COWDENBEATH paid for some indifferent defending against promotion chasing City at Central Park on Tuesday night.

After making a strong start to the second period the Blue Brazil lost a soft goal and that gave them too much to do and they still have work in front of them get into a safe area in League Two.

Manager Gary Bollan was disappointed with the result: “We created a few good chances but we were punished for some slack defending.”

The visitors continued to press in the early stages and Josh Campbell’s fierce 20 yarder was held by the home ‘keeper Nicky Hogarth.

But the visitors grabbed the lead in 14 minutes when Liam Brown was given too much space just inside the home box and he fired a low shot into the net.

Cowdenbeath were struggling to mount any pressure but in 25 minutes they were level.

Left-back Harvey Swann went deep into City territory with a fine run and from 16 yards he unleashed a left foot drive that deflected off Lee Hamilton’s back wide of the stranded ‘keeper Calum Antell.

This perked up the home side who kept going forward and Zander Miller and and Robbie Buchanan threatened but ten minutes from the break City struck again.

The home defence failed to pick up City’s dangerous front man Blair Henderson and he sent an angled 16 yarder wide of the diving Hogarth to give the Edinburgh side a half-time lead.

Cowden re-started with striker Kris Renton on for midfielder Robbie Buchanan and in the first minute of the period a long Ryan Finnie throw saw the ball arrive at Gavin Morrison on the edge of the box and his strong right foot shot went inches wide and four minutes later Renton fired in a 12 yarder which was held by Antell.

On the hour Cowden threatened again when Craig Barr’s header cannoned off the City bar.

However, with their first serious attack of the second period City increased their lead after 62 minutes. Blair Henderson took advantage of hesitancy from Hogarth at a cross ball and hooked the ball home from close in.

In 76 minutes Renton’s header beat Antell but Hamilton scooped the ball off the line to keep City’s two goal lead intact and the Blues never gave up but could not get a break in the City box.

Cowdenbeath: Nicky Hogarth (6); Ryan Finnie (7), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Todd (6), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (6); Robbie Buchanan (Kris Renton 46 (5)), Gavin Morrison (6)), Zander Miller (Iain Russell 71 (3)), Kyle Hutton (6), Graham Taylor (6) (Jacob Glass 88 (2)). Subs not used, Mikey Herd, Ross Pollock, Jamie Pyper, Olly Hamilton, Ryan Adamson (gk).

Edinburgh City: Antell (7); Thomson (7), McIntyre (7), Black (6), Brown (7) (Newman 88(2)), Jardine (6), Hamilton (7), L Henderson (6), B Henderson (8) (See 71 (3)) , Campbell (6), De Vita (7)(Laird 78(3)). Subs not used, Handling, Smith, Beveridge, Denham, Harris, Goodfellow (gk).

Referee- Matthew McDermid (6)).