Cowdenbeath 0-1 Dunfermline: Buchanan solo scorer

Published on Friday 1 April 2011 19:08

Cowdenbeath 0 Dunfermline 1 Buchanan 60

Liam Buchanan scored the only goal of the game to keep Dunfermline's slim lead intact at the first division summit and spare himself a dressing down from his team-mates after an uncharacteristic first half miss.

Buchanan showed his composure to beat David Hay from close range on the hour mark, an attribute he lacked when he should have found the net seconds before the break.

"The wee man didn't have the best of days but what he's got is loads of character and he kept going and kept fighting," said Pars manager Jim McIntyre, whose side are two points clear of Raith Rovers at the top.

"He did brilliant, he stuck it away with aplomb. At this stage in the season it's about winning games and looking after yourself which we managed to do.

"It was always going to be a difficult game, they game into this on the back of three good results and you could see that, they were really up for the game and we had to match that."

Pars fans made the short journey to Central Park in numbers and were expecting goals, with their team having hit 11 past their Fife counterparts in their three previous encounters this season.

Buchanan was left red-faced seconds before the break when he headed over the gaping goal with keeper Hay grounded from his dive towards Hardie's effort that came back off the post.

The former Cowdenbeath striker made amends on the hour mark, however, when he notched the decisive goal.

Stevie Crawford's pass was charged down in the centre circle and Buchanan raced on to the loose ball before sliding a low shot beyond Hay from ten yards.

"Tuesday's game against Ross County is a must-win and I've told the boys that," said Cowden boss Jimmy Nicoll.