Lewis guns down Albion
Published 15 Feb 2012 08:00
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COWDENBEATH 4,
STIRLING ALBION 1.
Barrs Irn Bru Second Division.
Attendance 341.
A SCINTILLATING second-half performance gave Cowdenbeath the win they so desperately wanted to maintain their top of the table spot on Saturday night.
After a very average first period, the Blue Brazil upped their game several notches and could have scored four or five in the second 45 minutes.
The home side had to make changes for this one with player/manager Colin Cameron out for several weeks and new recruit Gary Fisher, from Kilmarnock, took time to settle in to the Cowden style of play.
But by midway through the second-half he was running the show with an almost mirror image of the boss playing just in front of the back four.
His contribution inspired skipper Jon Robertson and Mark Ramsay to subdue the Albion midfield and start spraying the ball to wide men Derek Lyle and Marc McKenzie.
Lewis Coult responded to the almost endless supply of quality passes, by hitting what he later revealed, was the first hat-trick of his career.
And he should have had more but at the end of the day it was a good home performance.
Relegation theatened Albion made a real fight of it in the first period and their hard working midfield and defence had the Fifers struggling to find their form.
Indeed, after a decent first 20 minutes from the home side, Stirling took over and posed problems for the hosts. Yet in ten minutes Cowdenbeath took the lead. John Armstrong's knock down went to COULT whose first effort was blocked but he collected the rebound and fired home via a defender's heel.
The home fans waited for the avalanche but it did not come and gradually Stirling started to create openings.
Home 'keeper Thomas Flynn did well to gather a Gary Thom cross which deflected awkwardly off Armstrong, then Graham Weir fired wide from a good position.
In 34 minutes the game was level. Alan Cook's corner was headed across the face of the Cowden goal by Mark Ferry and no one picked up THOM who shot home from only five yards.
Shortly after Ferry's 25 yarder was held by Flynn and then the 'keeper took two efforts to deal with a Devon Jacobs effort.
The Blues came out for the second-half and from the whistle were much more convincing.
In 48 minutes they re-took the lead when McKenzie's corner was headed across the Albion penalty area by Armstrong and COULT rose to head home.
Eleven minutes later it was 3-1.
Shaun Dillon delayed his pass and COULT robbed him and ran through to shoot wide of Calum Reidford to complete his treble.
Two minutes later McKenzie got free in the box but Reidford made a good save and then Ramsay's pass sent Coult clear but this time the goalkeeper blocked his shot.
Albion were chasing shadows now and the surprise was that it took until the 84th minute for number four to arrive. Fisher's pass was perfect for McKENZIE and he raced in to shoot home to complete a fine second-half performance.
Cowdenbeath: Flynn; Cowan (Cusack 74), Adamson; Fisher, Armstrong, Mbu; McKenzie, Robertson, Ramsay, Coult (Stewart 81), Lyle (Linton 70). Subs not used, Milne and Bejaoui.
Stirling Albion: Reidford; Thomas, Jacobs; McSorley (Kelbie 63), Allison, Dillon; Smith, McCulloch, Weir (Davidson 73), Ferry, Cook (Flood 63). Subs not used, McLeish and Filler.
Referee-Matt Northcroft.
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