A FOURTH successive defeat on Thursday night left Cowdenbeath very much struggling to avoid the Pyramid play-offs.

Despite having skipper Craig Barr back in action, the old Cowdenbeath failing of being unable to create and finish chances haunted them at Ochilview.

Again Cowden defended reasonably solidly, but they just did not threaten to convert what limited chances that came their way.

The early stages saw the teams looking to master the blustery conditions and close control was not easy.

Stenny managed to work a couple of half chances without getting a good shot away but at the other end Cowdenbeath fired over a couple of swirling crosses and home ‘keeper Paddy Martin suffered a knock after he grabbed one of them and cannoned off the astro surface!

In 26 minutes Nicky Hogarth made a fine save from a Tommy Muir effort and then a Ryan Blair free-kick posed issues for Cowden but the ball flew wide.

Iain Russell threatened for the Blues 20 yards out but his effort was blocked by Creag Little and at the break there were no goals.

Hogarth cut out a dangerous cross from Muir, with Biabi waiting on a slip two minutes into the second period and in 52 minutes Stenhousemuir went ahead.

A good move by the home side saw a cross to the back post met by Callum YEATS, and before the Cowdenbeath defence can react the youngster fired home.

Exactly not the start Cowden wanted to the second period and again they were chasing a game.

The Blues fought back and Harvey Swann sent a 25 yard drive just wide before the visitors made a double substitution with Graham Taylor and Gavin Morrison going on.

It helped Cowden move forward reasonably positively but without really opening up the Stenny rearguard and at the other end Blair fired a shot inches wide of Hogarth’s goal.

With ten minutes to go home ‘keeper Martin pulled off a superb save from Robbie Buchanan.

Stenhousemuir: Martin (7); Brydon (7), Corbett (6), Little (7), Biabi (7) (Hopkirk 81 (2)), Tiffoney (6), Blair (6), Yeats (7), Docherty (7) (Collins 81 (2)), Muir (7) (McGuigan 72 (3)), Hodge (7 (Halleron 90 (2))). Subs not used, Kane, Tapping, Grigor, Fairley and Erskine.

Cowdenbeath: Nicky Hogarth (7); Fraser Mullen (6), Ryan Finnie (6), Jamie Todd (6), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (6), Robbie Buchanan (6), Kyle Hutton (6) (Gavin Morrison 60 (3)),Iain Russell (6) (Graham Taylor 60 (3)), Harvey Swann (6), Zander Miller (6). Subs not used, Jamie Pyper, Lennon Watson, Olly Hamilton, Mikey Herd, Ross Pollock, Kris Renton and Ryan Adamson (gk).

Referee-Lorraine Watson (7).