the Blues what would have been a deserved point for their really hard work.

Malone battled away up front, playing a similar role to Cammy Muirhead, and Reilly posed problems for Elgin with some neat footwork, but the loss of Miller really gave Cowdenbeath and uphill task.

Cowden started well and Reilly’s 20 yarder flew just wide then Brad Smith saw his 12 yarder well saved.

Malcolm was replaced by Whittaker in 24 minutes and on the half hour City’s Brian Cameron had the home side’s first serious shot at goal which was blocked by Syme.

Miller went close for Cowdenbeath on the interval whistle with his 19 yarder being blocked but seconds later his challenge earned him a yellow card.

And a minute after the break a foul on City’s Scott Smith saw the midfielder collect his second yellow and his dismissal, although from the sidelines it looked like he won the ball.

This gave Elgin the chance to use the extra man and for a short spell they created a couple of chances with Thomas Reilly and Jordan Allan firing wide.

But Cowdenbeath were able to get forward and Smith’s low shot was well saved by home ‘keeper Waters.

In a bid to bolster the midfield Malone was replaced by Matt McInally and for a spell Cowden had a lot of the ball and with 15 minutes left Fraser Mullen fired a left foot shot over the bar from a free-kick.

City started to up the pace in the closing ten minutes and in 84 minutes Daryl McHardy’s shot was blocked and a minute later came the all important goal.

Reilly made the move and Cammy EADIE latched on to it only eight yards and his effort gave Dave McGurn no chance.

Cowden kept battling but again having ten men left them with too much to do.

Elgin City: Waters (7); Cooper (6), Allan (6) (McHardy 56 (3)); Eadie (7), McDonald (7), McGovern (6); Elbouzedie (7), Reilly (6), Smith (6) (Byrne 61 (3), Cameron (7), Sutherland (6) (Dodd 68 (3)). Subs not used, McLeish, Bronsky, Ferguson and Dear.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Harvey Swann (7); David Syme (8), Scott Rumsby (7), Kyle Miller (5); Fraser Mullen (7), Blair Malcolm (4) (Jack Whittaker 24 (6)), Aiden Malone (6) (Matt McInally 59 (3)), Brad Smith (7), Ben Reilly (7) (Jordan Garden 86 (2)). Subs not used, Mark Fotheringham, Craig Henderson, Trialist and Blair Penman.

Referee-Steven Kirkland (6).