Cowdenbeath 1 - 1 East Stirlingshire: Controversial Dempster goal sparks ugly scenes

Published on Saturday 16 May 2009 21:22

COWDENBEATH won through to the final of the Division Two play-offs amid chaotic scenes at Central Park. The Fifers scored a controversial late goal through substitute John Dempster, which cancelled out Brian Graham's early strike and took Danny Lennon's team through on aggregate.

There was some doubt about whether Dempster's header had crossed the line and the decision of referee Mike Tumilty to give the goal sparked mayhem, with Michael Bolochoweckyj and Sean Anderson sent off.

Shire manager Jim McInally, already sent to the stands for abusing the ref, returned to the touchline for more of the same.

Cowdenbeath had got off to the worst possible start when, after only three minutes, gangly striker Brian Graham latched on to a long ball through the middle of defence before waltzing around David Hay, the home goalkeeper, and slotting a shot into the far corner.

Craig Tully should have sealed the game for Shire on 81 minutes when Rodgers picked him out at the back post, but the defender nodded wide from six yards.

Then with the game slipping towards extra-time, Dempster intervened to score the all-important goal and kick off a truly unbelievable chain of events.