Cowdenbeath
1
Brechin City
0
Match Report - By Steven Mew
BRECHIN'S fans and players must be wondering just what the club has to do to get a few wins under their belt after they were edged out of another match in which they dominated proceedings.
Brechin enjoyed the lion's share of the possession on Saturday but could not find the killer edge up front, and were made to pay in the second half when Martin McBride nodded home on the break.
The defeat was another blow for City, who have played much better than their miserly points tally would suggest but have simply been unable to break their run of bad luck.
And Saturday's narrow reverse leaves them with a seven point gap between themselves and eighth place and guaranteed safety in division two.
Manger Michael O'Neill is understandably frustrated by the loss.
"We dominated the game. For 80% we were on top and we were well on top," he said.
"We played good football but lacked that edge in the last third and its typical in most games that the team who scores first goes on to win and we're not doing that - we're not scoring first in enough games.
"Saturday was a good example of us being caught cold on the break and it was a good goal from their point of view. But considering how much we were on top, the players are gutted about it.
"In terms of effort and commitment though there was everything we could have asked for, we just need to turn it into league results," he added.
Saturday's trip to Cowdenbeath began with the hosts missing no fewer than six regular players.
In the first 45 both sides had chances to go ahead.
For the hosts these came courtesy of a couple of efforts by Stephen McConologue and a disallowed Pat Clarke goal.
The visitors meanwhile, went close thanks to a fiery shot from Kevin Byers and an opportunity for Darren Gribben, which he couldn't convert despite having only the goalie to beat.
Then midway through the second half Cowdenbeath struck the killer blow.
On 62 minutes Blue Brazil boss Brian Welsh brought on Chris Anton for John O'Neil. And Anton was instrumental in breaking the deadlock two minutes later when he picked up the ball on the right and fired over a cross which McBride glanced home.
Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division
Airdrie United 0 Ross County 1
Dene Shields grabs the winner for County.
Alloa Athletic 2 Ayr United 1
Alloa continue their recent good form.
Berwick Rangers 1 Peterhead 2
Berwick still rooted to the bottom.
Raith Rovers 0 Queen's Park 2
Big result for Queens as they pull away from 9th place.