Cowdenbeath 1, Cove Rangers 0.

Betfred Cup

Attendance-320

COWDENBEATH racked up their second win in this competition with a late goal at Central Park on Saturday and if they can beat Hearts at Tynecastle on Tuesday then a place in the knockout stages beckons.

While it was a little short of a vintage performance the Blues defended very solidly and did have enough chances to win the game comfortably.

The game was nothing like the angry confrontation of May in the League 2 Play-off final and had spells of good football from both sides with chances being created.

Cowden’s defensive wall of Jamie Pyper and David Marsh kept the eager visiting attack at bay and there were a good few chances at the other end with David Cox grabbing the all important winner.

Cove made a good start to the game and when Pyper gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box Connor Scully’s 20 yard effort came off the bar and bounced to safety.

Then in 11 minutes Jordyn Sheerin set up Martin Scott and his 18 yarder saw ‘keeper Stuart McKenzie pull off a brilliant finger tip save.

In 20 minutes Cove’s Jamie Masson twice threatened within the space of seconds with blocks by Pyper and Marsh working for Cowden then three minutes later Scott’s header from a Cox cross just went wide.

On the half hour Sheerin got away from his marker and his lob went just over then five minutes from the break Brad Smith’s 18 yarder was finger tipped away by McKenzie.

On the stroke of the half-time whistle home ‘keeper Dave McGurn had a fine save from Scott Ross’s close in header.

Cove’s Mitch Megginson fired just over for Cove three minutes into the second period but two minutes later Cox missed a golden opportunity for the Blues after good work by Scott set him up 12 yards out but he blazed over.

Then Sheerin blasted a 25 yard volley just over after good work down the left.

Cowden got the opener five minutes from time when Sheerin’s shot was blocked and COX fired the loose ball home from six yards out.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Fraser Mullen (6), Jason Talbot (7); Jamie Pyper (7), David Marsh (7), Blair Malcolm (6); David Cox (6), Robbie Buchanan (6), Jordyn Sheerin (7) (Pat Scullion 90 (2)), Martin Scott (7) (Kris Renton 61 (3)), Brad Smith (6). Subs not used, Bryan Gilfillan, Kyle Miller, Harvey Swann, Cammy Muirhead and Ryan Goodfellow.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie (7); Milne (7) (Redford 46 (6)), Yule (7); Strachan (6) (Watson 71 (3)), Ross (7), Kelly (7); Park (6), Scully (7), Megginson (7), McManus (7) (Smith 75 (3)), Jamie Masson (7). Subs not used, Gray, Emmett and McCafferty.

Referee-Gavin Duncan (6).