Broomhill 0, Cowdenbeath 1

AN early goal from Zac Butterworth proved to be enough to give Cowdenbeath their first win of 2024, as they ended a run of three successive defeats in a game played in difficult conditions on a heavy pitch.

In, reality, Calum Elliot’s side should have won the match by a much bigger margin given the chances they had in the first half as they dominated the opening 45 minutes.

The opening minute saw a low shot from Daryl Healy saved by home ‘keeper Luke Scullion, who was called into action a minute later holding a 20-yard effort from Andy Rodden.

The only goal of the afternoon came in the fourth minute, when Scullion spilled a shot from Jamie Docherty. Healy’s follow up was blocked by the ‘keeper and then a second shot came off the post before falling in to the path of Butterworth to slotted home.

Docherty sent a 20-yard curling shot just over with 13 minutes gone, and nine minutes later he saw another long range effort saved by Scullion.

Then a short clearance by Scullion fell into the path of Butterworth who somehow sent his shot over the bar.

Just after the half hour Scullion once again denied Docherty, before his side were reduced to ten men after captain Mikey Miller was sent off following a rash challenge on Matty McDonald.

In a rare home attack Paul Kennedy saw a shot saved by Josh Blair six minutes from the interval, while Docherty found himself through on the Broomhill goal as half time loomed but his angled shot hit the side netting.

Broomhill boss Stephen Swift rung the changes at the break introducing three subs, with both Martin Grehan and Max Wright looking more lively up front, and both creating a few chances early in the second half.

With 72 minutes gone, Broomhill came close to grabbing an equaliser when Wright and Grehan combined to set up Kennedy who sent a shot narrowly over the bar.

Then six minutes later, at the other end, Scullion dropped the ball following a corner, but in a busy goalmouth scramble, the ball was eventually cleared.

With three minutes to go a corner from Ben McCrystal was met by Wright, but his acrobatic shot was deflected for another corner, which saw Wright send a header past the post.

COWDENBEATH: Blair; G MacPherson, Rodden, McNab, Donald, Jordan, Docherty (Denham 90+2), McLaughlin (Berry, 81), Healy, McDonald (MacDonald 81), Butterworth. Subs not used – Hepburn, Tait, Jack and Chalmers.

BROOMHILL: Scullion; McKnight, Ellis, M Miller, Kennedy (McCrystal 82), D Miller (Wright 46), O’Donnell (Grehan 46), Roberts (Chalmers 46), Murphy, Craig, Moy (Smith 60). Subs not used – Barr, Hunter and Chalmers.

REFEREE: Steven McDonald.

ATTENDANCE: 100.