Cowdenbeath1, Montrose 3.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-349

LIKE against Stirling Albion in their last home game, Cowdenbeath were simply not good enough to challenge promotion chasing Montrose.

There were three changes to the team, at Central Park on Saturday, but they lost an early goal which gave them an uphill task against a team which has been winning games regularly.

Caretaker boss, John Ovenstone, went with a three man strike force and while Cowden were always in the game and they got a goal to break their duck, there was not enough to get something from the game.

Defensively the Blues were caught out twice in the opening 20 minutes and that was a key element in the way the visitors were able to win the game.

The three man midfield of Kyle Miller, Robbie Buchanan and Fraser Mullen worked hard but at times they were outnumbered although they never gave up.

In attack Josh Morris and Jordan Garden were great workers and caused problems for Montrose and both saw Allan Fleming defy them, while Ryan Connelly got into some ideal positions but could not convert.

Montrose threatened with an Andy Steeves cross in the third minute but before Craig Johnston could react Scott Rumsby stepped in to clear.

Cowden reacted with good lead up work and Morris set up Mullen 20 yards out but he fired well wide.

In nine minutes the visitors went ahead. A long throw reached Chris Templeman and his head flick was met by Terry MASSON eight yards out and his low drive gave Dave McGurn no chance.

In 20 minutes the Blues were two down. Ian Campbell’s ball was turned goalwards and MASSON was on the spot to head past McGurn from nine yards out.

It was McGurn to the rescue in 33 minutes when Campbell’s 24 yard free-kick brought a fine diving save from the Cowden ‘keeper.

Nine minutes from the break Cowdenbeath threatened when Ali Smith’s cross had the Montrose defence in trouble and Morris tried to get his shot away from eight yards out but he was crowded out, but soon after McGurn made another fine save from Matty Allan’s point blank header.

On the interval whistle Shaun Rutherford’s 30 yard free-kick brought out an excellent diving save from Fleming.

Cowdenbeath started the second-half well and pulled one back in 52 minutes when Garden’s shot was blocked by Fleming but BUCHANAN headed home the rebound from close in.

Then seconds later the ‘keeper had a fantastic block from Morris’s shot but in 58 minutes the points were sealed when former Blue Brazilian JOHNSTON headed home after the ball was crossed by Ballantyne.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Ali Smith (6), Shaun Rutherford (6) (Jack Whittaker 82 (2)); Fraser Mullen (6), Scott Rumsby (7), David Syme (6); Robbie Buchanan (7), Kyle Miller (7), Josh Morris (6), Jordan Garden (6) (Brad Smith 73 (3)), Ryan Connelly (6) (Cammy Muirhead 59 (3)). Subs not used, Harvey Swann, Charlie Denton, Ben Stirling, and Blair Penman.

Montrose: Fleming (7); Ballantyne (8), Steeves (7); Allan (6) (Webster 54 (3)), Dillon (7), Campbell (7); Masson (9), Watson (7), Templeman (7), Johnston (7) (Fraser 73 (3)), Callaghan (7) (McLaren 62 (3)). Subs not used, Hay, Redman, Fotheringham and Rose.

Referee-Craig Charleston (6).