Individual contributions were cornerstone of Cowden success

Published 25 May 2010 17:40 0 Comments

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COWDENBEATH's successful promotion campaign in the 2009-2011 season hinged crucially on the contribution of several individual players.

Goalkeeper David Hay for instance recorded 15 shut-outs in 43 appearances while at the other end of the park Gareth Wardlaw fired home 19 goals in only 40 games.

But also there were a number of players who played a significant number of games as the club rose to prominence in the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division.

Cowden made an indifferent start to their Second Division campaign losing their opening two fixtures, and having men sent-off in both matches.

Slowly but surely the Blue Brazil started to get a grip of matters and the first point came at home to Alloa in match three and the first win came at home to Clyde in September.

That started a great run which saw the team go five games undefeated and then was followed up by another run of 11 league games undefeated.

During that period Cowden went top of the table but in January a dip in form saw three defeats in a row but the smiles were back on the faces of fans in March when they thumped six past East Fife at Central Park.

It started a five game unbeaten run which kept Cowden in touch with the top of the table and it was only in the closing weeks of the season that the play-offs started to become the likely outcome.

That did not knock the Blues off their aim and they produced four good performances in the semis and final to win through to the First Division for the first time in 17 years.

Cowden's overall record in the Second Division was played 36, won 16, drawn 11, lost nine, goals for 60, against 41, points 59.

Hay started 43 of the games recording 15 shut-outs and the central defensive partnership of Joe Mbu and John Armstrong was a key factor in front of the 'keeper.

Mbu played 40 games, scoring twice, and Armstrong 33 games while young full-back Dene Droudge played 28 games before a knee injury ended his season, and Scott Linton 28 games with Kenny Adamson on 27.

In midfield 21 year-old Jon Robertson played 37 times scoring five goals, Craig Winter played 30 matches while Darren McGregor turned out 20 times hitting four goals.

Brian Fairbairn made 28 appearances scoring nine goals and Scott McBride 24 netting seven times.

In attack Wardlaw's 19 strikes from his 40 outings was a fine return while Paul McQuade hit 15 goals in 33 games and John Dempster, out for a long time through injury only started six games but appeared 17 times as a substitute and scored five goals, another valuable contribution.

All in all 32 players used played their part in the successful promotion winning season.

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