TIME is starting to run out on Cowdenbeath’s hopes of avoiding the Ladbrokes League 2 Pyramid Play-offs.

Really Edinburgh City should be catchable for Cowden with them only having amassed 19 points from their 24 games, but the bare fact is that Cowden have only 10 from the same matches played.

And unless the Blue Brazil can start picking up wins, not just draws, they will be faced with another two legged play-off and the perils that it holds.

So what it all means is that the next five games are crucial to their hopes. They face Peterhead at home on Saturday, then travel to Stenhousemuir the following Tuesday, before going to Edinburgh City and then meeting Clyde at Central Park on March 6 then entertaining leaders Montrose on March 10.

Winning all of these matches could turn the season around, but having won only one game since August will not fill fans’ full of hope.

Manager Gary Bollan found himself without striker David Cox through suspension then Robbie Buchanan and Aiden Malone also missing for the Clyde game through injury, which did nothing to help the cause.

Buchanan could be out for some weeks with a hand injury but at least Cox and Malone should be available for this weekend.

Said Mr Bollan: “It seems to be the way things are falling for us, we knew David was suspended for the Clyde game but to lose Robbie and Aiden also left us short on front players.

“We lost a goal at a crucial time, two minutes into the second period, and it gave Clyde a real boost but you cannot give David Goodwillie the space we offered.

“We are reaching a time when we need to win games, simple as that, nothing else will do.

“Peterhead will be a very difficult match but we have to go out as we did up there before Christmas when we led for a long spell and try to pose them as many problems as we can.”

He added: “We know that time is starting to ebb away and there are only 12 games left but if we can win on Saturday it could help us get on a run which could see us get more wins.

“We have to aim for that and try and put pressure on Edinburgh City.”

But suspensions will again click in this weekend with skipper Scott Rumsby out and the final defensive shape will depend on how Bryan Gilfillan recovers from the knock he suffered on Saturday.

Meanwhile left-back Shaun Rutherford has been loaned out to junior side Tranent.