COWDENBEATH secured a crucial win over Elgin City at the weekend to close the gap between the sides to six points.

The Blue Brazil will now face Kelty Hearts tomorrow night (Tuesday) in the first of three games in hand they hold over City.

Fraser Mullen's penalty inside a couple minutes sent Cowden on their way, with Andrew Barrowman sealing the victory in clinical fashion with just seconds of the game remaining.

With Craig Thomson ill and Quinn Coulson being involved in a car accident on Friday night, Cowden handed starts to fit again attacker Andrew Barrowman and towering striker Dave Carty, while on loan duo, defender Scott Dunn and midfielder Alex Ferguson were in the side.

The 3-4-3 formation had City on the ropes for long spells but some incredible work by their ‘keeper, Daniel Hoban, kept them in the game until the closing seconds of the match.

But the opportunities were there to put the game to bed in the second period and that will be something that manager Maurice Ross will be wanting to impress on his players.

Defensively Cowden were good with goalkeeper Cammy Gill outstanding, and the back three of Dunn, who had to be replaced by Jamie Todd at the break, skipper Craig Barr and Sam Denham very solid.

In midfield Gavin Morrison ran the show well, supported by Ferguson and wide players Mullen and Harvey Swann, who even worked his way past three defenders into the box only to be defied by one of Hoban’s saves.

Up front Barrowman was wide on the left and Robbie Buchanan on the right who supported Carty well and they posed plenty of issues for a harassed Elgin rearguard.

Cowden grabbed the lead, when after 60 seconds Buchanan was floored in the City box by Matt Cooper and MULLEN made a great job of converting the spot-kick.

Buchanan made another good run two minutes later and his pass to Carty saw a timely interception by Daryl McHardy halt a promising move.

Elgin recovered from their shock start and a hanging free-kick from Russell Dingwall was met by Matheus Machado and his eight yard header went just wide.

But in 13 minutes Buchanan made another penetrating run into the City box and this low cross was set for Carty but McHardy again came to the rescue for Elgin by putting the ball out for a corner with Barrowman waiting for a slip.

City responded with a 15 yard shot from Josh Peters in 25 minutes which Gill held well and then the ‘keeper gathered a Machado shot from just inside the Blues’ box.

On the half hour Swann made a brilliant run past three visiting defenders and his low 12 yarder was brilliantly saved by Hoban.

Towards the interval Elgin tried to mount pressure and Gill made two good punches to safety from angled deep crosses.

In the second minute of the second period Carty managed to get clear of his marker and his fierce left foot shot pulled out a good save from Hoban, but within a few minutes Josh Peters warmed Gill’s hand with fine 18 yard shot, then in 63, Rory McEwan’s 20 yarder flew just too high.

In 65 minutes a slip by the City defence let Barrowman go clean through but Hoban spread himself well and deflected the striker’s low shot for a corner.

However, with 25 minutes to go some poor marking by the Blues let McHardy get in a header from 12 yards which brought out a fine finger tip save from Gill, but at the other end Carty went clean through, and with Barrowman waiting to tap in, he opted to shoot himself and the ball flew over.

With time added on beginning, Carty made the chance for BARROWMAN to seal three vital points with a fine run, and this time he chose to pass and the young front man shot low past the stranded Hoban to seal a good win.

Cowdenbeath: Cammy Gill (7); Fraser Mullen (8), Harvey Swann (7), Scott Dunn (6) (Jamie Todd 46 (7)), Craig Barr (7), Sam Denham (7), Gavin Morrison (7), Andrew Barrowman (7), Alex Ferguson (7), Robbie Buchanan (7), Dave Carty (7). Subs not used, Bobby Barr, Joe Moore, Liam Buchanan, Kris Renton and Craig McDowall.

Elgin City: Hoban (7); Cameron (6), Towler (6), McHardy (7), Cooper (6), MacEwan (7) (Hester 77 (3)), R Dingwall (6), Omar (6), Peters (6), Mailer (6), Machado(6) (T Dingwall 56 (3)). Subs not used, Hanratty, Sopel, El-Zubaidi, Spark, O’Keefe and Cormack.

Referee-Iain Sneddon (7).