Annan Athletic 0, Cowdenbeath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-374

AN excellent away performance and a fine win for the Blue Brazil who defended solidly and took their chances well.

This was a rare success for Cowden at Annan as it has not been a happy hunting ground for them since the Borders side came into the division almost ten years ago.

Manager Gary Bollan made a few changes from the side which lost to Elgin with Jason Talbot restored at left-back and Harvey Swann moving forward, with Kyle Miller coming back into midfield.

Gary Fraser also came into that department to join Blair Malcolm and David Cox joined Kris Renton in attack and both posed problems for the Athletic.

The midfield department found the going hard in the first period but the longer the game went the more Cowdenbeath dominated possession and in the second period they certainly looked the better side.

The win also got the monkey off their back of not having beaten a top five side and it has given them the chance to move well up the table over the coming weeks.

There was a shock for the Blues after only six minutes when ‘keeper Dave McGurn was injured after Annan won a corner but after treatment he was able to continue and he went on to play well and ensure a shut out.

Cowdenbeath had the first real attempt when Fraser Mullen had a chance only 10 yards out but he headed over when he could have done better.

Annan responded in 18 minutes with a Chris Johnston shot which McGurn dealt with well but four minutes later Renton produced a fine save from the Annan ‘keeper Jamieson with a right foot drive.

McGurn was on the alert again when he saved from Tommy Muir and really that was the last real serious attempt at goal from either side in the opening 45.

Cowdenbeath started the second period in lively fashion and Cox’s left foot drive went just wide then just before the hour Robbie Buchanan came on for Fraser and with his first touch he fired in a drive which was well saved.

Johnston had another go for Annan but McGurn was alert and dealt with it well and in 67 minutes Cowdenbeath took the lead.

Josh Skelly had just replaced Swann and a good piece of Cowden play saw the ball fall for RENTON in the six yard box and he fired home from close range.

Annan tried to retaliate and Owen Moxon fired just wide for them and Tommy Muir twice fired wide from decent positions.

But three minutes from time SKELLY sent in a rasping shot which came back off a post then three minutes later the on loan striker secured all three points.

He was released 25 yards out and he fired an unsaveable left foot shot into the corner of the net to the delight of his team mates and the travelling fans.

A top five side beaten and Cowden making a second successive away win.

Annan Athletic: Jamieson (6); Synnamon (6), Strapp (6); Sonkur (3) (Bradley 21 (6)), Moxon (7), Hooper (7); Wilson (6) Johnston (7), Wright (6), Muir (6), Wallace (6) (Smith 72 (3)). Subs not used, Roberts, Fergusson, Langan, Creaney and Mitchell.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Fraser Mullen (6), Jason Talbot (7); David Marsh (7), Robbie Deas (7), Kyle Miller (7) (Jamie Pyper 87 (2)); David Cox (7), Blair Malcolm (7), Kris Renton (8), Gary Fraser (6) (Robbie Buchanan 57 (4)), Harvey Swann (6) (Josh Skelly 65 (4)). Subs not used, Pat Scullion, Harris Kay, Jordyn Sheerin and Ryan Goodfellow.

Referee- Grant Irvine (6).