Inspired 'keeper seals Cowden's fate

Andrew Cowie • Published 10 Feb 2010 15:49 0 Comments

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Paul McQuade goes close for Cowden.

AN inspired piece of goalkeeping by Peterhead's Paul Jarvie, at Central Park on Saturday, made it two defeats in a row for Cowdenbeath in the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division.

The Fifers swarmed all over the Aberdeenshire visitors but a mixture of missed chances and brilliant work by Jarvie stopped them in their tracks.

It was a much changed Cowden side which sought to give the Balmoor side a fourth successive defeat against the Blue Brazil.

Darren McGregor returned to action for the first time this season and joined John Armstrong in the centre of defence as Joe Mbu's groin strain continued to give problems, while Kenny Adamson returned at left back and Dene Droudge was at right back.

McGregor did well enough after such a long lay-off but Armstrong was strangely subdued and found Martin Bavidge a real handful. The full-backs also struggled and were both substituted in the second period.

The starting midfield arrangement of Mark Ramsay on the right with Scott Linton on the left flanking skipper Mark Baxter and Jon Robertson, created enough good openings going forward but struggled defensively.

In attack Paul McQuade and Gareth Wardlaw posed problems for Peterhead throughout the game but neither could hit the target on the day.

On a wet day Cowden opened promisingly and Wardlaw tried his luck from the edge of the box and his shot hit the giant Bobby Mann and flew just wide.

In 14 minutes Ramsay picked up a poor clearance and his fierce 25 yard drive was excellently saved by the diving Jarvie, then two minutes later Droudge set up McQuade just inside the Head box but he dragged his shot across the face of the goal.

Peterhead had made little impact but in the 21st minute they took the lead. Barry Wilson's long lob pass posed problems for Armstrong and as he dithered veteran BAVIDGE forced the ball from the defender and then cooly fired past the stranded David Hay.

Cowden were soon back on the attack and Ramsay's 22 yarder flew just wide then in 29 minutes Wardlaw fired in a header which Jarvie did well to parry and then boot clear.

Peterhead struggled to get in touch with Hay and as Cowden continued to dominate Ramsay again fired wide and Linton tested Jarvie from the edge of the box with the visitors' only threat a Neil McVittie 25 yarder which curled wide.

The second period opened with McQuade and Robertson going close for the Fifers and then Armstrong's header from a corner flew inches over.

A dangerous BAVIDGE cross forced McQuade to head over his own bar but in 64 minutes the striker struck again. The home defence failed to operate the off-side trap properly and Martin managed to get clear and clipped the ball over the advancing Hay and headed low into the net.

Cowden had by this time brought Jay Stein on and in 73 minutes McQuade sent in an 18 yard pile driver which was heading for the postage stamp corner but somehow Jarvie threw himself at the ball and kept it out.

Then two minutes later Cowden were back in it. Robertson found STEIN swith a good pass and the winger steadied himself before firing a fine shot wide of the 'keeper from 14 yards range.

Then soon after McQuade shot straight at the 'keeper and with three minutes left Ramsay's fine right foot drive was heading for the top corner and Jarvie finger tipped the ball just past.

The 'keeper had broken Cowdenbeath hearts and in the 90th minute WILSON rubbed salt into the wounds with a shot from a free kick 22 yards out after McGregor and Armstrong got caught out by a Peterhead raid led by Bavidge.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Armstrong , Adamson (Stein 62); Baxter, Droudge (Winter 50), McGregor; Ramsay, McQuade, Wardlaw (Fairbairn 67), Robertson, Linton. Subs not used, Ferguson and Wilson.

Peterhead: Jarvie; Donald, Smith; Mann, Crawford, McVittie; Wilson, Ross, Bavidge (Bruce 90), Clark (Sharp 78), Strachan (Emslie 62). Subs not used, Bowden and Wilson.

Referee-Brian Colvin. Attendance 294.

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