Albion Rovers 0 Cowdenbeath 0

SPFL League 2

At The Reigart Stadium

COWDENBEATH couldn't make it two wins in a row but this could end up being a useful point after last night's goalless draw in Coatbridge.

A win would have propelled them above Albion but, in their bid to get away from the League 2 danger zone, they scrapped and fought and gave away nothing to earn a draw.

The result keeps Cowden in eighth place, eight points ahead of rock bottom Brechin City and two in front of second from bottom Annan.

But there is still much work to be done by the Blues before they can feel safe, with six games left to play.

It was a match which saw defences dominate and after Saturday’s fine victory against Elgin, this saw the visitors create a far fewer chances than they did at the weekend.

Cowden started aggressively and in two minutes Robbie Buchanan made his way into the right hand side of the Rovers box and his 12 yard shot was held by home’ keeper Harry Stone.

However, Albion got onto the attack and veteran former Hearts attacker, Ryan Stevenson, pulled the trigger but his effort was blocked by Jamie Todd.

After the bright start play became scrappy in the spring sunshine and neither side was really able to carve out a good opportunity.

Both sides forced corners in a spell of activity which saw a couple of half chances created but the respective defences were on the alert and kept clear openings to a minimum.

Albion stepped up their challenge before the break and Stevenson had a go from 20 yards that looked to be netbound, but Fraser Mullen blocked the shot at the expense of a corner.

As the second half got underway there were few scares for either ‘keeper but in 57 minutes Stevenson got in another shot for Albion but Nicky Hogarth was well placed to gather.

Albion certainly looked the likelier lot to grab a goal as Cowden started to give the ball away cheaply and the visiting defence had to be on the alert after Mullen’s touch gave the Coatbridge men a corner with 25 minutes left on the clock.

Thankfully that came to nothing and a set-piece delivery from the Blues spelled danger when a Mullen free-kick was met by Kyle Hutton and his header from nine yards was just too high.

Cowden were having plenty of the ball but Albion funnelled back and denied the visitors space and with 13 minutes left Zander Miller was thrown on to try and unlock the home defence.

But it was that wily old campaigner Stevenson who almost broke the deadlock, firing the ball just wide of Hogarth’s left hand post.

In the closing minutes both teams had chances with Lewis Kidd having a go from a free-kick which flew over the Cowden bar in 84 minutes, and at the other end Craig Barr had a shot from the edge of the Rovers box but it just missed the target.

In time added on Todd blocked Lewis Wilson’s shot and when Cowden cleared the corner the referee called time on what had been a dour affair.

Albion Rovers: Stone (7); Lynas (6), Sideserf (7), Robinson (7), Gallacher (6) (McGowan 46 (6)), McKernon (7), C Wilson (6), Leslie (Kidd 63 (3)), Stevenson (8), Aitken (6), L Wilson (7). Subs not used, Fagan, Dolan, Moran, Baker, Doherty and Henry.

Cowdenbeath: Nicky Hogarth (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Ryan Finnie (7), Jamie Todd (7), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (6), Robbie Buchanan (6) (Graham Taylor 62 (3), Kyle Hutton (6) (Zander Miller 77 (3)), Kris Renton (6), Gavin Morrison (6), Harvey Swann (6). Subs not used, Jamie Pyper, Olly Hamilton, Mikey Herd, Ross Pollock, Iain Russell, Jay Sandison and Mac Whyte.

Referee- Scott Lambie (6).