Cowdenbeath 1 Caledonian Braves 1

COWDENBEATH left it late but secured a fourth draw in seven matches by picking up a point against high-flying Caledonian Braves on Saturday.

With three minutes to go, Jamie Docherty's spot-kick cancelled out Ross McNeill's first half header for the fourth-top visitors, leaving the Blue Brazil with seven points from their games played so far.

It was another home encounter that was dominated by a strong wind, and Dougie Hill's side saw plenty of the ball with the gale behind them in the second period, but it was only in the closing moments of the game that they really used it well.

After pulling themselves level, they came close to snatching all three points in the last seconds.

The Blue Brazil had to work hard in the first period as Braves used the wind to their advantage, but the goal conceded by the Blues before the interval was self-inflicted damage.

In the second period it was all Cowdenbeath, but too often their set pieces lacked accuracy as a host of corners and free-kicks failed to produce a goal, before they ramped up their game as the seconds ran down and found an equaliser.

The woodwork came to Cowden’s rescue in the second minute, when a wind assisted cross from Jack Brown came off Jack Denham’s head and glanced Josh Blair’s right-hand post, before the hosts had opportunities.

Docherty, in the ninth minute, set up Robbie McNab and his shot was blocked, before the former then made a good run two minutes later and sent a drive inches wide of the post.

Aaron Dunsmore made a good run down the right and Docherty latched on to his cross, but the ball drifted a yard wide, before the visitors took a 33rd minute lead.

A mistake by Ethan Kerr saw the ball given away cheaply. It was switched into the middle, where McNeill was unmarked and he headed low into the net.

Braves threatened again before the interval, with a volley from Reghan McLaren that flew just over the home bar, and early in the second period, Kian Speirs sent a shot just too high.

The visitors opened the second period against the wind and, at the other end, Cowden sub, Daryl Healy, saw a low, angled effort well saved by Bernie White.

Skipper McNab headed over from just six yards out from a Docherty cross just after the hour mark and, late on, Blues keeper Blair did well to smother from McNeill following a mistake from Dunsmore.

Hill's men, though, continued to push for a leveller, and came close when McNab's 25-yard free-kick brought out a fine save from Whyte. 

They were awarded a spot-kick moments later when Olly Whyte was pulled down in the Braves' box by Robbie Stewart, and Docherty converted.

In time added on, Docherty almost grabbed the winner when a fine run saw him fire an angled drive that flew inches wide, but the points were shared.

Cowdenbeath: Blair; Dunsmore, Kerr (Walker 55), McLean, Denham, McNab, Whyte, Burke, Sutherland (Healy 55), Docherty, Newman. Subs not used, Hill, Jordan, Trialist, Guiney and Lynch (gk).

Caledonian Braves: White: Brown, Stewart, Guthrie, Martins, Gkekga, McNeill (Murray 77), Breadner, McDowell, McLaren, Speirs. Subs not used, McLaren, McCartney, Gemmell, McArthur and King (gk) Referee: Stuart Broadfoot.