Stirling Albion 1, Cowdenbeath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-538

A MUCH needed result for Cowdenbeath and one they fully deserved.

The Blue Brazil dominated possession from the kick-off and had plenty of shots at the Albion goal, at Forthbank on Saturday, and if there was to be a down side they should have won this game by at least two clear goals.

Cowdenbeath had chance after chance and had some 20 goes at the Stirling goal but like in recent games could not turn their clear superiority in to goals.

Defensively Cowden were in charge for the most part but again a shut-out eluded them.

Dave McGurn gave a solid performance between the sticks and was well protected by Gerry McLauchlan and Nikolay Todorov with Dean Brett, Shaun Rutherford and Lewis Moore always willing to help out.

The midfield had control of this one and Brian Ross, Kyle Miller and Fraser Mullen were powerful figures for Cowden.

They kept the Blues piling forward and a tally of 13 corners tells the tale of the game. Now they must look to keep this sort of form going.

Cowden opened the match well and in the opening 15 minutes Todorov’s header from only six yards slipped wide before a Mullen free-kick beat the wall but went past the post.

The Albion hit back and Ross Smith’s header crept wide from a promising position but Cowden were soon back on the attack and Rutherford’s right foot shot, following a corner, just slipped wide.

The visitors kept moving forward and both Mullen and Kris Renton worked the home ‘keeper then on the break whistle, Todorov got on the end of Mullen’s corner and his header came back off a post.

Rutherford hit the bar with a drive three minutes into the second period, but the visiting fans had to wait only two more minutes for the opener when Craig Johnston worked his way into space and his cross was met by RENTON and his right foot shot flashed into the net.

However, as often has happened this season, within four minutes their opponents were level. Smith sent a neat pass into the Cowden box and there was Nguene BIKEY lying handy to shot home from the centre of the box.

This seemed to inspire the Blues to flow forward and in 64 minutes they were again ahead. Miller was the supplier with a good cross and MOORE fired a 10 yarder low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Cowden went for the third but Ross and Rutherford were both too high with their efforts then the former brought out a fine save from the Albion last line, Cammy Binnie.

Cowdenbeath finished strongly and Ross, Moore and Mullen all went close to a third with McGurn in charge at the other end.

Stirling Albion: Binnie (7); McGeachie (6), Mills (5) (Morrison 38 (5)); C Smith (6) (Davidson 69 (3)), McMillan (6), Colquhoun (6); Dickson (5), Petrie (6), R Smith (7), (Henderson 76 (3)), Bikey (6), McKenzie (6). Subs not used, Ferns, Verlaque, Kavanagh and Fallens.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Dean Brett (6), Lewis Moore (8); Gerry McLauchlan (7), Nickolay Todorov (7), Shaun Rutherford (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Kyle Miller (7), Craig Johnston (6) (David Robertson 87 (2)), Kris Renton (7), Brian Ross (7). Subs not used, Burton O’Brien, Gary Glen, Jamie Pyper, Aaron Murrell, Cammy Muirhead and Trialist.

Referee-Alan Muir (6).