Cowdenbeath 1, Edinburgh City 0.

SPFL League 2

Attendance-341.

A GREAT result for Cowdenbeath and three welcome points over a team that caused them problems last season.

At Central Park on Saturday Cowden lost their way a little after a good opening 45 minutes, but they held on to take all three points.

The hosts defended pretty solidly throughout the game but the midfield faded after a good first period.

Goalkeeper Joe McGovern played well, but did not have many difficult stops with his central defence in charge of things in front of him.

Cowden had a great first-half and created several really good chances but turned around only one goal up.

This gave the visitors a chance to come at them in the second period and the Fife defence had to work hard to preserve their advantage.

The midfield area saw City dominate after the break as Ben Stirling, Kyle Miller and Fraser Mullen tired, and this certainly allowed Edinburgh much more freedom to get forward.

What it also did was see the supply to Cammy Muirhead dry up for he had looked very dangerous in the first period when Cowdenbeath had most of the possession.

Cowden attacked in three minutes and a low cross by Shaun Rutherford was deflected wide by Muirhead from only six yards.

City came at the Blues and in nine minutes Ashley Grimes looked to be in a good position only 10 yards out but David Syme cleared the danger with a timely interception.

In 16 minutes Trialist’s persistence paid off and his cross was met by Muirhead and his shot was smothered on the line by Calum Antell.

Ten minutes later Kyle Miller supplied Ben Stirling with a good pass but Antell kept the midfielder out with a fine block but the ‘keeper had no chance three minutes later when Trialist and Muirhead combined and the former’s pass was perfect for STIRLING to shoot low into the next from seven yards range.

Then a minute from the break Muirhead went clean through and he was denied by a fine Antell save.

City started the second period well and from a corner in 53 minutes Gareth Rodger headed about a foot wide.

They forced a corner soon after and Rutherford had to show alertness to clear the danger.

The Cowden midfield struggled to get a grip of the game and the visitors had a chance when Sean Mackie’s cross from the left saw Josh Walker head just wide.

Cowden were really struggling to put City under any pressure and the visitors kept probing for a goal.

The Blues brought on Robbie Buchanan and Ryan Connelly to try and pep up their challenge but still they found it difficult to get in touch with Antell.

Cowdenbeath: Joe McGovern (7); Jamie Pyper (6), Shaun Rutherford (7); Ben Stirling (8), Scott Rumsby (7), David Syme (7); Ali Smith (6) (Robbie Buchanan 81 (2)), Fraser Mullen (6), Cammy Muirhead (6), Kyle Miller (7), Trialist (7) (Ryan Connelly 76 (3)). Subs not used, Matt McInally,Charlie Denton, Lyle Kellichan, Hamish Thomson and Dave McGurn.

Edinburgh City: Antell (7); Caddow (6) (Allan 76 (3)), Rodger (6); Walker (7) (Malin 69 (3)), Laird (7), Thomson (7); Smith (6), Morrison (6), Beattie (7), Grimes (6) (Trialist 76 (3)), Mackie (7). Subs not used, Hall, Olanrewaju, Verlaque, and Morton.

Referee- Craig Napier (7).