Match Report - By John Hoey

Cowdenbeath 3 Brechin City 0

Brechin City failed in their attempt to move up two places in the Ladbrokes League One table after going down to a 3-0 defeat to Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

The home side's victory saw them increase the points gap over City to four points having played one game fewer.

Dean Brett set his side on the road to victory when he blasted home a penalty-kick in the 10th minute after player-boss Darren Dods had handled the ball in the box and two late goals from Ali El Zubaidi and Greig Spence wrapped up what was in the end a comfortable home victory.

City boss Dods made one change to the side that beat Forfar and came so close to defeating Ayr United last Saturday with Euan Smith replacing Jonathan Tiffoney who was on the bench.

The early exchanges were fairly scrappy with both sides finding it difficult to pass the ball accurately on a tricky and slippery playing surface.

However, the Fifers dramatically opened the scoring from the penalty-spot in the ninth minute. Greig Spence was fouled by David Bates midway in the City half and Spence then flighted the resultant free-kick into the City box which was inadvertently handled by player-boss Dods. Referee Alan Newlands immediately pointed to the penalty-spot and DEAN BRETT stepped up to blast the spot-kick past Graeme Smith.

The Blue Brazil pushed forward into attack and Gordon Smith fired a 25 yard drive well wide of the target five minutes later.

Andy Jackson and Isaac Layne then played a neat one-two but Layne was crowded out by the home defence and couldn't manage to get a shot in.

Brett then played a good ball wide down the left for Liam Callaghan but the far side linesman had flagged for offside. The hosts continued to threaten and Smith had to look sharp to clear the ball at the feet of Spence and the keeper was called into action seconds later when he gathered a fifteen yard drive from Kenny Adamson.

City fought back and Paul McLean glanced a header from a Willie Dyer cross well wide of the target and on the half-hour mark, Layne neatly turned his man in the box before firing a right-foot drive inches past the post. City kept up the pressure and a Jackson close-range shot was blocked by the home defence before a Layne drive was diverted for a corner.

City were pushing forward and a dangerous cross from McLean was just inches beyond the outstretched leg of Layne.

As the half drew to a close, City were continuing to exert a fair degree of pressure but they could find no way past a resolute home defence.

City came out for the second-half and immediately exerted pressure on the home defence who were having to work hard to keep the City strike-force at bay.

In the 61st minute, Ross Perry powered a header just over the bar and four minutes later skipper Craig Molloy headed what appeared to be a net-bound drive from. Past the post.

Cowden then hit back with the City defence having to concede a couple of corners in quick succession as the hosts strived to notch the decisive second goal and that goal arrived in the 75th minute. A corner was swung into the box and ALI EL ZUBAIDI rose above the City defence to power a header past Smith.

That goal spurred the hosts on and they should have made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute when a superb drive from Callaghan came back off the bar before being cleared but Cowden made sure of the points right at the death when they broke quickly from defence I tot attack with Craig Mohnston having time and space to lay the ball on for GREIG SPENCE who blasted a low drive into the net.

Other Results - Ladbrokes League One

Airdrieonians 0 Dunfermline Athletic 2

Pars Too Strong For Diamonds

Ayr United 1 Albion Rovers 0

One Goal Enough For Honest Men

Stenhousemuir 2 Forfar Athletic 2

Warriors And Loons Share Four Goals