BRAGGING rights will be at stake on Saturday with a first ever league derby match between Hill of Beath and Cowdenbeath.
The two clubs are separated by just under two miles and this is the closest they've been in football terms, as they're in the same league for the first time, with a big crowd expected for the clash at Keirs Park.
After their promotion, Haws have taken to life in the Lowland League East division with ease, sitting comfortably in sixth place, while their neighbours are down in 13th position.
Cowden player-boss Paul McLean said it's a derby they're desperate to win.
He added: "The Hill of Beath game will have a special feel to it with the two clubs being so close to each other geographically, and with a big crowd it will be a great occasion.
“They have had a very good recent run so we need the same sort of performances we put on against Stirling University and Musselburgh to compete strongly and win the game.”
Before the derby, they're in action tonight (Tuesday) when they face Kilmarnock B in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
It's one of a number of key games coming up for the Blue Brazil and they hope to follow on from Saturday's Challenge Cup win at Musselburgh.
It took a last minute goal from Bryan Mwangi to settle the tie at Olivebank and McLean was pleased to see his team's battling to the end, especially after the heartbreak of losing two goals in time added on the previous week.
The player-boss said they'll need that strength and resolve in the coming matches as he explained: "We didn't play with anything like the fluidity we showed at Linlithgow, where we led going into injury time and then lost the game, but the guys kept working hard the whole way through at Olivebank, in what was an awkward Challenge Cup tie and that was very encouraging.
“We have three big weeks coming up where we will need this sort of approach to get the results we desperately need.”
After Kilmarnock B and Hill of Beath, Cowden will host East Stirlingshire in the league on Tuesday September 15, then Lochee United at Central Park on Saturday 19.
It's a busy month that also includes two further KDM matches, at Hamilton Accies on Wednesday 23 and at home to Clyde on Saturday 26.
McLean said: “It is an important run of games in all sorts of ways, with us still in with a chance of progressing in the KDM Trophy, and the need for vital Lowland League East points.
"We will require the same application in all these games to achieve what we want."
McLean expects to have a full squad available for the derby apart from long time injury victim, striker Ewan Sutherland.
“'Keeper Blair Gallacher recovered from his injury to play well at Musselburgh so we should have a strong unit ready for this game and we really want to win it,” he added.
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