Cowdenbeath 3, Dumbarton 0 .

SPFL Championship.

Attendance-515.

A TREMENDOUS result for Cowden but just as important was the performance.

Cowdenbeath completely outplayed Dumbarton at Central Park, on Saturday, and to be honest the scoreline could have been doubled.

The victory was built on a sound defensive display which saw very few mistakes from the Fifers and this built confidence as the game flowed.

A back three of Thomas O’Brien, John Armstrong and Darren Brownlie shut out the visitors after a shaky first 15 minutes, and went on to dominate the Dumbarton front line and give 'keeper Robbie Thomson the best cover he has had in weeks.

This helped wing-backs Lewis Toshney and Nat Wedderburn to get forward to help Jon Robertson, Colin Marshall and Kudus Oyenuga put pressure on Sons and give strikers Colin Nish and Sean Higgins several good chances.

The fact that both the front men hit the target shows that the supply line was much better than in recent weeks and Oyenuga himself could have scored at least three.

The longer the game went the better Cowden got and in the closing quarter of the game they could have increased their total significantly.

They also recorded their first home league goal since December so it was an all round good day for the Blue Brazil.

But Dumbarton made a good start. In three minutes Sons threatend when the ball was played towards the Cowden six yard box and Mitch Megginson latched onto it and his shot was blocked by Thomson, then the ‘keeper repeated his save from a 22 yard drive by the Dumbarton midfielder.

But Cowden hit back and in 10 minutes a Toshney volley, after a poor clearance by the Dumbarton defence, was brilliantly finger-tipped over the bar then four minutes later, from a corner, Brownlie headed over from only six yards out.

Then in 18 minutes a Robertson cross was perfect for Nish and his header flashed just wide of Danny Rogers’ right hand post.

On the half hour Cowdenbeath threteaned again when Oyenuga fired in a low 17 yarder which Rogers dived to save, then two minutes later a good Cowden move ended with Higgins turning his mark and his low shot being held by the ‘keeper.

In the Sons response, 10 minutes from the break, Archie Campbell cut into the home box and his low shot brought out a good save from Thomson.

But at the other end Nish should have done better when Oyenuga set him up 14 yards out but his shot lack venom and Rogers held it and soon after, at the other end Chris Duggan’s fierce 25 yarder was only inches too high.

However, two minutes from half-time the Blues took the lead. Oyenuga’s angled shot was parried by Rogers only as far as TOSHNEY and he fired home from close in.

Two minutes in to the second period Cowden stretched their lead. Oyenuga again caused the danger with a low shot which Rogers got a hand to, but before he could recover, HIGGINS prodded home from virtually on the line.

Cowden continued to look the better moving unit and Nish and Oyenuga went close but with 25 minutes left on the clock Mark Gilhaney’s bending 25 yarder went just over for Sons.

Then in 68 minutes Oyenuga went clean through and only a brilliant Rogers save kept Sons in the game before O’Brien sent the striker through but he blazed over from the edge of the box.

But 12 minutes from time the key third goal came. A Marshall cross was perfect for NISH and the big striker bulleted a header past Rogers from close in.

In the closing minutes Nish and sub Robbie Buchan both missed simple chances as the visiting defence started to really struggle to contain the Fifers.

Cowdenbeath: Robbie Thomson (7); Lewis Toshney (7), Nat Wedderburn (6); Thomas O’Brien (7), Darren Brownlie (7),John Armstrong (7); Jon Robertson (6), Colin Marshall (7), Colin Nish (8), Sean Higgins (7) (Kenny Adamson 70 (3)), Kudus Oyenuga (9) (Robbie Buchanan 82 (2)). Subs not used, Kyle Miller, Chris Kane, Declan Hughes, Craig Johnston and Jamie Sneddon.

Dumbarton: Rogers (7); Wilson (6),Taggart (6); Graham (7), Duggan (6) (Petrie 52 (4)) , Easton (6) (Kirkpatrick 62 (3)); Gilhaney (7), Agnew (6), Megginson (6), Campbell (6), Fleming (7). Subs not used, McCallum, Lightbbody, Whitefield and Ewings.

Referee-Barry Cook (7).