It's Paul at the double

Andrew Cowie • Published 27 Apr 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Paul McQuade dives to head home Cowden's opening goal.

Cowdenbeath 4, Brechin City 0.

COWDENBEATH made sure of an exciting end to the season with this thumping win over Brechin City at Central Park on Saturday.

After the teams shared six goals last midweek many fans expected a close game in this Barrs Irn Bru Second Division clash but the Fifers were simply far superior to City on the day.

Cowden had strengths in every department. David Hay had a pretty quiet afternoon but he dealt expertly with anything that came his way and the defence was very secure.

Scott Linton was recalled after injury and put on a great performance at left-back defending well and surging forward on damaging runs while his long throws also were a problem for the visitors.

Mark Baxter was equally keen on getting forward and their work was supported by John Armstrong and Joe Mbu in the centre.

The Cowden midfield ran the game with Darren McGregor and Jon Robertson putting in a powerful performance in the centre and Scott McBride and Mark Ramsay causing no end of bother on the flanks.

In attack Paul McQuade ended his own personal drought with a brilliantly taken double and Gareth Wardlaw added another goal to his tally.

Yet City opened the game reasonably well and in two minutes a misdirected Mbu header was met by Charlie King and his left foot shot went just over.

However, in seven minutes Wardlaw's pass sent McBride on a penetrating run which took him into the Brechin box and his right foot shot curled wide of Craig Nelson but hit the 'keeper's left hand post. Then three minutes later Ramsay sent Wardlaw clear and his low shot was brilliantly blocked by Nelson.

As Cowdenbeath continued to press McQuade gathered the ball in space in the City box and he rounded the 'keeper but he delayed his finish and the ball was cleared and then in 21 minutes Ramsay's cross was met by Linton and his left foot volley roared inches wide.

The goal was only delayed though. Six minutes later McBride sent an angled cross into the box from the left and McQUADE dived to power a header past Nelson from ten yards range.

Brechin were not completely out of the picture and in 32 minutes a King cross-cum-shot came back of the Cowden woodwork.

However, goal number two followed in 35 minutes when McGREGOR met a poor clearance and carried it ten yards before firing a rocket 22 yarder high into the net.

If City thought that they could emulate their midweek fightback the game was firmly taken from them in 47 minutes. Linton's penetrating long throw was not properly intercepted by Barry Smith and WARDLAW rose to head past a stranded Nelson.

In 50 minutes it was almost four when from a McBride corner Mbu sent a fierce shot inches over but seven minutes later the game was dead.

McBride sent a long 35 yard ball into the Brechin box where McQUADE met it first time and his stun volley flew over Nelson and into the corner of the net.

City were in disarray and on the hour a Ramsay shot was held by the 'keeper and then ten minutes later McGregor's raking 22 yarder went just wide.

In 77 minutes Ramsay's corner was headed down by Mbu to Dempster whose shot was blocked by Nelson on the line.

Hay was a virtual spectator by this time and there were several other openings in and around Nelson but some how the Brechin last line kept the score respectable.

It was a very impressive Cowdenbeath performance which was rewarded by four brilliantly taken goals.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Armstrong, Linton; McGregor, Baxter, Mbu; Ramsay (Winter 79), Robertson, Wardlaw, McQuade (Dempster 69), McBride (Stein 79). Subs not used, Fairbairn and Bower.

Brechin City: Nelson; Walker, Docherty; Smith, McLean, Vallers (Cowan 75); Byers (Masson 63), Fusco, McAllister, King, Archdeacon (Cnning 63). Subs not sued, Seeley and Scott.

Referee-Anthony Law. Attendance-391.

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