The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cowdenbeath ‘different animal’ for new season
Surprise win over Raith as assistant boss lauds squad and confidence ahead of new term
Assistant boss Mark Fotheringham believes Cowdenbeath will be a “different animal” this season after watching his side dismantle Raith Rovers in the Betfred Cup.
After requiring a play-off to secure their SPFL status in each of the past two seasons, the League Two part-timers were surprise 2-0 victors at Bayview, Raith’s temporary home while work continues on installing a new artificial surface at Stark’s Park.
Fortheringham, who took charge of the season opener while manager Gary Bollan sat out a touchline ban, believes that the Fife derby win, which was fully deserved, can be a platform for a more successful season.
“It’s a good wee marker for us,” he said. “Raith are a big traditional club and a good side so we knew it was going to be a hard game, but I think everybody could see we are going to be a different animal this year.
“You know how Gary Bollan’s team are – they are always competitive, fit and strong. He’s got a better record than anybody with promotions at our level and I’m surprised he hasn’t been given a chance at a higher level.
“We’re happy with the work we’re doing but we know there’s a lot still to do so hopefully we can keep developing the players. We’re having a good time too and there’s good atmosphere in the dressing room, which is important.”
Both Cowdenbeath goals were scored by striker Jordyn Sheerin, who moved to Central Park in January after spending the first half of last season in the East of Scotland League with Kelty Hearts.
“The result is maybe a surprise to people outside but we’ve brought in some good players, and we’ve been working hard throughout pre-season, so it’s not a surprise to us in the changing room,” Sheerin said.
“From start to finish we looked comfortable on the ball, and strong in defence. I don’t think we’ll have a repeat of the last two seasons. The gaffer, the assistant and backroom staff have shaped us up in a way that we’ll definitely not be down there again.”
For Raith, after the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season, it was an inauspicious start to Barry Smith’s second season in charge, both in terms of the performance and an injury list which meant he could only name two outfield players as substitutes, both teenagers from last season’s development squad.
“Take nothing away from Cowdenbeath because they deserved their win, but we were nowhere near good enough, and we would expect a lot more,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of chances in the first half, and a wee bit of rustiness with our attempts at goal, but even in the first half, we’d be expecting to control the game far more than we did.
“In the second half we conceded two terrible goals, and the boys have been told in no uncertain terms that they need to do better.
“We’ve got a lot of injuries at the moment but we had full belief that the team we put out would win the game – so no excuses.”
Only the woodwork prevented Raith defender Dave McKay from opening the scoring as the ball dropped to his feet from a corner kick, but his attempt struck the crossbar.
Chris Duggan should have put the ‘home’ side ahead on 10 minutes but after racing clear he blazed his left-foot effort over the bar.
Cowdenbeath grew into the game and Robbie Thomson had to make a sharp save five minutes before the break to deny Robbie Buchanan after the striker pounced on a slip by Iain Davidson.
The visitors started the second half strongly and got their reward with the opening goal on 52 minutes as Sheerin’s attempted cut-back was blocked by Davidson, only to fall kindly for the striker to fire past Thomson at his near post.
Rovers were unable to make any impression on the Cowdenbeath defence, and Bollan’s side sealed the win with five minutes remaining when Sheerin pounced on a loose pass back from Kyle Benedictus to fire home his second of the afternoon.