Razor sharp county strike to take three points

Published 4 Aug 2010 14:49 0 Comments

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COWDENBEATH 0 - 2 ROSS COUNTY

BEATEN but certainly not disgraced, was the verdict on Cowdenbeath's return to the First Division on Saturday.

Last season's beaten Scottish Cup finalists, Ross County, were the opposition in Cowden's first First Division fixture in 17 years and clearly were going to provide stiff opposition.

But the Blue Brazil did well and could have led at the break and it was only later in the game that County looked the better side.

The Fifers were eventually worn down by County's expert counter attacking but if their own finishing had been a bit better they could have posed real problems for the Dingwall men.

There were some good individual peformances for the short-handed Blues. David Hay had no chance with the goals while the defence in front of him, Mark Baxter, John Armstrong, Craig Winter and Scott Linton, did well.

In midfield Colin Cameron put in a busy shift and in partnership with Thomas O'Brien saw the Fifers well in the picture, especially in the first-half.

O'Brien looks a good prospect for someone only 19 years-old and his ball winning skills and passing were a feature of his game.

In attack John Dempster led the line well and Marc McKenzie's pace was always a threat but the Fifers lacked the killer instinct.

Cowdenbeath opened the game well and in four minutes a McKenzie cross from the left fell for O'Brien but he sliced his shot wide.

Three minutes later Dempster knocked the ball down for O'Brien and his low shot was blocked by Scott Boyd but in 14 minutes County went close when a Richard Brittain free-kick was headflicked by Michael Gardyne and Hay got his finger tips to the ball and it rebounded from the inside of the 'keeper's left hand post and ran along the line before being cleared by Baxter.

But two minutes later at the other end McKenzie's lovely pass split the Dingwall cover and Michael McGovern had to race from his line to deny Mark Ramsay.

For a spell play became bogged down in midfield but towards the break Marc Corcoran had a fierce shot parried by Hay before at the other end Brian Fairbairn set up Ramsay with a good pass and McGovern did well to clutch the midfielder's 14 yard drive.

County started the second period well and Andy Barrowman found space on the edge of the Cowden box and only a timely Baxter tackle saved the day for the home team.

However, in 51 minutes the visitors took the lead. Gary Miller's cross was knocked down by Paul Di Giacomo and the in-rushing Gardyne fired an unsaveable shot past Hay from 15 yards range.

Cowden responded by attacking hard and Fairbairn's hot was blocked by Boyd and then seconds later O'Brien's shot from all of 30 yards went just wide.

In 66 minutes a long ball from Armstrong sent McKenzie clear and he tried to lob McGovern as he advanced from his line but the 'keeper easily grabbed his mis-hit effort.

County still carried danger and in 75 minutes a fine Scott Morrison cross was headed over by Barrowman but in 82 minutes the Dingwall side wrapped up the points.

Substitute Garry Wood sent over a good cross from the left and with Armstrong and Winter caught out, Di Giacomo steadied himself before firing a powerful shot past Hay from 12 yards out.

The Fifers never gave up and Fairbairn and substitute Greg Stewart both could have scored with better finishes.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Baxter, Linton; O'Brien (Brett 69), Armstrong, Winter; McKenzie, Cameron, Dempster (Stewart 76), Ramsay, Fairbairn. Subs not used, Bennett, Ferguson and Roy.

Ross County: McGovern; Miller, Morrison; Scott, Boyd, McCormack; Gardyne (Craig 80), Barrowman (Wood 80), Di Giacomo, Brittain, Corcoran. Subs not used, Gregersen, MacPhee and Malin.

Referee-Brian Winter. Attendance-481.

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