CHRISTIE Gillies Park has never been a happy hunting ground for the Blue Brazil since dropping down to the Lowland League, and a heavily depleted squad went down to a narrow defeat to the Edinburgh side on Saturday, writes Andy Mullen.

Paul McLean started a two-game suspension, and was joined on the sidelines by the MacPherson brothers, Greg and Ewan, midfielder Aiden McLaughlin and forward Jamie Docherty.

Strollers had the first chance of the afternoon with just three minutes gone when Ross Clarke who fired in a shot which was saved by Josh Blair.

Minutes later a quick free-kick from Aaron Dunsmore saw Matty McDonald beaten to the ball by the advancing Freddie Owens, then with 20 minutes gone Owens made a point blank save to deny Robbie McNab.

Midway through the first-half a long range shot from Alfie Smith saw saved by Josh Blair, however, with 25 minutes gone Strollers broke the deadlock when a through ball from Josh Laing was picked up by Alieu Faye, who aimed a low angled shot into the far corner of the net.

Five minutes later Jack Denham got on the end of a free-kick into the box from the starting trialist but he headed just wide.

Then six minutes from the break McDonald sent a shot past the post following a corner, while the trialist sent a 20 yard effort just over, while on the stroke of half-time Gregor Jordan headed over from a Dunsmore free kick.

Strollers doubled their advantage ten minutes into the second-half when a corner was cleared into the path of Tom Findlay who crossed to Matty Shaw, who saw his header cleared into the path of Josh Laing, by Blair, and he slotted home from close range.

With 15 minutes to go Cowden dragged themselves back into the game when McDonald was bundled in the box by Owens and he picked himself up to fire the resulting penalty high into the top corner of the net.

As the game drew to a close sub Sean Guiney came close to an equaliser, but his header was saved by Owens.

CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS: Owens, Laing, Clarke, Bone, Shaw, McCulloch, Peter (Bushnell 79), Laird (Aluko 34), Faye, Findlay, Smith (Smith 79).

Subs not used: M Vata, L Vata, Kamanga and Wilkinson.

COWDENBEATH: Blair, Jordan, Newman, Kerr (Guiney 49), Denham, McNab, Trialist (Trialist 56), Whyte, Sutherland (Healy 62), Dunsmore (Trialist 56), McDonald. Subs not used: Hill, Trialist and Lynch.

REFEREE: Alex Shepherd.