Cowden cut down the Diamonds

Published 18 Jan 2012 08:00 0 Comments

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New signing Liam Cusack tests the Airdrie defence.

COWDENBEATH.......................................2

AIRDRIE UNITED.....................................0

Attendance 408.

Barrs Irn Bru Second Division

COWDEN stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points with this win at Central Park on Saturday but it should have been by a more emphatic margin.

The Blue Brazil ran all over Airdrie in the second period and created chance after chance but scored only once.

With the Diamonds finishing the game in a spirited fashion and creating one or two good chances failing to convert a series of easy openings could have posed the hosts a problem, but at the end of the day it was another home win.

From a Cowdenbeath point of view the victory was constructed on a very solid defensive performance.

Joe Mbu was at his commanding best, alongside the reliable John Armstrong at the centre of home defence, and they ensured that the dangerous visiting attack force of Derek Holmes and Ryan Donnelly seldom bothered Thomas Flynn.

When he was brought into action the 'keeper dealt well with Airdrie's efforts while Davie Cowan was very comfortable at right-back.

Kenny Adamson was substituted at the break by Scott Linton after picking up a booking and neither left-back was really tested.

The midfield area held sway in the first-half and then took over completely after the break.

Skipper Jon Robertson, who was featured on Sky Sports' Soccer AM programme on Saturday morning for his magnificent cup goal against Hibs and his dance step celebration, had a quiet first-half but came onto a game after the break.

Striker Lewis Coult got the sponsors man of the match award for a clever linking performance which saw him lay on the first goal and be pulled down for the penalty award.

Airdrie started the game positively and Donnelly was only pipped to a John Bain cross by a brave Cowan challenge.

However, Cowden gradually took over and McKenzie fired over from 16 yards and then Coult took Cusack's flick and was only denied by the outrushing Connor Fairley.

In 13 minutes Cowan's throw hoodwinked the Airdrie defence and McKenzie saw the 'keeper make a fine finger-tip save from his angled 14 yarder. Airdrie were struggling to put pressure on the Blues and in 37 minutes the home side deservedly took the lead.

Coult made ground down the right and his cross was headed home at the far post by McKENZIE.

Both teams had substitutes on for the second-half with Linton replacing Adamson, who had been booked in the first period, while Willie McLaren was subbed by John Boyle but it was Cowdenbeath who took the initiative and Cusack's low shot was deflected for a corner by Fairley but in 56 minutes it was 2-0.

Coult made ground into the Airdrie box and Fairley clipped his ankles as the striker went past him and referee Charlie Richmond pointed to the spot.

After the 'keeper was booked RAMSAY made an expert job of the spot-kick.

Ten minutes later McKenzie beat the offside trap and ran clean through but shot wide when confronted by the 'keeper before Robertson hooked just over after Coult had knocked the ball down to him.

As the Blue Brazil continued to push forward Cameron missed a good chance when finding himself with just the 'keeper to beat and then Armstrong saw a header cleared off the line by Nathan Blockley after a Linton corner.

Cowdenbeath: Flynn; Cowan, Adamson (Linton 45); Cameron, Armstrong, Mbu; McKenzie, Robertson, Ramsay (Milne 80), Coult, Cusack (Lyle 62). Subs not used, Winter and Bejaoui

Airdrie United: Fairley; Bain, Lovering; Stallard, Lilley, Lynch (Devlin 71); Stevenson (Morton 83), Blockley, Holmes, Donnelly, McLaren (Boyle 45). Subs not used, Green and Duncan.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.

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