Cowdenbeath claim Lowland League win over Bonnyrigg Rose

A fine second half performance gave Cowden their second successive Lowland League win on Saturday.

Bonnyrigg, relegated from the SPFL League Two last season, grabbed an interval lead against the run of play, but after the break they were outclassed by the home side.

Cowden, who created a host of chances with the speed of Zak Tomany, Max Williamson and Stuart McDowell posing a whole host of problems, struck twice to take the points.

Two goals in three minutes from Jack Allan and Williamson put the Blues on the road to victory, but they should have scored more, even though visiting keeper, Ross Connelly, had a good game and pulled off a series of top saves.

This is the second win for Cowdenbeath in a row (Image: David Wardle) With Nat Wedderburn feeding the front men with a series of passes throughout the game, Cowdenbeath always looked dangerous.

However, despite being solid in defence, with new signing Harvey Petrie replacing Scott Cameron, who was working on Saturday, providing a solid partnership with skipper Jack Denham, the Blues did give away a soft goal.

All in all, though, it was a good all-round display, and a measure of vengeance against the club who claimed Cowden’s League Two place three years ago.

Paul McLean's men started brightly and in two minutes, his side threatened when Liam Watt sent in a fierce shot and Connelly made a good save.

Then, Rose’s Kallum Higginbotham brought out a fine diving stop from home keeper Owen Hayward.

On the quarter-hour, Hayward got in a fankle, trying to gather the ball on the edge of his box, leaving Cameron Ross with a clear shot, but Petrie made a fine clearance to rescue the Blues.

Cowden came close when slack play by Rose saw space open up for McDowell and his 25-yard lob cleared the bar only by inches.

It was revenge for Cowdenbeath after Bonnyrigg took their League Two spot three years ago (Image: David Wardle) However, in 30 minutes, after being under the cosh, Rose took the lead when a through ball eluded Denham and Petrie, and Ross ran through to fire past Hayward.

Three minutes from the break, Ross came close again when he evaded a Denham challenge and worked space to fire in the shot, which Hayward dived to save.

Five minutes into the second half, Williamson almost levelled when he took a Wedderburn pass and his cheeky chip landed on top of the Bonnyrigg net.

But two minutes later they did find an equaliser.

A fine piece of work by Williamson saw Connelly parry brilliantly from Tomany, but Allan followed up to blast home from eight yards.

And the Blue Brazil went ahead when Williamson left the Rose defence in his wake and bulleted a drive wide of the keeper.

There were nervous moments as Rose pushed for a point. In the 78th minute, a free-kick from Alassan Jones was brilliantly stopped by Hayward.

And at the other end, Connelly had to be at his best to deny Sam Newman and Conley Adamson.

Attendance - 332

Cowdenbeath: Hayward; Sneddon, Newman, Petrie, Denham, Wedderburn (McLean 81), McWilliams, Allan, Tomany (Downie 86), McDowall (Ness 72), Watt (Mauchin 81). Subs not used, Reddington and Trialist (gk).

Bonnyrigg Rose:  R Connelly; Laing, Martynuik, Young (Hogg 18), Somerville, Jones (Gray 78), Higginbotham (Bryce 60), Ross, Dowling, Speirs, C Connelly. Subs not used, Fellows, Beveridge, Forbes, and Anderson (gk).

Referee - Mark Daly.