Cowdenbeath 0

Airdrie 3

Premier Sports Cup Group E

Attendance - 345

THE League One side were just too streetwise for the young Blue Brazil side, taking advantage of two errors just before the break to turn the game on its head.

Cowden had given a spirited first period performance, at Central Park on Saturday, defending well and going close on a few occasions, but five minutes from the break a little bit of carelessness let Airdrie in to take the lead and then on the interval whistle a home defender was caught out to let the visitors get a comfortable break lead that did not look likely for long spells.

The home defence, well marshalled by Daniel Martins, kept on working hard at denying the Diamonds space but a third goal in the second period put the game out of home sight.

In midfield David Struthers and Lucas Berry worked hard at trying to pick holes in the Airdrie defence, but the experienced Callum Fordyce held his rearguard together well.

Airdrie threatened in three minutes when Adam Frizzell’s ten yarder was blocked by Jordan Armstrong.

In the Cowden reply Scott Sinclair worked space on the edge of the Diamonds’ box and his left foot shot was blocked by Fordyce.

In 16 minutes a long Armstrong free-kick was missed by the Airdrie defence and Aiden Gilmartin hit the side net with his low eight yard shot.

Eleven minutes from the break Airdrie went forward in numbers and the ball fell to Calum Smith and his 10-yarder brought out a good one handed save from McCready.

Then in 40 minutes McCready had no chance when a cross from Gabby McGill found Justin DEVENNEY unmarked, and his 12-yarder header flew in the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Then seconds from the interval whistle a mistake by Sam Newman, who was dispossessed by Cammy BALLANTYNE only six yards out, and he smashed the ball home.

Five minutes into the second-half Airdrie went close when a cross from Ballantyne was met by Smith and his eight yard header was held by McCready.

Then on the hour the Diamonds made the points safe, when the home defence was caught out by a cut back from the right hand side Adam FRIZZELL blasted a low eight yard shot into the net.

With 20 minutes to go visiting player/manager Rhys McCabe hit the Cowden bar with a 20 yard free-kick, but two minutes later Armstrong made a good run forward and his shot just cleared the Airdrie bar and soon after sub, Chris Aikamhenze, set up Berry but his shot slipped wide.

Cowdenbeath: Mason McCready (7); Alfie Robinson (7),Sam Newman (6), Jordan Armstrong (7), Daniel Martins (7), Harry Osborne (6) (Cammy Graham 64 (3)), Ewan Thomson (6), David Struthers (7), Scott Sinclair (7) (Chris Aikamhenze 79 (3)), Lucas Berry (6), Aiden Gilmartin (6). Subs not used, Ben Weekes, Mark Donaldson, Mackenzie Lemon and Daniel Farrell (gk).

Airdrie: Rae (7); Ballantyne (7), Frizzell (8), McCabe (7), Fordyce (7), McMaster (6), Smith (7), Watson (7), Devenny (7), Deveney (6), McGill (7) (Gallacher 67 (3)). Subs not used, Hutton (gk).

Referee-Lloyd Wilson (7).