THE Blue Brazil paid the penalty for missed opportunities as they disappointingly lost at home to Civil Service Strollers.

Goals from Robbie Cole and Harry Girdwood in the second half put the away side in command and despite Mackenzie Williamson pulling one back late on, Cowden failed to take a point from Saturday's tie.

Colin Jack's men pushed forward relentlessly in the first half but often the final pass was too strong and nothing came of the move.

In the second period they gave away two goals, one of which was clearly offside, but rallied and finished the game strongly and could have grabbed a point late on.

The appearance of late substitutes, Mackenzie Williamson and Scott Sinclair, saw extra fire power in the Cowdenbeath attack and it almost produced a result.

Cowden had the first serious shot in the seventh minute when Mikey Cunningham robbed Matthew Shaw and ran through into the Strollers’ box, but his angled drive hit the sidenetting.

Both sides struggled to put together many passing moves with chances at a premium in the opening quarter.

In the 38th minute a fine run by Sam Newman saw him get into the Strollers’ box, and his cut back looked perfect for Dan Watt, but a timely interception by Conrad Balatoni, at the expense of a corner, kept the scoreline blank at the break.

With wind advantage in the second period Strollers threatened in 50 minutes when a Ross Clarke 25-yarder was held by Danny Farrell, then five minutes later Innes Lawson found space in the home box but his angled 10-yard drive went just wide.

And two minutes later the visitors went ahead. There seemed little trouble for Cowden when Robbie Cole broke down the left and his 20-yarder seemed to carry little venom, but it crawled into the net at Farrell’s right hand post, having taken a deflection off a home defender.

Eleven minutes later the second goal arrived, when some poor home marking was punished by Harry Girdwood, after a low cross from Willie Stanford was not cleared, but really Stanford looked four yards offside when he received the ball.

However, with 13 minutes left Cowden pulled one back, when Watt’s shot was blocked by Mac Whyte and it came to sub Williamson 12-yards out and he wasted no time in firing the ball high into the net.

Then three minutes later Watt brought out a fine save from Whyte with a fierce shot, then Sinclair went close, but it was too little too late.