Edinburgh City 2, Cowdenbeath 0.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-494

COWDENBEATH’S poor away form continued at Ainslie Park as they failed to overcome the second top side in a very dour match.

The fact that there were only four shots on target in the whole 90 minutes says it all and all these were for the home side.

It was indeed, a game which saw Edinburgh City have the bulk of possession but they were well contained by Cowden.

However, Cowdenbeath needed to stay level well into the second period but losing a goal just after the hour mark turned the match in favour of the home side.

The Blues went with the same side which beat Stenhousemuir last week but found it more difficult to carve out the number of chances they did against the Larbert men against a team that has only lost three games all season.

Defensively Cowden did well enough for long spells, but at the end of the day the real problem for the visitors was not creating enough good chances, although they did hit the woodwork.

Yet Cowdenbeath opened promisingly and in nine minutes Kyle Miller’s 19 yarder flew just wide.

For a spell the ball was confined to the midfield area and there were few real moments of worry for either ‘keeper, although in 24 minutes City’s Scott Shepherd shot wide from seven yards out.

Peter Morrison had to look lively two minutes later to deal with Danny Handling’s 20 yarder. City were certainly starting to boss the middle of the park and Liam Henderson’s header was well saved by Morrison eight minutes from the break.

Level at the interval Cowden almost got the opener in 49 minutes when Connor Smith’s shot from the edge of the box struck City’s woodwork but then Edinburgh started to put more pressure on the Blues.

Handling and Craig Thomson went close and then in 61 minutes City got the key opening goal.

Thomson’s free-kick was met by HENDERSON eight yards out and his header gave Morrison no chance.

City were certainly the better side at this stage and Allan Smith saw his shot blocked by Chris Hamilton.

Cowden were still hopeful of getting something out of the game and Jordan Allan had a couple of good runs but nothing came of them.

Then with four minutes left Jamie Todd’s header from a Fraser Mullen corner flew inches wide but two minutes later the game was all over.

City ‘keeper Josh Rae did the spadework and his long kick was not dealt with by the visiting defence and sub Jon COURT took advantage and his low shot from 10 yards out crept in to give City the verdict, leaving Cowden with only seven points from eight away games.

Edinburgh City: Rae (7); Thomson (7), Laird (6); Wilson (7), Balatoni (6), Handling (7); Smith (8) (Court 84 (3)), Henderson (7), Shepherd (6) (Stewart 76 (3)), Brown (7), Harris (7) (Kane 90 (2)). Subs not used, Kennedy, Shaw, Beveridge and Newman.

Cowdenbeath: Peter Morrison (6); Fraser Mullen (7), Chris Hamilton (6); Jamie Todd (6), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (6); Connor Smith (6) (David Cox 81 (2)), Mickey Herd (6) (Robbie Buchanan 75 (3)), Jordan Allan (6), Graham Taylor (6), Harvey Swann (7). Subs not used, Jamie Pyper, Kyle Sneddon, Archie Thomas, Euan Valentine and Mac Whyte.

Referee-John McKendrick (6).