Cowdenbeath 1, Forfar Athletic 1.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-571

A BATTLING point but it could and should have been all three as the Loons were made to look anything but title contenders.

Cowden led just after the break, at Central Park on Saturday, and hit the bar plus saw a seemingly certain goal scrambled off the line after they had been reduced to ten men.

It was an overall good home performance and, as expected, the front line looked like its old self with Dale Carrick and Kris Renton posing big problems for Forfar.

In midfield Kyle Miller was a stand out as was Fraser Mullen and Liam Henderson.

But the sending off of Shaun Rutherford, for a tough tackle, left them with an uphill battle which they took in their stride but they could just not force the win they wanted.

Cowden forced several corners early on and the Loons had to defend well to keep the Blues out.

Two minutes later the Loons went close when Jamie Bain’s cross was met by Jim Lister and the ball roared inches wide.

In 23 minutes Carrick gathered a long pass and beat two defenders but a brave Andy Munro challenge blocked the striker’s shot.

Then on the interval whistle a long ball from Mullen was met by Renton and from eight yards his header went just wide.

A minute after the re-start Cowden took the lead. Mullen’s corner was not properly cleared and BUCHANAN’s 20 yard drive flew high past Adam.

However, eight minutes into the half Rutherford put in a rash challenge on David Cox and was given a straight red card, although the Loons winger seemed to throw his arms at the defender.

But in 68 minutes Forfar were level when Lister’s lay-off was fired home by Danny Denholm. Two minutes later Miller beat two Forfar defenders but his left foot 18 yarder hit the underside of the bar but stayed out, then from a Mullen corner David Syme’s header beat Adam but Andy Munro blocked the ball on the line.

However, with a minute left Sneddon produced a brilliant save from Gavin Swankie’s 18 yarder.

Cowdenbeath: Jamie Sneddon (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Shaun Rutherford (5); David Syme (7), Scott Rumsby (7), Kyle Miller (9); Fraser Mullen (8), Liam Henderson (8), Dale Carrick (7) (Lewis Moore 83 (2)), Kris Renton (7), Robbie Buchanan (7). Subs not used, Burton O’Brien, Matt Rooney, Craig Johnston, Cammy Muirhead and Dave McGurn.

Forfar Athletic: Adam (7); Bain (6) (A Malone 83 (2)), McLaughlin (7); Munro (7), O’Brien (7), E Malone (7); Cox (7), Milne (6) (Peters 58 (3)), Lister (7), Swankie (7), Denholm (7).

Referee-Ryan Milne (6).