Raith Rovers 2 - 2 Cowdenbeath

Published on Friday 8 April 2011 12:36

Raith Rovers 2 Murray 60; Campbell 89 Cowdenbeath 2 Stewart 55, 70

Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn was left lamenting frailties at both ends of the pitch as his team squandered the chance to return to the first division summit following a 2-2 draw with Cowdenbeath.

Strikers Gregory Tade and John Baird were guilty of profligate finishing, while goalkeeper Andy McNeil gift-wrapped Greg Stewart's second goal.

"It was a crazy, crazy game. I can't really come to terms with it," said McGlynn. "John Baird could have had five goals himself and Gregory Tade a hat-trick, and we didn't defend that well. It's hard to define the game, it's probably the worst we have defended and the worst we have attacked."

In an absorbing first half, Tade and Baird were the main culprits for failing to take a number of chances, while Cowdenbeath marksman Stewart had an effort saved by McNeil.

Stewart, however, was clinical ten minutes after the restart to give the Central Park outfit the lead. There didn't appear to be any great threat when the former Hearts trainee picked up the ball on the right flank but he drove into the box and eased past Grant Murray before drilling a shot past McNeil.

Cowdenbeath's lead lasted just five minutes, however, as Murray made amends when he powered home Scott McBride's corner. McNeil did well to repel a Stevie Crawford effort but miscued his attempted clearance, allowing Stewart an easy tap-in after 70 minutes.

Centre half Mark Campbell rode to Raith's rescue a minute from time to steal a point, sliding in to force a loose ball into the net via the post.

Cowdenbeath manager Jimmy Nicholl said: "You start the game thinking you would be happy with a point then come in disappointed you don't get all three.

"But I hope Raith go up, I had six good years here (as manager) and you get an affection for a club."