The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rose burst 117 years of history for Blue Brazil
C0 1 AGGREGATE: 0-4
owdenbeath have to prepare for a season at least in the Lowland League after their 117-year stay in the Scottish leagues came to an end at the weekend.
The Blue Brazil lost their pyramid play-off final to Bonnyrigg Rose 4-0 on aggregate, with the Rosey Posey clinching the clash at Central Park courtesy of a second-half Neil Martinuik penalty.
Cowden will now face the likes of Bo’ness United, Caledonian Braves and Cumbernauld Colts next season as they prepare for a new chapter in their history.
A crowd of 2,117 watched the Blue Brazil attempt to survive the drop – their third such play-off clash in five years.
But boss Maurice Ross, who replaced Gary Bollan in the dugout earlier in the season, could not inspire a repeat of the wins over East Kilbride and Cove Rangers in 2017 and 2018.
A devastated Ross said: “To win any game of football you have to score goals.
“We had chances to ask real questions of them but did not take any.
“It is something which has plagued us this season and on Saturday we maybe hit the post and bar, but really should have scored with both opportunities.
“If these go in it changes the whole complexity of the game, but early in the second period we have another penalty awarded against us and it gave them the safety goal they wanted.
“The lads gave everything for the club throughout the whole 90 minutes, but again couldn’t get a break when it would have helped.
“It all completed a very sad day for the club and
now we have to look ahead to the future.”
Cowdenbeath hit the woodwork twice in the first period but just couldn’t get a goal.
On eight minutes Cowdenbeath came close
when Bobby Barr cut in from the left and his angled 18-yarder hit Mark Weir’s right-hand post and bounced to safety.
Four minutes later Rose’s Bradley Barrett latched on to Dean Brett’s cross and his low shot flew just wide.
With the strong wind behind them Rose came close on 25 minutes when Ross Gray worked space for himself 15 yards out and curled his shot just wide. Nine minutes from the break Cowden hit the woodwork again when Bobby Barr’s cross was met by Sam Denham, but his shot hit the Bonnyrigg bar and stayed out.
On 61 minutes the tie was safe for the visitors.
As Ross Gray was making his way into the home box he was tripped by Denham and Martinuik made no mistake from the spot.
Cowden kept battling and Mark Weir had to make fine saves from Quinn Coulson and Alex Ferguson, but there was no way back.
Now they will attempt to do what three other sides – East Stirlingshire, Berwick Rangers and Brechin – have failed to do and bounce back to League 2 at the first time of asking.