Dunfermline Athletic 7, Cowdenbeath 1.

SPFL League One Attendance-4009 COWDEN must be getting sick fed up with East End Park, for having lost five goals there two weeks ago this league derby saw them again swamped by the top of the table Pars.

A bumper crowd saw Cowdenbeath out of the picture by the end of the first quarter, but on the plus side they scored the goal of the game.

Without skipper John Armstrong and midfield playmaker Declan Hughes, Cowden had Kyle Miller in centre midfield and Kenny Adamson back in action at centreback. But both suffered from the pace of the home side in the first period.

The Pars attack had rattled in 15 goals in their previous three games and started the game looking for quick strikes and Cowden struggled to cope.

The defence found itself under constant pressure with the midfield area unable to break the home stranglehold.

Chris Kane and Miller battled away as did wide players, Greig Spence and Craig Johnston, but the latter’s frustration at being unable to get his team into the game saw him put in a rash challenge midway through the second period and collect a red card which made things even more difficult for Cowden.

Four down at half-time Cowdenbeath should have got back into when they won a penalty at 0-3 but Spence saw his shot saved and the hosts went up the park to add the fourth.

The big plus was that no one gave up and goalkeeper Mike Andrews was a stand-out throughout and did not deserve to lose seven goals.

Inside a minute Dunfermline had created two chances and from one of them Michael Paton’s pass set up Faissal EL BAKHTOUI and his right foot shot from just inside the box beat Andrews.

Then in seven minutes came number two. The ball was played into an inviting area by Andy Geggan and EL BAKHTOUI made another expert job of the finish.

Cowden went forward in two good raids but saw good work by the home defence keeping them out and in 12 minutes came number three.

Another move by Dunfermline saw Michael MOFFAT finish from close in with Andrews having no chance.

Cowden started to pose the home side some problems and Robbie Buchanan saw his shot blocked and then in 27 minutes Spence had a sight of ‘keeper Sean Murdoch and the ‘keeper dived to make a good save.

Then in 32 minutes came the chance for the Blues to get back into the game. Player/boss Colin Nish was flattened in the box by Lewis Martin but Spence saw his shot saved by Murdoch and to rub salt into the wounds Dunfermline swept to the other end and Joe CARDLE’s fierce shot beat Andrews all ends up.

Four down at the break Cowden introduced Pat Scullion for Adamson and they started the half well and Buchanan missed a good chance to score when he got space on the edge of the box.

But in 59 minutes Johnston made a wild tackle and was red carded and four minutes later home sub David HOPKIRK fired in number five from the middle of the box.

Cowdenbeath kept trying to get forward and Spence might have done better, having won space on the edge of the box, but failed to get his shot on target and in 72 minutes it was 6-0.

Another home sub, Josh Falkingham, set up Ryan WALLACE and he despatched the ball past Andrews.

It could have been worse for shortly afterwards Scullion pulled down Falkingham and Wallace’s penalty hit the bar and stayed out but the scoring was not finished.

With three minutes left Falkingham set up CARDLE and he sent his shot across Andrews and into the corner of the net.

However, two minutes later came the goal of the game. SCULLION latched onto a loose clearance 25 yards out and his rocket shot flew high past Murdoch.

Dunfermline Athletic: Murdoch (6); Williamson (7), Martin (6); Fordyce (6), Richards-Everton (6), Geggan (7); Paton (7) (Falkingham 63 (4)), Byrne (8), Moffat (6) (Wallace 46 (6)), El Bakhtoui (7) (Hopkirk 63 (3)), Cardle (7). Subs not used, Spence, Talbot, Potter and Hutton.

Cowdenbeath: Mike Andrews (7); Dean Brett (6), Mo Yaqub (6); Brad Donaldson (5), Kenny Adamson (4) (Pat Scullion 46 (5), Chris Kane (5); Craig Johnston (5), Kyle Miller (5), Colin Nish (5), Robbie Buchanan (5), Greig Spence (5). Subs not used, Sam Orritt, Luke Armstrong, Liam Callaghan, Jack Wright, Lewis Milne and Jamie Sneddon.

Referee-Greg Aitken (6).