Cowdenbeath 1, Edinburgh City 1.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-302

A FREAK goal robbed Cowdenbeath of all three points in Saturday’s match with second top Edinburgh City.

There did not seem any real problems when City’s Mark Laird got the ball but he tried his luck from over 20 yards out and the gale force wind whipped the shot high into the top corner.

Cowden had been the better side throughout the match and only some fine saves from the City ‘keeper, Kelby Mason, kept his side in the game.

Possibly Cowdenbeath’s finishing could have been more clinical but the build up play was outstanding.

Kyle Miller and Archie Thomas linked up with Robbie Buchanan in midfield, to keep a good supply for attackers David Cox, Kris Renton and Graham Taylor, and all three gave the Edinburgh last line a good work out.

If the defence was found wanting against Stirling they were much better in this one with full backs Fraser Mullen and Harvey Swann very good alongside the outstanding Craig Barr and Jamie Todd.

Cowdenbeath hit the City bar in five minutes when Buchanan sent over a cross from the left and Kris Renton met it and his header glanced the woodwork on its way over.

Five minutes later Mullen’s corner had City in trouble and the packed visiting defence kept out Cox’s low 12 yarder.

City looked dangerous on the break and in 14 minutes Scott Shepherd got into a good position but Barr’s challenge broke the move up and Rae gathered.

Then three minutes later Taylor had a great chance at the far post after Cox created the danger but his finish was weak and Mason grabbed the ball.

In 20 minutes the Capital side went close when Blair Henderson latched on to a Danny Handling pass and his 14 yarder went inches wide.

Cowden threatened again in 25 minutes when Taylor got the ball 20 yards out and fired inches wide then soon after Mason dropped a cross and Cox saw his low shot bundled out of the six yard box.

In 33 minutes City’s Laird latched onto a corner and the ball flew just wide, however, four minutes later the Blues took the lead.

Cox made the chance with a good run and his low cross was turned into the net by RENTON from five yards.

City started the second period in lively fashion and in 47 minutes Scott Shepherd flicked the ball over the Cowden bar from six yards out.

However, two minutes later Renton’s 16 yarder was almost deflected past Mason by the diving Cox.

Then in 54 minutes Mason made two brilliant saves, firstly from Buchanan and then Taylor, both from less than ten yards, and on the hour the ‘keeper made another fine save from Mullen’s low 14 yarder.

Shepherd made good ground into the Cowden box but a timely Todd interception saw Rae able to mop up the danger.

City started to look determined to get back into the game and it took some good work from Barr and Miller to keep them out but fine work by Taylor created a chance at the other end and Mason blocked his shot for a corner.

The equaliser came in the 80th minute. LAIRD tried his luck from way out on the City right and his angled 20 yarder was steered by the wind into Rae’s top right hand corner.

It was tough to take for the Blues who had been the better side for three quarters of the game.

Cowdenbeath: Josh Rae (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Todd (7), Craig Barr (8), Kyle Miller (7); David Cox (7), Robbie Buchanan (7), Graham Taylor (7) (Jordan Allan 87 (2)), Archie Thomas (7), Kris Renton (7). Subs not used, Euan Valentine, Jamie Pyper, Ross Pollock Craig Easton, Kyle Sneddon and Mac Whyte.

Edinburgh City: Mason (7); Thomson (6), Brown (7 (Court 72 (3)); Laird (6), Balatoni (7), Handling (7); Crane (6), Shepherd (7) (Harris 72 (3)), B Henderson (7), L Henderson (7), Savoury (6) (Kane 61 (3)). Subs not used, Sinclair, Wilson, Holmes and Antell.

Referee-Chris Graham (6).