10-man Cowden cut seven points adrift

Cowden’s desperate League Two position got worse last night as City joined Clyde seven points clear.

The hosts took the lead but then lost their way and finished with 10 men after midfielder Fraser Mullen was red-carded for arguing.

Dale Carrick’s early 20-yard shot was only inches wide for Cowden and seconds later the striker fired in a 25-yarder which keeper Andrew Stobie finger-tipped over.

The home side took the lead in 11 minutes when Mullen found Carrick and his angled chip hit the inside of the post and bounced in.

Within five minutes City were level when former Cowden skipper Joe Mbu was pushed by Liam Henderson and Dougie Gair made an expert job of the spot-kick.

Cowden’s Kris Renton tested Stobie with an angled shot before home keeper Jamie Sneddon made a one-handed save to keep out a Ryan Porteous header.

Four minutes from the break City’s Lewis Allan saw his shot blocked by Scott Rumsby.

Cowden had to defend four corners at the start of the second half but, at the other end, a brave Josh Walker tackle defied Carrick.

In 64 minutes City took the lead when the home defence failed to clear a long throw and Josh Walker fired home.

Renton was unlucky to see a header drift wide but then Mullen was sent off for dissent and though the Fifers kept battling they could not find an equaliser. Attendance: 309.

Cowdenbeath: Sneddon, Pyper, Rutherford, McLauchlan, Rumsby, Mullen, Buchanan (Moore 76), Henderson, Carrick, Renton, Ross. Subs not used: O’Brien, Miller, Muirhead, Johnston, McGurn.

Edinburgh City: Stobie, Dunsmore (Caddow 87), Porteous, Dunn, Mbu, Walker, McKee, Gair, Allan (Donaldson 91), Laird, Cummings (McConnell 80). Subs not used: McFarland, Donaldson, Deniran, Riordan, Antell.

Referee: Gavin Ross.