Cowdenbeath 4 - 2 Dunfermline: Shambolic Pars gift ‘Beath win

By JIM STARK
Published on 13/02/2013 02:02

A GOAL-PACKED Fife derby ended with Cowdenbeath continuing their bid for survival in the First Division.

Scorers: Cowdenbeath - Milne 33, Linton 75, 88, Hemmings 81; Dunfermline Athletic - Dowie 70, Kirk 71

Referee: D Somers. Attendance: 1330.

A shambolic defensive display saw Dunfermline lose another three points in the title race but Cowdenbeath have now scored eight goals in two home games and were well worth the victory.

Dunfermline created the first chance after three minutes with a fine run down the right by Josh Falkingham which saw Shaun Byrne’s snap shot from 12 yards blocked by Thomas O’Brien.

At the other end after eight minutes, Jamie Stevenson’s corner was perfect for Jon Robertson and his header from eight yards went inches over.

Dunfermline had to make a change after 28 minutes when Shaun Byrne was caught by Robertson. Ryan Thomson came on.

The home side took the lead fave minutes later when the Dunfermline defence made a hash of clearing a ball from Dean Brett and Lewis Milne fired a low 20 yarder into the bottom right hand corner.

Pars keeper Paul Gallagher then prevented Cowden going two up with a fine save from Robertson’s header.

The second-half opened with neither side able to keep possession for any length of time but just before the hour mark it took brave defending by Calum Morris to deny Lewis Coult and, two minutes later, Cowden’s O’Brien latched onto a Stevenson corner and the big defender’s 14-yard shot saw Gallagher brilliantly parry the ball to allow Ross Millen to clear the danger.

And the Pars hit back with two goals in four minutes. After 68 minutes a Josh Falkingham free-kick was glanced in by the head of Andy Dowie and, before Cowden could recover, Ryan Wallace’s cross was turned into the net by Andy Kirk.

The rush of goals continued in 75 minutes as Cowdenbeath levelled from a free-kick. Kane Hemmings was fouled by Morris 25 yards out and Scott Linton’s fierce shot gave Gallagher no chance.

Dunfermline’s defensive frailties were further punished with eight minutes left. Their central pairing of Morris and Dowie were unable to mop up sub Greg Stewart’s ball into the danger area and Hemmings pounced to crack an unsaveable 18-yarder past Gallagher.

Two minutes from time a sweeping Cowdenbeath move down the right saw Linton fire another fierce shot past the unfortunate Gallagher to tie up the points.

Cowdenbeath: Flynn; Brett, Adamson; Milne, Armstrong, O’Brien; Stevenson, Robertson, Coult, Hemmings, Linton. Subs: McKenzie, Mbu, Stewart, Miller and Wight.

Dunfermline Athletic: Gallagher; Millen, McMillan; Dowie, Morris, Kane; Cardle, Byrne, Wallace, Kirk, Falkingham. Subs: Dargo, Thomson, Whittle, Potter, Hrvinak.