Cowden close gap with win

Cowden’s bid for the great escape continued last night with another three points at Ochilview.

It made it seven points out of the last nine for Gary Bollan’s side who closed to within nine points of second-bottom Berwick Rangers with eight games left.

It is still a huge ask for the bottom club to beat the relegation play-off but, with third-bottom Edinburgh City also losing, it proved a good night after they caught the home side with a dominant first half.

Bollan said: “We make sure we train at a high tempo and take that into games. When we play with that intention, it makes it hard for the opposition to cope and we are now getting results.

“A few months ago, we wouldn’t have got the three points but we’re defending resolutely and showing better gamemanagement.”

Cowdenbeath started strongly and Lewis McMinn made a smart save low to his left to deny Jordyn Sheerin inside the first five minutes.

Sheerin then struck the woodwork as Stenhousemuir struggled to keep their opponents in check.

Cowden took the lead after 22 minutes when Blair Malcolm scored from close-range after McMinn had blocked Robbie Buchanan’s shot.

Six minutes later, Buchanan made it 2-0 when he dispossessed Ruaridh Donaldson and left McMinn with no chance with a terrific shot into the top corner.

The Fifers were indebted to goalkeeper David McGurn just after the break when he pulled off a superb save to deny Colin McMenamin.

The home side made a double substitution after 64 minutes, sending on Jamie Longworth and Eddie Ferns and it did not take long for the changes to bear fruit.

Longworth pulled a goal back when he headed past McGurn nine minutes after coming on.

Cowden had a let-off two minutes later when Harry Paton hit the post.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff in the closing stages with Alan Cook going close on a couple of occasions.

Mick Dunlop had the final chance in injurytime but McGurn was well positioned to ensure his team secured backto-back wins for the first time this season.