Six hit Cowden earn all the bragging rights

Andrew Cowie • Published 10 Mar 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Cowden go close in this first-half raid.

A STUNNING performance from Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Saturday ensured that they ended the derby campaign with all the bragging rights.

The Blue Brazil thumped six passed East Fife, and it could have been more, with some fine passing moves that left the Methilmen with all sorts of problems and five second-half goals coming in 17 minutes.

Cowden ended a four game run without a win with some superb stuff which could have seen them add more to their fine tally of goals.

The performance was a great team effort with no failures although a harsh critic could fault the home side for both East Fife goals.

David Hay led the way with sound work in the air and on the ground and the back four was very effective against a good attack which featured former Scotland player Stevie Crawford; and Paul McManus.

Indeed, Dene Droudge emerged as man of the match with a powerful show in the right back berth, bombing up and down the right hand side.

He was involved in most of Cowden's telling moves and his use of the ball in the last third of the pitch was impressive.

Joe Mbu and John Armstrong handled the Crawford-McManus partnership and Scott Linton emulated Droudge on the other side of the defence.

The midfield was also impressive with flank players Mark Ramsay and Jay Stein providing plenty of options for dominating central duo Darren McGregor and Craig Winter while in attack Gareth Wardlaw led the line well and with Paul McQuade gave East Fife a lot to think about.

The first-half end with only one goal separating the sides but in reality Cowden should have been well ahead by the break.

Stein fired a warning in only five minutes when his 30 yarder went inches over and then Droudge's cross was flicked just wide by Wardlaw and then the big striker headed in another Droudge cross which slipped past.

In 27 minutes a long Droudge throw was headed on by Armstrong and Wardlaw's header was parried by 'keeper Michael Brown and Mbu following up saw his goalbound effort bounce to safety off McQuade.

In 34 minutes Cowden at last went ahead. After Ramsay had been fouled on the edge of the East Fife box and the winger took the award quickly and STEIN fired an unstoppable left foot shot curling into the net.

The second period opened with Cowden still on the attack but in 52 minutes a bad Linton pass saw Davie Muir open up the Cowden defence and CRAWFORD's header gave Hay no chance.

Two minutes later the Blue Brazil restored their lead. Droudge again made ground down the right and his cross was perfect for WARDLAW whose header cannoned into the net off a post.

Then on the hour Armstrong found McGregor with a good pass and his cross was first timed into the net by McQUADE.

Within 60 seconds things got worse for East Fife when no defender picked up McGREGOR on the edge of the Methil box and the big midfielder lashed an angled shot past Brown .

Within four minutes a slack piece of work by Ramsay let McMANUS in to round Hay and give the visitors hope but in 69 minutes their challenge was in tatters.

Droudge again did the spadework and RAMSAY fired low into the net and two minutes after that Ramsay provided the opening for McQuade to dummy and STEIN fired in number six.

Cowden had other chances in the closing minutes and the final whistle gave Cowdenbeath eight derby points to East Fife's two.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Armstrong, Linton; McGregor, Drouge, Mbu; Ramsay, McQuade (Fairbairn 76), Wardlaw (Dempster 74), Winter (Baxter 72), Stein. Subs not used, Robertson and Bower.

East Fife: Brown; Lowing (Linn 58), Campbell (Cargill 65); Nugent, Murdoch, Ovenstone; Crawford, McCunnie, McManus (Conway 76), Muir, Young. Subs not used, Fagan and Baillie.

Referee-Iain Brines. Attendance 667.

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