Cowdenbeath 2 Peterhead 4

A SECOND half collapse saw Cowden throw away the chance to claim a vital league win and saw them slump to second bottom in the table.

They were deservedly 2-1 ahead at half-time on the back of a disciplined defensive display and some inventive play in attack, with Jason Talbot and Robbie Buchanan on target for the home side.

But Peterhead turned the match on its head with a quickfire leveller after the break and they added two more goals - former Dunfermline player Willie Gibson catching out Dave McGurn with a free kick from his own half for the fourth - to win comfortably.

Boss Gary Bollan was left scratching his head at how his team had managed to toss away the chance for their second league win of the season, especially given how well they had played in the first half.

Talbot started and finished the move in the 10th minute that gave the Blue Brazil the lead. He fed the ball into Jordyn Sheerin and continued his run into the box to latch onto the loose ball and sweep it in the bottom corner once the striker's attempted shot saw it bounce his way.

Peterhead equalised in the 14th minute when McGurn and Jason Brown collided when contesting Rory McAlister's cross into the box. The ball ran kindly for Scott Brown to drive the ball across goal and Michael Dunlop tapped home from close range.

Buchanan made a break from the half-way line to try and put Cowden back in the driving seat but he was caught by Scott Brown and the chance was lost.

But they netted in the 27th minute after a move straight from the training ground. Cowden switched play and some neat interplay led to Bradley Smith finding David Cox.

He swung an inviting ball into the middle and Buchanan guided a header back across the keeper and into the corner of the net.

The visitors pressed but skipper David Marsh and Jamie Pyper were solid in the centre of defence, nodding away numerous cross balls and denying McAllister any space.

McGurn was well protected but that changed after the break and heads dropped when the Blue Toon levelled in the 47th minute.

It was cruel luck on the Cowden goalie who made an outstanding save, somehow pushing McAllister's header onto the bar from close range, only for Derek Lyle to pounce on the rebound and slam the ball into the net.

McAllister was given far too much room to put Peterhead in front in the 57th minute, his attempted backheel diverting into the net off a Cowden leg,

Fraser Mullen pumped a couple of free kicks into the box but Bollan's men created very few clear chances and he introduced loan striker Josh Skelly, in from Montrose until January, just after the hour.

He skipped away from a challenge and put a dangerous low ball into the box but keeper Greg Fleming just managed to scramble it away.

Buchanan drove into the box and found Martin Scott but his shot was blocked and in the 67th minute the game was as good as over.

There seemed little danger as Gibson stood over a free kick just inside his own half, but with McGurn well off his line to organise defenders for the expected cross, the midfielder tried his luck.

The keeper stumbled as he tried to get back but the ball sailed over his head and into the net.

McGurn went on to make a couple of decent stops, preventing McAllister and sub Ross Kavanagh from making it any worse, but he'll not forget that blunder in a hurry.

Kris Renton came close with a header not long after coming on as a sub, but they were well beaten in the end.

Cowdenbeath

McGurn 5, Mullen 5, Marsh 6, Pyper 6, Talbot 6 (Deas 67), Cox 6, Malcolm 5, Buchanan 7, Smith 5 (Skelly 62), Scott 5, Sheerin 5 (Renton 72).

Subs not used - Goodfellow, Scullion, Swann, Kay.

Booked - Buchanan (49), Pyper (75), McGurn (80), Marsh (90).

Goals - Talbot (10), Buchanan (27).

Peterhead

Fleming, J Brown, Eadie, Dunlop (McLean 69), W Gibson, Stevenson, Ferry, S Brown, Leitch, Lyle (Dow 69), McAllister (Kavanagh 69).

Subs not used - R Gibson, Norris, Boyle, Home.

Booked - McLean (80), Ferry (88).

Goals - Dunlop (14), Lyle (47), McAllister (57), Gibson (67).

Referee Grant Irvine.

Attendance 341.