No case for the defence as Queen's find rich pickings

Published 24 Aug 2010 14:30 0 Comments

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Cowdenbeath 1,Queen of the South 3

SOME poor defending cost Cowdenbeath in Sunday's Barrs Irn Bru First Division fixture with Queen of the South at Central Park.

Without frontline back men Joe Mbu, Mark Baxter and Dene Droudge, there were always going to be problems at this level for the Blue Brazil and on Sunday a slick moving Queen's forward line posed too many questions for the makeshift home rearguard.

Young Dean Brett filled in at right back for the skipper while Kenny Adamson was on the left flank with Craig Winter again partnering John Armstrong in the centre but too often they were caught napping by QOS.

Indeed, the Cowden off-side trap misfired on numerous occasions posing loads of problems for the home side while in midfield Lee Sibanda and Colin Cameron never really got to grips with the Palmerston combine and it was only later in the game, when Jon Robertson and Brian Fairbairn entered the action that Cowden posed a threat.Marc McKenzie was a livewire for the Blues on the right hand side of midfield and he scored a marvellous goal but too often poor passing from Cowden affected their challenge.

The crowd had hardly taken their places in the stadium when Queen's took the lead. There were just three minutes on the clock when Derek Holmes' neat pass caught Cowden claiming for off-side and Robert BURNS fired a low shot past a stranded David Hay.

Two minutes later Bob Harris's raking 25 yarder went inches wide and at this stage Cowdenbeath had to defend desperately to hold onto the game.

On the half hour the off-side trap failed again and Willie McLaren got free but his 20 yarder was brilliantly tipped over by Hay and then with five minutes to go before the break Rocco Quinn broke clear after a poor Cameron pass and his 20 yard shot was held by Hay.

Cowden had done little in attack and the second period saw the visitors start well and with the off-side trap failing again McLaren ran clean through but some how he managed to shoot wide with just Hay to beat.

Five minutes into the half David Lilley's header was tipped over by Hay and then from the corner the QOS skipper sent in another header which the 'keeper held. But in 54 minutes there was nothing the 'keeper could do to prevent the second goal. McLaren again got free in the box and his neat pass was perfect for HOLMES to tap in from close in.

Cowden brought on Fairbairn and Robertson for Linton and Sibanda and for a spell the Fifers took over.

In 62 minutes McKenzie's cross was nodded back along the the QOS six yard box but John Dempster just could not get to the ball with the line beckoning but three minutes later McKENZIE's 30 yard screamer flew high into the net to give the home fans hope. It was a great finish. Five minutes later Dempster nodded across the face of the goal and Cameron headed over and then a Fairbairn drive went only a foot wide.

Cowden were looking dangerous but Queen's managed to defend solidly and with four minutes left they clinched the points. McLaren again caused the danger and his pass from the right was knocked into the net by the unmarked McGUFFIE to give the visitors a safety goal. It was not the end of the action though for a minute later visiting skipper David Lilley was ordeeed off for a second booking but there was not enough time for Cowden to take advantage of the situation.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Brett, Linton (Fairbairn 58); Armstrong, Winter, Adamson; McKenzie, Cameron (Stewart 75), Dempster, Ramsay, Sibanda (Robertson 58). Subs not used, O'Brien and Roy.

Queen of the South: Hutton; McGuffie, Harris; McKenna, Lilley, Quinn; Burns, Johnston, Holmes, McLaren (Scally 89), Weatherston (Carmichael 76). Subs not used, Orsie, McShane and Robinson.

Referee-David Somers. Attendance-672.

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