Fraser spot on as Blue Brazil take the spoils

Cowdenbeath got the win they wanted at Central Park last night but Ladbrokes League 2 bottom side Albion made them fight for it in the steady rain.

A penalty separated the teams but the Fifers hit the woodwork three times and just deserved the points.

Cowden boss Gary Bollan was happy to win but was disappointed with the first-half performance from his side. “The opening 45 minutes from us was very flat but the second was so much better,” he said. “We looked sharper and started to create chances and hitting the woodwork three times showed how much better we were.”

Cowden started aggressively and in six minutes Gary Fraser’s freekick was knocked on by Kris Renton and with Jordan Allan ready to pounce Ross Clark belted the ball to safety.

Rovers got going and Gerard Escursola made a lovely run past three home defenders and it took a well-timed challenge from Jamie Todd to deflect the forward’s shot out for a corner.

In 24 minutes a Fraser throw saw the ball slipped through to Todd only six yards out but his finish lacked power and hit Mike Hardie and flew wide. Three minutes later Rovers’ Greg Fotheringham made a great run into the Cowden box only to see his low shot blocked by Todd.

Then two minutes from the break Albion had another chance when a slack Harvey Swann clearance went to Brian Ross and his 20-yarder flew just wide.

Five minutes into the second period Fraser Mullen’s 25-yard freekick was finger tipped on to the bar by Rovers keeper Peter Morrison.

The visitors were dangerous on the break and on the hour George Newell’s 14-yard header from Gary Phillips’ cross clipped the outside of Aaron Lennox’s left hand post on its way past.

However, on 62 minutes Cowden went ahead when Robbie Buchanan was hauled down by Robert Griffiths in the Albion box and Fraser made an expert job of the spot-kick.

Two minutes later Mullen’s freekick was met by Robbie Deas and his header was inches wide.

With 20 minutes left a Buchanan strike hit the Rovers bar as Cowden started to dominate possession. Attendance: 254. Cowdenbeath: Lennox; Mullen, Swann; Todd, Deas, Milller; Allan (Malcolm 84), Buchanan, Renton, Fraser, Henvey (Cox 51). Subs not used: Sheerin, Scott, Pyper, Sneddon and McGurn.

Referee: Graham Beaton.