Cowden well below the goal standard

Andrew Cowie • Published 14 Apr 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Manager Danny Lennon with his manager of the month award.

LIKE at Stirling three weeks ago, Cowdenbeath paid dearly for not converting their outfield superiority into goals at Balmoor on Saturday.

The Blue Brazil were in charge of the game from virtually the kick-off but too often they did not put the Blue Toon defence and 'keeper Colin Bateman under pressure.

Martin Bavidge is a bit of a bogey man for Cowden in games with Peterhead and he added yet another goal to his tally against the Blues with a spectacular strike which won the match.

And it could be a very significant result in the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division with leaders Alloa Athletic losing at home to Brechin.

Had Cowdenbeath won the game it could have put significant pressure on the Wasps with Cowden having narrowed their lead to three points with a game in hand.

But it was simply not to be. Like at Forthbank Cowden bossed the game but could not put the ball in the net.

Defensively Cowdenbeath were very sound. Goalkeeper David Hay and his mates were not overworked but what they did have to do they did well and there was not much they could do about the winner which was cannoned in from 20 yards range.

John Armstrong and Joe Mbu kept a close watch on Bavidge and his colleagues while full-backs Jon Robertson and Kenny Adamson provided plenty of support to the midfield and attack.

In midfield Cowden controlled the game for long spells with Craig Winter and Darren McGregor dominating.

If there was to be a criticism it would be that Brian Fairbairn and Scott McBride did not find the right quality for their crosses often enough and too many good positions were wasted by poor deliveries.

In attack Gareth Wardlaw and the recalled Paul McQuade worked hard enough but neither really worried Bateman.

Cowdenbeath went into this fixture with McQuade in for Dempster from the side which beat Stenhousemuir and the early stages saw the Fifers show the same confidence from that match and they had a bit of early pressure.

Fairbairn and McBride showed their intenest with some good runs and from one of the deliveries by the latter McQuade shot wide.

Cowden kept winning the key balls in midfield and Jon Robertson kept popping up on the right hand side and one of his crosses was headed over by Wardlaw. Then McGregor's header was scrambled off the line by Bobby Mann.

Hay had little to do but he had to be on the alert to deal with a Connor Gethins shot and then and Emslie effort was just off target.

Cowden were soon back on the front foot and before the interval shots from Winter and Wardlaw brought Bateman into action.

The second period saw Cowdenbeath continue to press forward and there were some pretty moves but Bateman was not called upon to perform any heroics.

Wardlaw had another header which was off target and then from a set piece Mbu caused concern for the home side but there were no finishers.

Then with 20 minutes left came the decisive moment. Gethins managed to work space for himself and his pass gave BAVIDGE a view of Hay from just outside the box and his fierce shot flew high into the net.

Peterhead seem surprised by their advantage but it gave them the confidence to to double their workrate.

They closed Cowden down time and time again as the Fifers looked for space in the last third of the pitch and John Dempster, on for Fairbairn managed to get in a shot but it lacked pace and Bateman grabbed the ball.

Cowden kept battling away but the opening would just not come for them and Peterhead held on for a win which keeps their play-off hopes alive.

Peterhead: Bateman; Wilson, Strachan; Mann, Smith, Ross; McVitie (Sharp 30), Emslie, Bavidge, Gethins, Moore. Subs not used, Bruce, Bowden Young and Jarvie.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Armstrong, Adamson; McGregor, Winter (Baxter 90), Mbu; Fairbairn (Dempster 69), McQuade, Wardlaw, Robertson, McBride (Stein 61). Subs not used, Mackay and Bower.

Referee-John Beaton. Attendance 435.

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