McGurn key man as Cowden earn point

COWDENBEATH 1, STENHOUSEMUIR 1

Some brilliant goalkeeping from veteran Cowden keeper Dave McGurn earned the Fifers a much-needed point.

Cowden started the game well but fell out of the picture in the second period and it was the goalie who was the key man.

Blue Brazil manager Gary Bollan said: “We could have been more than one up at half-time but in the second period we fell away and in the end needed some great work by Dave to get that point.”

Cowden threatened in the second minute when Harvey Swann sent over a cross. Cammy Muirhead was waiting for a slip but Chris Smith grabbed the ball under pressure.

The home side continued to have the better of the play and Brad Smith fired in a low shot from 18 yards which was blocked by Ross Dunlop.

Then in 18 minutes Muirhead found himself in space from a Blair Malcolm pass and Smith made a superb save from his low right-foot shot.

Cowden grabbed the lead in 27 minutes. Swann sent over a cross and Muirhead’s header came down off the underside of the bar for Robbie Buchanan to fire home from eight yards.

Five minutes from the break Smith pulled off a diving save from Brad Smith’s 35-yarder.

Stenny’s Martin Scott headed just over in 48 minutes then McGurn did well to block Mark McGuigan’s low 15-yarder.

In 58 minutes Colin McMenamin’s 25-yard free-kick hit the post and a minute later McGuigan levelled from close range after Scott’s effort hit the bar.

McGurn then did well to hold Alan Cook’s left-foot drive.

Cowden fought back and Muirhead found space 18 yards out but his low drive was held by the diving Smith. At the other end McGurn saved Jamie Longworth’s low drive.

Stenny finished the game strongly and McGuigan’s raking drive was brilliantly blocked by McGurn. The keeper then saved from Longworth. Attendance: 245. Cowdenbeath: McGurn, McInally, Swann, Pyper, Rumsby, Miller, Mullen, Malcolm, Muirhead (Connelly 78), B Smith, Buchanan. Subs not used: Fotheringham, Rutherford, Whittaker, Trialist, Garden, Penman.

Stenhousemuir: Smith, Meechan, M Dunlop, R Dunlop, Donaldson, Marsh, McGuigan, Ferry, Scott (Ferns 88), McMenamin (Longworth 68), Cook. Subs not used: Paton, Halleron, Paterson, McMinn.

Referee: Steven Kirkland.