The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fifers come to life to down Blue Brazil
EASTFIFE 2 COWDENBEATH 0
East Fife flexed their muscles in the second half to finally break down the Blue Brazil in an entertaining Betfred Cup derby.
The two sides may not have played a competitive game for seven months, but showed little sign of ring rust.
The game started at a blistering pace and it was the visitors who had the better of things in the opening stages.
Gary Bollan’s side looked really sharp and should have taken the lead with barely five minutes gone when Graham Taylor cut inside the Fife box only to lash his strike over the bar.
The hosts were struggling to get a hold in the game as Bollan’s men continued to dominate.
Again they passed up a decent chance when Ross Clarke managed to create space for himself inside the box only to see his tame effort held by Brett Long.
Darren Young’s side had made a pretty dozy start but burst into life shortly before the 20-minute mark.
Cowden were sloppy in possession on the halfway line and the home side managed to nick the ball.
Danny Swanson found Ryan Wallace, who scampered in on goal only to see his shot rebound off the base of the post.
The longer the first half went on the more East Fife managed to come into things but Bollan will have been delighted with how well organised his side was at the back.
Marshalled by the excellent Craig Barr, the visitors re fused to be broken down.
East Fife started the
second half much better and the introduction of Danny Denholm minutes before the break gave the side an extra attacking threat.
Talisman Scott Agnew was also having more of an impact but, despite their improvement, still struggled to cause
Cowdenbeath too many problems.
But the home side kept at it and unlike their visitors in the first half, managed to make their dominance pay.
Cowden were unable to clear their lines properly and a high looping ball was nodded home from close range by Jack Hamilton.
Cowden tried to get back into it but looked a shadow of the side which had looked so slick early on.
The second goal of the game always looked more likely to fall the way of East Fife and it duly arrived in fine style.
Kevin Smith’s sweeping crossfield ball was inch perfect for Ryan Wallace who lashed an unstoppable half volley into the roof of the net.
Arbroath kicked off their Group D campaign with a 2-1 win over Stirling Albion at Forthbank.