Annan Athletic 1, Cowdenbeath 0.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-386

A LATE goal denied Cowdenbeath the result they deserved at Galabank on Saturday.

The Blue Brazil dominated possession and had a lot more shots on target than their opponents like the previous meeting there, but like then came away with nothing.

Annan did have a penalty, saved by Jamie Sneddon like at Broadwood four days earlier, which could have given them the start they wanted.

However, the young Cowden ‘keeper dived to save and his team gained confidence from that and went on to press strongly but a few good chances were missed, and then just after half-time Fraser Mullen saw his spot-kick saved.

Annan were desperate for the win to maintain their challenge for a promotion play-off spot and got it but they will look back on the match thankful for the visitors missing a good few chances.

Cowden had the same side out that won at Broadwood and again created some good openings but the finishing touch is a little too inconsistent at present and they really need to sharpen that up for the big games coming up for they are guilty of wasting some good build up play.

Defensively the Blues were pretty solid and contained Annan well until the closing moments when the hosts struck to get what proved to be the winning goal.

Cowdenbeath might have been ahead in five minutes when a cross was perfect for Scott Rumsby but his header from a good position was too high then two minutes later Kyle Miller blasted over from the middle of the box.

Miller then saw a shot saved but in 15 minutes Annan were awarded a penalty when Rabin Omar went down under a Gerry McLauchlan tackle, but like last Tuesday, it was Sneddon to the rescue.

Cowden were soon back on the attack and on the half hour Kris Renton also was too high with his finish after a good Cowden move but at the other end veteran Peter Weatherson shot over.

Four minutes from the break Liam Henderson’s shot was well saved by Blair Currie.

Then two minutes after half-time Henderson was hauled down by Gavin Skelton and Mullen stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was saved by Currie.

This inspired Annan to have a couple of chances but Raffi Krissian saw two shots blocked then Aidan Smith’s effort was gathered by Sneddon.

Renton hit the bar then Dale Carrick blasted over and in 76 minutes they paid for it when SMITH fired Annan ahead after good work by Skelton.

Cowden stepped up their game and in the closing 10 minutes Rumsby headed over from only five yards out before visiting sub Lewis Moore fired just wide then another replacement, Robbie Buchanan, did similar from a good position.

Renton got on the end of a cross and his seven yarder header was brilliantly held by Currie.

Annan did come back and Skelton fired over but Cowden should really have hit the net in this one and Mullen’s spot miss was the team's second successive failure from a penalty.

Annan Athletic: Currie (8); Lucas (6), Stewart (6); Krissian (7), Swinglehurst (7), Skelton (6); Wright (6) (Cuddihy 67 (3)), Ramsay (7), Weatherson (6), Omar (4) (Smith 29 (6)), Flanagan (6). Subs not used, Mitchell, McKenna, Home, Osadolor and Fry.

Cowdenbeath: Jamie Sneddon (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Shaun Rutherford (6); Gerry McLauchlan (6), Scott Rumsby (7), Kyle Miller (7); Fraser Mullen (6) (Robbie Buchanan 80 (2)), Liam Henderson (6) (Lewis Moore 80 (2)), Dale Carrick (6) (Gary Glen 75 (3)), Kris Renton (7), David Syme (7). Subs not used, Craig Johnston, Brian Ross, Cammy Muirhead and Davie McGurn.

Referee-Craig Napier (6).