The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Blue Brazil fight back to share points with Bully Wee
COWDENBEATH 1 CLYDE 1
Cowdenbeath are three points off fourth-top Elgin City after a battling draw with Clyde.
The Blue Brazil fought back well after going a goal down early in the game but a positive second period saw them grind out a deserved point.
Clyde started the game very aggressively and took the lead in 16 minutes when David Goodwillie’s pass inside was met by John Rankin and his 14-yard left-foot shot flew high into the net.
Goodwillie twice brought Dave McGurn into action to make good saves but, at the other end, Blair Currie made fine stops from Fraser Mullen and Robbie Deas.
Cowdenbeath were forced into a substitution in 39 minutes when Blair Malcolm limped off to be replaced by Jordan Allan who, seven minutes into the second period, took a pass from Kyle Miller and – with Clyde appealing for offside – he tucked the ball past Currie.
After that Cowden had the better of the chances and Kris Renton and David Marsh came close to winning the match.
Blue Brazil boss Gary Bollan lost his father during the week but was determined to be at the game although he was not on his usual touchline beat on Saturday, leaving the team in the hands of his assistant Mark Fotheringham and first team coach Ian Flaherty.
Fotheringham said: “They came at us in the opening minutes and got the first goal but we kept battling away and gradually got ourselves into the match. In the second half I felt we were by far the better side and, really, we were the team that looked like winning the game in the closing stages.”
Former Wolves striker Jordan Allan is pleased to have been given a chance by Cowden to rebuild his career.
He said: “They started really well and scored a good goal but we slowly came into it and had a couple of decent chances before the break.
“I was delighted to be able to get on the end of the chance just after half-time and slot it away and we looked like we could get a second in the closing stages.”