What a rollercoaster year for the Blue Brazil

Andrew Cowie • Published 7 Jan 2010 08:00 0 Comments

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Loan star Scott McBride has been a key player for Cowden this season.

WITHOUT doubt the year 2009 will go down as a remarkable one in the history of Cowdenbeath Football Club.

The year began with the Blue Brazil challenging for top spot in the Barrs Irn Bru Third Division but by May the challenge for promotion had failed.

In July, through Livingston's financial demise, Cowden did earn promotion and they ended the year at the top of the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division. Indeed, a rollercoaster year.

Cowden opened 2009 impressively with four wins and a draw. They beat Dumbarton and Berwick Rangers 2-0, Albion Rovers 2-1 and Annan Athletic 1-0 as they went on a ten game unbeaten run which took them to the top of the table.

When they beat Stenhousemuir 1-0 at Central Park on the last day of February they led the table by ten points and were looking good for the automatic promotion place.

However, they then embarked on a four game run which yielded but one point and this allowed Dumbarton to close in.

Although they regained their winning form with back to back wins in mid March their lack of goals started to pose problems and going into the last four games they were ahead of Sons by the narrowest of margins.

They drew with Dumbarton 0-0 as the last month of the season started but then the following week lost 2-1 at Montrose before drawing 0-0 with Forfar.

This allowed Dumbarton to nudge in front and a 2-2 draw with Forfar at Central Park ensured that the West Coasters would win the league.

So it was on to the play-offs for the Blue Brazil and they managed to get past East Stirling in the semis to win a final spot against Stenhousemuir.

The league games suggested that there was little to choose between the sides and the two legged final failed to produce a goal.

In a penalty shoot-out at Ochilview it went to sudden death where Jay Stein's failure from the spot saw Stenny take the second promotion spot.

Doom and gloom there was but as the summer started it was clear that all was not well with Livingston's finances in the First Division.

As the new season approached the Almondvale club were told to get their situation in order but the longer the month of July went the worse things got for Livvy.

They were eventually relegated to the Third Division and Airdrie were re-instated to the First Division with Cowden promoted to Division Two.

So Cowden had to go up having budgeted for the bottom rung and they did not start their new campaign well.

Red cards in the opening two games saw them lose 2-1 at home to Arbroath and 3-1 to Brechin City but gradually the began to find their feet.

Striker Gareth Wardlaw was signed from Raith Rovers and utility front man Scott McBride on loan from Dunfermline and defender John Armstrong was fixed up from Hearts while former skipper Craig Winter was signed from Forfar and they all made an impact as the Fifers started to assert themselves in the higher grade.

Their first win came on 12th September when Stein's goal gave them a 1-0 success over Clyde and it was the beginning of an impressive run.

Although they lost 1-2 to leaders Stirling Albion at home they were to win seven of their next eight games and move into a top four position.

Victories over Peterhead and Stenhousemuir ensured that they would end the year two points clear of Stirling in pole position.

McBride and Paul McQuade emerged as top scorers with seven goals each but it was at the other end where the real difference was with Cowden only conceding 14 goals in 17 starts with goalkeeper David Hay having eight shut-outs.

Manager Danny Lennon agreed that it had been a remarkable year for the club.

He said, "When the year began we had that great run which took us at one stage ten points clear at the top of the table but then a few injuries effected team selection and in March we faced playing Saturday-Tuesday for quite a few weeks.

"We drew quite a few games and Dumbarton began to catch us and in the closing four fixtures they went ahead.

"The play-offs it had to be and it was very disappointing to lose on penalties to Stenhousemuir after being the better side in both legs.

"Then came the summer and preparation for another go at the Third Division title but in July things all changed when Livingston were relegated and we had to prepare for the Second Division.

"To be honest the players adapted well to the higher grade and we put together two really good runs which has taken us to the top of the table.

"There is a long way to go but we have shown the standards that we can achieve and our aim has to be to maintain these in the New Year and see where it takes us."

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