Cowdenbeath 2 - 1 Ross County: Nicholl takes the spoils as Cowdenbeath hold nerve

Published on Tuesday 5 April 2011 21:20

Cowdenbeath notched a vital win in a tense relegation battle at Central Park last night, which saw their boss Jimmy Nicholl take the honours over his long time former management partner Jimmy Calderwood.

The result moved the Fifers to within one point of County to set up a thrilling finish to avoid finishing in the second bottom relegation play off position.

Cowdenbeath had built up a 2-0 half time lead, but a late penalty ensured a dramatic, tension-filled finale before the Fifers deservedly emerged with all three points.

In six minutes the Fifers drew first blood when Marc Fitzpatrick made a hash of a clearance and Mark Ramsay, rushing in, hit a great first-time shot from the edge of the box low into the net.

Cowdenbeath moved into a 2-0 lead with a brilliantly taken goal. Jon Robertson and Scott Linton worked a defence splitting 1-2 on the edge of the County box and Linton ran through to coolly slot the ball past McGovern from 12 yards.

Ross County tried hard to get back into the game at the start of the second period and Andrew Barrowman created a chance when he played the ball into the box but before Garry Wood could connect David Hay came quickly off his line to gather.

Calderwood threw on all three substitutes in a determined bid to get back into the game with Iain Vigurs replacing Stuart Kettlewell in 62 minutes, Michael Gardyne taking over from Wood in 65 minutes and Mark Corcoran coming on for Jonathan Flynn in 68 minutes.

County ensured there would be a tense finish when they were awarded a penalty with four minutes remaining. Marc McKenzie, who had come on as a sub for Coult in 84 minutes, pulled down Corcoran in the box and Brittain made no mistake from the spot, shooting high ino the net.

Cowdenbeath: Hay, Baxter, Ramsay, Winter, Adamson, Coult (McKenzie 84), O'Brien (Vauls 84), Robertson, Linton, Crawford (Campbell 65), Stewart. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Makel.

Ross County: McGovern, Miller, Boyd, Flynn (Corcoran 68), Fitzpatrick, Marr, Kettlewell (Vigurs 63), Lawson, Brittain, Barrowman, Wood (Gardyne 65). Subs Not Used: Malin, Morrison.