Cowden overcome problems to earn valuable point
Published 22 Feb 2012 08:00
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Scott Linton's dismissal left Cowden with problems.
ARBROATH 1, COWDENBEATH 1.
Barrs Irn Bru Second Division.
Attendance 1125.
A BRAVE second-half performance gave Cowdenbeath a share of the spoils in this Saturday table topper but they had to play the last 17 minutes with ten men.
The dismissal of Scott Linton made life difficult for the Fifers who knew that a win or a draw would be a huge psychological boost to their title hopes, but the team responded superbly.
Also it has to be remembered that key defender Joe Mbu had to limp off after only three minutes so it was a top Blue Brazil showing to take something from such an important game in these cirumstances.
Linton had replaced Mbu with Kenny Adamson taking over in the centre of the defence and the reshaped back line did well to contain the dangerous Lichties front line on their own patch.
Adamson and John Armstrong kept close checks on Colin Samuel and Steven Doris while at the other end Marc McKenzie was a real thorn in Arbroath's side.
The home side struggled to compete with the winger's pace and and he used it to score Cowden's equaliser and he could have grabbed the winner late on in the game.
Thomas Flynn gave a solid performance in goal and he was given superb backing by Dean Brett and Linton while the Armstrong and Adamson double act were stand-outs.
The midfield had to work hard against an eager home side and Colin Fisher and Jon Robertson covered every blade of grass to keep their team ticking over while Mark Ramsay provided some good passes in his forward role.
Derek Lyle played his part by always being an out option on the left hand side and then in the closing minutes he defended well when needed.
Lewis Coult did not hit the net in this one but the striker posed a constant threat to Arbroath until being replaced by Greg Stewart for the last quarter.
One of the Second Division's best attendances of the season filled the Gayfield terraces for this fixture which was very much game of the day in the division and they saw the sides have to contend with a bittery cold gale.
It meant for a scrappy opening phase but on the quarter of an hour mark Ramsay appeared to be felled in the penalty area by Craig Wedderburn but referee Roache waved play on.
Linton, who had replaced Mbu, then joined the action and fired just over but at the other end Samuel was only inches away from connecting with Gavin Swankie's cross then Brian Kerr fired an eighteen yarder just wide. Cowden were containing Arbroath effectively although Flynn had to be on the alert to deal with a Doris drive.
Then two minutes before the interval Arbroath grabbed the lead. Swankie's free-kick from wide caught out the Cowden cover and Chris INNES appeared at the back post to knock the ball into the net.
The second-half saw Cowden have early pressure but Arbroath were a hard working unit and although Coult got in a shot it did not over-bother 'keeper Darren Hill.
However, in 59 minutes the last line was helpless as the Blue Brazil squared the match.
A good pass saw McKENZIE beat the off-side trap and he sped through to round Hill and slide the ball into the net.
Cowdenbeath, backed by a noisy support, looked for a second and Greg Stewart, on for Coult, almost did the trick only to see Hill grab the ball at his feet. Then Linton clashed with former Cowden player Lee Sibanda and the referee went straight for the red card to give the Fifers a tough last 17 minutes.
Arbroath sensed they could grab a winner and Flynn twice mopped up danger after set pieces but the Blues' pace up front was a real worry for the homesters.
Twice McKenzie worked his way clear of the Lichties defence but could not repeat his scoring dose of earlier and in the closing seconds Arbroath's Wedderburn shot over from the middle of the box.
Like the previous matches between the sides it was all square and it was a better result for Cowden.
Arbroath:Hill; Busch, Baxter; Wedderburn, Innes, Kerr; Fakingham, Swankie, Samuel (Sibanda 70), Doris, Sheerin (Caddis 78). Subs not used, McAnespie, Gibson and Burns.
Cowdenbeath: Flynn; Brett, Adamson; Fisher, Armstrong, Mbu (Linton 3); McKenzie, Robertson, Ramsay, Coult (Stewart 67), Lyle. Subs not used, Cusack, Milne and Bejaoui.
Referee-David Roache.
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