COWDENBEATH just could not get that all important goal that would have got them off the bottom of the table at Ainslie Park, but the point has given them the chance to achieve that this Saturday when Stenhousemuir come to Central Park.

Like the previous week against Annan, Cowden looked a well organised side against City and could have won the game, although really the longer the match went the less either looked likely to score.

It was the Blues’ first shut-out in three months and a repeat of that miserly defending against Stenny would be ideal.

A 1-0 home defeat at the hands’ of Montrose, at the weekend, took Stenhousemuir out of the top four in League 2 for the first time in some weeks so they will be coming to Central desperate to get back on the rails, but Cowdenbeath are keen to win for other reasons.

Cowden boss Gary Bollan was pleased with the way his team defended and as a unit at Ainslie Park: “There were not a lot of chances in the game.

“I was very pleased with the way we handled their style of launching the ball into the box with some really solid work.

“We maybe did not create the number of chances we did against Annan but we certainly had a couple of good openings and could have got the winner.

“It was maybe a little bit disappointing not to win the game but it means that we have kept City very much within our reach.”

The manager is delighted to have experienced midfielder Mark Fotheringham fixed up in a player/assistant role and he hopes his vast knowledge of life in midfield will help the young Cowden players.

He added: “Mark knows what is needed in the middle of the park and will help us greatly in that area.”

He was on the bench as an unused sub at Ainslie Park but he could well be involved against Stenny.

Mr Bollan said of the Stenny game: “This will be a really tough assignment for they are a side which has been contesting the top end of the table since the start of the campaign but the lads have shown me in the last couple of games that they have ability and can play some good football.

“If we keep making life difficult for teams to score against us and start converting some of the good chances we are creating we can certainly win this game.

“It would be good to get a three point haul under our belts and start to move up the way, it would do wonders for confidence levels.”

Defender David Syme is available again as is midfielder Fraser Mullen so Mr Bollan has plenty of good material available for Saturday’s game.