Locke tells of fresh belief for Blue Brazil

Cowdenbeath manager Gary Locke was thrilled with his team’s performance in their 3-1 away win over Berwick on Saturday.

It was the Fifers’ first victory of 2017 and their first in the league at Shielfield since 2008, helping them close the gap on the teams immediately above them in the Scottish Division 2 table.

“I thought the lads were fantastic,” said Locke. “They showed us what they are capable of and hopefully it is performances like that which will help us get out of trouble.

“We are in trouble at the bottom, there is no question of that, but this result gives us some fresh belief.

“We have 10 games left to play, and they are all cup finals.”

Dale Carrick had an early shot which was hit straight at Sean Brennan and after 14 minutes he broke up the left, cut in and again shot straight at the Rangers’ keeper.

On 16 minutes Cowdenbeath took the lead when Robbie Buchanan shot low under Sean Brennan after jinking his way past his marker on the right.

Jamie Sneddon in the visitors’ goal was never tested in the first half, and at the break the Fifers led 0-1.

The second half was just 60 seconds old when Cowden doubled their lead. Skipper Pat Scullion kept the ball in play in the corner. Headed goalwards from a cross by Liam Henderson, it was clawed away by Brennan but fell for Ross, who tucked it away from close range.

In the 67th minute Renton made it three when he ran on to a long through ball and poked it past the advancing Brennan.

Berwick immediately made a triple substitution.

Rutherford netted a consolation for Berwick after 79 minutes with Rangers’ first effort on target.

Late in the game the visitors went close to adding to their tally when a free-kick was tipped on to the bar by Brennan.