Dunfermline Athletic 5, Cowdenbeath 1.

Scottish League Cup Attendance-2756 A BIT of a hammering at East End Park on Saturday saw Cowden bow out of the League Cup at the first hurdle.

The Blues were right in the picture after an hour but when ‘keeper Mike Andrews was red carded for bringing down Pars sub Ryan Wallace the challenge evaporated.

The ten men never gave up but it had been hard enough with 11 for Cowdenbeath, and a man short, they struggled to contain the quick moving home side.

Dunfermline certainly look like a team who could pose problems for everyone in League One but Cowden have to concentrate on their own game and their use of the ball in midfield has to be better than in this fixture.

Even in the first-half, when the score remained blank, the Central Parkers made too many unforced errors by giving the ball away cheaply.

Indeed, the penalty incident came from the ball being carelessly given away and Wallace being given a clear run into the visiting box, and Andrews, in trying to reach the ball, brought the striker down and after he had been red carded Dunfermline stretched their lead to 3-1 and that was the key moment.

It was a shame for Andrews, who had played really well and had made several good saves but the hosts took full advantage and sub ‘keeper Jamie Sneddon was given a tough introduction to first team football.

Defensively Cowden had played well enough up to the point of losing Andrews. Brad Donaldson and John Armstrong were solid enough in the middle while Dean Brett and Mo Yaqub kept battling away on the flanks.

However, in front of them Sam Orritt and Craig Johnston had their hands full against Pars wide players Michael Paton, Joe Cardle and Ryan Williamson, and Orritt was replaced by Chris Kane after 25 minutes to try and stem the tide.

Lewis Milne and Declan Hughes also found their work cut out and spent a lot of their time back defending which meant that strikers Luke Armstrong and Greig Spence had to work on short rations.

The opening stages of the tie saw Dunfermline seek an early goal but cool work by Andrews, John Armstrong and Donaldson kept the home side out.

Faissal El Bakhtoui threatened twice before Michael Moffat had a go without really troubling Andrews. Cowden’s good openings were limited but Spence came close midway through the half.

As the half started to come to a close the home side threatened again with El Bakhtoui and Moffat testing Andrews.

The second period started with a bang for the home side with a goal in 48 minutes. Cardle did the spadework and passed to EL BHAKTOUI who held off John Armstrong before firing low into the net.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0. Shaun BYRNE made a penetrating run and with the Cowden defensive cover breached he fired the ball home from inside the box.

Within two minutes Cowden were back in the game. Spence held the ball up and it bounced perfectly for HUGHES who fired an unsaveable drive past Murdoch.

The Blues threatened again through Johnston but 18 minutes from time came the penalty incident. WALLACE converted the award after Andrews’ dismissal and from then on it was damage limitation.

In 78 minutes Paton made the chance for BYRNE to head into the net with Sneddon stranded and then in the last minute EL BAKHTOUI completed the scoring after winning the ball 25 yards out and running through to shoot past Sneddon to complete a black day for Cowden.

Cowdenbeath: Mike Andrews (6); Dean Brett (6), Mo Yaqub (6); John Armstrong (6), Brad Donaldson (7), Lewis Milne (5); Sam Orritt (3) (Chris Kane 25 (4)), Declan Hughes (5), Greig Spence (6), Luke Armstrong (5) (Colin Nish 68 (3)), Craig Johnston (5) (Jamie Sneddon 68 (3)). Subs not used, Kenny Adamson, Kyle Miller, Lim Callaghan and Pat Scullion.

Dunfermline Athletic: Murdoch (6); Williamson (7), Martin (6); Fordyce (7), Richards-Everton (7), Geggan (6); Paton (7), Byrne (Falkingham 79 (2)), Moffat (Wallace 66 (4)), El Bakhtoui (8), Cardle (Hopkirk 77 (2)). Subs not used, Potter, Spence, Thomas and Hutton.

Referee-George Salmond (6).