Cameron praises side despite semi-final loss

showed fine footwork which ended with a neat ball across the six yard box and Conrad Balatoni sliced his clearance over his own bar

minute later Miller made a strong run which ended with a fierce shot which deflected off Stephen O’Donnell and went past Fox’s right hand post.

In the 15th minute Stuart Bannigan latched on to a loose ball 40 yards out and he let fly with a curling effort which Thomas Flynn held.

Flynn then made a treble block from firstly Chris Erskine, who thumped in the rebound only to see the keeper dive to block it and then Steven Craig had a go which Flynn again blocked and when the ball flew up Stephen Lawless headed over from only eight yards out.

As Thistle kept looking for an opening Forbes tested Flynn with a 10-yard header from a well-flighted O’Donnell cross with five minutes to go to the break, but on the interval whistle Marc McKenzie’s 25-yarder brought out a brilliant finger tip save from Fox.

Seconds after the restart a long Linton throw landed at Garcia-Rey’s feet and his fierce shot was deflected for a corner and from Stevenson’s delivery Adamson’s header produced a brilliant fingertip save from Fox.

Stewart was next to have a go for the Fifers after a good run but his 20-yarder was too straight and Fox held it.

Thistle’s first serious attempt of the

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. second period came in 65 minutes when Erskine fired a 25 yard free-kick which beat the Cowden wall but Flynn saved comfortably.

But the Jags got the vital goal with 13 minutes left. Erskine made a good run into the Cowden box and cleverly drew Flynn before squaring to Steven Craig who shot low into the net from 10 yards.

Cowden went flat out for an equaliser and Miller and Stewart both tested Fox but they could not get the vital goal.

Miller then rounded the keeper but before he could get the ball into the net Aaron Muirhead kicked the ball to safety.

Cowdenbeath goalkeeper Thomas Flynn (1) almost gets his header on target in the opposite box as his side chase a late equaliser.

Stephen O’Donnell clears under pressure from Cowden’s Kyle Miller (left).