Cowdenbeath 2 Beith Juniors 0
COWDENBEATH got their first win of the season to move into the second round of the South Challenge Cup with this victory over Lowland League West side Beith.
An early goal made all the difference to the Blue Brazil, who put on their best performance against a committed opposition who battled for every ball.
Indeed, at times their tackling was a little too aggressive and it led to them getting a red card in the first period.
Overall Cowden played the better football throughout the game, and but for a couple of good stops by the visiting 'keeper, Derran Fairns, they could have made the result more emphatic.
But they almost got off to the worst possible start as, in the first minute, Beith broke through and it took a fine save by goalkeeper Blair Gallacher to keep out Daniel Finnigan's low shot, with Finlay Ness then booting the ball to safety.
Dylan Mauchin's pass then set up Rhys Walker and his drive was blocked by Richard McKillen on the edge of the six yard box.
Cowden took the lead in 19 minutes when a cross from the left caught out the Beith defence and Nat Wedderburn was alert to pounce on the loose ball and knock it into the net at the near post.
Then moments later Jack Denham's header across the face of the Beith box went to Stuart McDowell and his effort was brilliantly finger-tipped over the bar by Fairns.
Wedderburn went close when his shot deflected off a defender and led to another cracking stop from the visiting goalie.
Beith threatened when Ciaran McPherson's dig at goal flicked off a defender and rolled inches wide.
But shortly afterwards they were reduced to 10 men when, at a corner, early substitute Martin Findlay seemed to swing a fist at Wedderburn and was given a straight red card.
Just before the break the visitors came close to an equaliser when Lewis Taylor saw his shot blocked by Gallacher.
Into the second half Gallacher was injured in a clash with a Beith attacker and Dion Gear replaced him in goal.
Dylan Mauchin made it 2-0 when he fired a superb drive into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box after good build-up play.
Beith tried to get back into the game with a neat move just past the hour which saw Taylor's smash the ball wide of the target.
Cowden could have scored a third when Mauchin set up Ness but his dig at goal was blocked by a packed defence, as time ran out Wedderburn was unlucky to see his flick from a set piece saved by Fairns.
Cowdenbeath: Gallacher (Gear 49); Ness, Hoggan, Denham, Petrie, Wedderburn, Walker (Mwangi 78), Cameron (Adamson 46), Mauchin (Allan 66), Milne, (Williamson 66), McDowell. Subs not used, McLean and Robb
Beith Juniors: Fairns; Taylor (Collins 71), Stokes (Hansan 71), Richardson (Findlay 9), McKillen, Boyle, Taylor, Alexander (O'Donnell 62), McMinigal, McPherson (McGlinchey 62) Finnigam. Subs not used, White and Sinclair.
Referee: Robert Bowie
Attendance: 216
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