EK made to work for win over Blue Brazil
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy admits he was happy to get out of Central Park with three points after they needed to dig in to do the double on Cowdenbeath.
Kilby battered the Blue Brazil 6-0 in the South Challenge Cup last week but faced a sterner test on Saturday when they came from behind to edge out the 10-man Fifers in a 2-1 win.
The visitors fell behind after nine minutes when Ewen Macpherson opened the scoring, but Aaron Arnott equalised for Kilby in the 40th minute.
Cowden’s task was made more difficult when Macpherson saw red for an off-the-ball incident involving Dylan McDonald.
And it was left to new signing Tiwi Daramola to find the winner, firing home after 61 minutes to seal a 19th league win of the season.
Kennedy said: “I think it was always going to be a lot more difficult this time after going there the previous week and winning 6-0.
“Cowdenbeath were obviously determined to make sure that didn’t happen again and sometimes you are just happy to get out of there with the three points.
“We’ve done that and that was the most important thing.
“Tiwi has got an amazing knack of being in the right place at the right time.
“I’m just delighted to get the win. I felt we were fairly comfortable, even though it was a bit tight in terms of scoreline.
“Cowdenbeath having a player sent off at 1-1 obviously helps.”
On reflection, Kennedy thought Cowden were hard done by with the red card.
He added: “It was a coming together off the ball and I’ve seen it back.
“I don’t think it is a red card and it looks worse than it probably is.
“I think everybody at the time thought it was an elbow, and I can understand why the referee has shown a red, but when you see it back I think the player has just shoved Dylan to the ground.
“There’s not as much in it as it looked.” Kilby were set to play Tranent at K-Park last night [Tuesday] as the News went to press and they now host bottom side Edinburgh University on Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm.