Cowdenbeath 3, Stenhousemuir 1.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-312

A SEVENTH home win sees Cowdenbeath on 29 points and in clear third top position in the table.

At Central Park, on Saturday, the Blue Brazil were the better side for much of the game, and despite being without their two most prolific strikers they scored three times and worked the opposition ‘keeper well.

The midfield area had a good first 45 minutes, with Kyle Miller free from his back problem, joining Mikey Herd and Graham Taylor and Connor Smith in putting Stenny under a lot of pressure.

They did fall out of it for a wee while at the start of the second period but came on strong towards the end.

The home three man defence had Craig Barr as a stand out, well supported by Chris Hamilton and Jamie Todd, while Fraser Mullen was welcomed back to action at right wing back with, Harvey Swann on the left, and they did well and Harvey scored one goal and laid on another.

Also Peter Morrison stepped in for the injured Kevin Dabrowski and played in his fourth successive win for Cowden.

It was a good home performance and another good three points.

In four minutes Barr caused bother for Stenny when he won a high ball into the box and it was cleared for a corner. From the set piece Barr again knocked the ball down and HERD was waiting six yards out to bundle the ball over the line.

Four minutes later the visitors responded with a Mark McGuigan shot which roared inches wide then in 10 minutes the Blues' Smith hit the underside of the Stenhousemuir bar with a 25 yard drive.

Barr was eager to get forward and he fired in a 30 yarder that was inches wide.

However, the visitors levelled in 16 minutes when the home defence’s off-side trap misfired and Connor McBRIDE went clean through and made an expert job of firing the ball wide of Morrison.

Then in 21 minutes Jonathan Tiffoney’s angled 14 yarder was blocked by Morrison and Mullen completed the clearance.

In 29 minutes Allan saw his 12 yard drive cleared off the line by David Marsh and three minutes later Cowden were back in front.

Nice approach play saw the ball break to SWANN 18 yards out and he fired a fierce left foot shoot wide of Danny Terry.

Stenny had to replace ‘keeper Terry with Kyle Marley in 50 minutes and two minutes later McBride showed good footwork to carve out a chance and his low shot was held by Morrison.

The visitors were seeing a lot more of the ball in the second period and the Cowden midfield had to re-double their efforts to try and regain their control of that area.

However, in 67 minutes the visitors had a chance when Dykes sent Cook through and his 16 yarder was held by Morrison.

With 19 minutes to go Swann made a great run forward and he parted to Smith and his angled shot hit the side net, then Herd broke into the Stenny box and his shot was held by Marley.

With the eight minutes left ALLAN ran clean through but instead of taking the ball around the ‘keeper he decided to shoot and Marley blocked the ball.

However, a minute later Swann beat two markers and his cross was headed into the net from seven yards by the striker to tie up the points.

Cowdenbeath: Peter Morrison (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Chris Hamilton (7); Jamie Todd (6), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (7); Connor Smith (7), Mikey Herd (7) (Archie Thomas 77 (3)), Jordan Allan (7) (Kyle Sneddon 92 (2)), Graham Taylor (6 (Euan Valentine 90 (2)), Harvey Swann (8). Subs not used, Jacob Glass, Ross Pollock and Mac Whyte.

Stenhousemuir: Terry (6) (Marley 50 (7)); O’Neil (6) (Kieran Anderson 60 (3)), McLaughlin (6); Marsh (6), Armstrong (7), Dykes (7); Blair (7), Tiffoney (7), McGuigan (7), McBride (7), Cook (7). Subs not used, Watters, Potter, Scullion, Aloulou .

Referee-Steven Reid (6).