Cowdenbeath secure point with late goal direct from a corner

DESPITE dominating most of the game at Christie Gillies Park on Saturday, it took an equaliser nine minutes from time for Cowden to earn a point.

It was a depleted side which headed to Muirhouse for this Lowland League fixture, due to suspensions and injuries, and Calum Elliot was dealt a further blow when keeper Craig Hepburn had to pull out of the side in the pre-match warm-up due to illness, with his deputy Josh Blair stepping in for a rare start.

Zac Butterworth had the first chance of the afternoon with ten minutes gone, but his shot was gathered by keeper Jacob Pazikas.

Cowdenbeath's Ewan MacPherson challenges Strollers' goalkeeper Jacob Pazikas for a high ball. (Image: @vinephoto)

Ewan MacPherson then had two good chances in the space of a minute, firstly he saw a shot saved by the keeper, and then he sent a 16-yard effort over the bar after being set up by Butterworth.

With 23 minutes gone, Butterworth cut in from the left but his shot was held by Pazikas, while with their first attempt on the Cowden goal, Strollers’ Innes Lawson sent his shot wide two minutes later.

Just after the half hour Lucas Berry sent a long range shot over the bar, then from a free kick by Euan Valentine, Harry Girdwood sent his shot wide, but four minutes from the break Pazikas cut out a cross from Jack Tait, with Ewan MacPherson ready to pounce.

The Strollers opened the second half in a more attacking mode and three minutes in Lawson sent a shot from the edge of the box high over the bar, and a minute later Tom Findlay sent another effort over.

Cowdenbeath and Strollers players gather in the box awaiting Josh Jack's cross from a corner, but the ball ended up going straight into the net. (Image: @vinephoto)

Strollers then took the lead in 53 minutes when Findlay sent over a cross from the right into the path of Lawson who saw his shot crash off the bar before falling into the path of Girdwood to slot home.

Five minutes later Valentine sent over a corner and a shot from Girdwood was blocked by Blair, before the follow up from Matthew Shaw was cleared off the line by Butterworth.

Then at the other end a cross from Greg MacPherson was cleared off the line by a home defender.

With 69 minutes gone a free kick from Josh Jack was tipped onto the bar by Pazikas, but with nine minutes to go Jack eventually got an equaliser when he scored direct from a corner!

Cowdenbeath supporters at Christie Gillies Park. (Image: @vinephoto)

Then in the closing minutes Cowden were denied a penalty, when Daryl Healy appeared to be fouled in the box but appeals were waived aside by the referee and the Blues had to settle with a point.

COWDENBEATH: Blair; G MacPherson, Tait, Jordan, Donald, McNab, Butterworth, MacDonald, Berry (Jack 54), McDonald (Healy 64), McPherson (Docherty 64).

CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS: Pazikas; Yeats, Clarke, Shaw, Duffy, Lamb (Amponsah 86), Findlay (McCulloch 77), Laird, Girdwood (Cole 77), Lawson, Valentine (McQuaid 77). Subs not used – McConnell, Churchill and Guthrie.

REFEREE: Tom Danahar.