Cove Rangers 0, Cowdenbeath 0.

League 2 Play-off

Attendance-650

A GOALLESS first game between Cowden, wanting to preserve their league status and ambitious Cove, who are desperate to replace them, but it was not a match without openings.

Given that Lowland League winners Spartans lost their first leg tie up there 4-0, recording a shut-out was good for the Blue Brazil but again they failed to hit the target.

So in this coming Saturday’s second leg they are going to have to start hitting the net to ensure their desire to win this play-off is achieved.

Without suspended Fraser Mullen, Blair Malcolm deputised in the right hand area of the defence, but it meant his thrust from midfield was missed.

Defensively the Fifers did well, with Dave McGurn doing everything asked of him while Jamie Pyper and Bryan Gilfillan were solid in the middle, but a worry for Cowden fans was the veteran having to be subbed with 23 minutes left after being injured.

Harvey Swann was very secure at left-back and from a defensive point of view not much more could be asked of them.

Going forward Cowdenbeath had plenty of the ball and several opportunities. In midfield Kyle Miller sprayed the ball about on the hard bumpy surface while Brandon Luke and Brad Smith made several telling runs at the Cove defence, but too often their last pass lacked accuracy.

The tension of the occasion seemed to get to both sides as the opening stages of the game was devoid of good play and opportunities.

Neither side really got into a goal scoring position in that period and it was Cove who had the first real go at goal in 21 minutes when Jamie Masson’s low 20 yarder was blocked by Pyper then eight minutes later Cowdenbeath’s Smith had a header from the centre of the box which was saved by 'keeper McKenzie then seconds later David Cox had a raking drive which the ‘keeper got to.

Ten minutes from the break Cowden had a free-kick on the edge of the box but Swann’s shot went just over.

Cove had their best chance to date three minutes from the interval when Paul McManus got into a good position 12 yards out but Gilfillan blocked his shot.

He had to go off in 67 minutes to be replaced by Scott Rumsby and five minutes later McGurn pulled off a fine save from Connor Scully’s 20 yarder.

The finishing was not great from either side but with only eight minutes left Buchanan got into a great position but his shot was bravely blocked by a home defender.

No goals so both teams still have a chance to win this but Cowden will want to make more of their possession at home.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie (7); Redford (6), Milne (6); Ross (6), Watson (7), Kelly (7); Park (6), Scully (6), Megginson (7), McManus (6) (Robertson 81 (2)), Masson (6) (Stott 76 (3)).

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (8); Blair Malcolm (6), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Pyper (7) , Bryan Gilfillan (7) (Scott Rumsby 67 (3)), Kyle Miller (7); David Cox (6), Robbie Buchanan (6), Jordyn Sheerin (6), Brad Smith (6), Brandon Luke (6) (Ben Reilly 74 (3)).

Referee-John McKendrick (7).