Arbroath 4, Cowdenbeath 1.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance 519.

ANOTHER very poor day for Cowdenbeath and one which did nothing to help their problems at the bottom of the table.

Cowden got off to a poor start at Gayfield on Saturday and really very little improved as things went on and their only crumb of comfort came in the closing minute when they got a goal.

The team, which showed only one change from the defeat by Annan, simply did not produce the control of that game and the Blues spent too long having to defend.

They did get a few shots at goal, but of their 14 efforts only four were on target including Scott Rumsby’s goal.

Rumsby had a decent game but he, Fraser Mullen, Gerry McLauchlan and Lewis Moore, spent too long having to defy Lichties attacks.

The midfield never really got to grips with the busy Arbroath link unit who too often provide good chances for their attack force and the visiting rearguard had to work hard to keep the hosts out.

Arbroath made a lively start to the game and took the lead in five minutes. Steven Doris did the spade work and his pass set up Martin SCOTT and his low shot from around 10 yards gave Jamie Sneddon no chance.

Cowden responded and Robbie Buchanan fired in a right foot shot which was blocked then Moore shot just past.

Arbroath came forward a few times without getting in touch with Sneddon, but in 27 minutes Doris got in a header which flew just wide.

Cowden were coming more and more into the picture when they fell two behind. The dangerous Bobby Linn provided the cross and DORIS fired a low shot into the net from around five yards out.

It was backs to the wall now for the Blues and Linn saw his shot blocked after Matt Rooney was replaced by Brian Ross as the visitors tried to stem the midfield flow.

On the interval whistle Cowdenbeath went close with a Dale Carrick effort from 19 yards which flew just over the bar.

Liam Henderson fired a shot over at the start of the second period but then Ryan McCord and Doris went close for Arbroath and in 54 minutes the home side went three up.

The ball was swept into the Cowdenbeath box by Jassem Sukar and in trying to clear HENDERSON sent the ball into his own net.

Arbroath were hungry for more and Colin Hamilton saw one of his efforts blocked before Sneddon did well to grab a low shot.

Cowden were not creating anything really positive and Doris saw his low shot knocked clear then with 19 minutes left Buchanan saw his good effort blocked by a packed Lichties defence.

Cowden needed a goal to get back into it but in 73 minutes Mark Whatley created the opening for Gavin MALIN and he gave Sneddon no chance with his low shot from the edge of the box.

Cammy Muirhead was sent on and his header was saved then Henderson fired just wide.

Then with time added on just having started RUMSBY slotted the ball wide of the ‘keeper with a good finish but it did not do anything to change the result.

Arbroath: Gomes (7); Malin (6), Sukar (6); Little (7), Hamilton (6), Whatley (7); Hodge (6) (Skelly 67 (3)), McCord (6) (Smyth 74 (3)), Doris (7), Scott (8) (McCallum 71 (3)), Linn (7)). Subs not used, Kader, Prunty, Ferns and Gill.

Cowdenbeath: Jamie Sneddon (6); Fraser Mullen (6), Lewis Moore (6) (Burton O’Brien 60 (3)); Gerry McLauchlan (6), Scott Rumsby (7), Kyle Miller (7); Robbie Buchanan (7), Liam Henderson (6), Dale Carrick (6), Kris Renton (6) (Cammy Muirhead 72 (3)), Matt Rooney (4) (Brian Ross 37 (5)). Subs not used, Shaun Rutherford, Craig Johnston, Jamie Pyper and Dave McGurn.

Referee-Mike Roncone (6).