Cowdenbeath reach Scottish Cup second round with Rutherglen win

BATTLING Cowdenbeath made it through to the second round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup thanks to a spirited second half performance against Rutherglen Glencairn.

The hosts, who were missing 10 players through injury and unavailability, fielded a makeshift side but they battled hard for the cause at Central Park on Saturday.

Rutherglen, who sit second in the West of Scotland Football League, First Division, moved the ball about sweetly at times, but began to struggle when Dougie Hill's men upped the pace, and found Jamie Docherty particularly hard to contain.

The forward scored twice, either side of a Riley Haston goal, and only good work from Glencairn goalkeeper, Chris White, prevented him from grabbing a hat-trick.

With limited options from the bench, two substitutions had a major impact for the Blues.

Paul McLean was introduced to play in a defensive role, allowing Matty McDonald to move forward from right-back, and the mixture of McLean’s interceptions and McDonald’s promptings going forward posed the visitors all sorts of issues.

Cowdenbeath moved into the second round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

In addition, the introduction of young striker Haston also caused problems for Glencairn, and he too could have had added to his tally.

Cowden made a fast start, taking the lead with just two minutes on the clock.

After White had fouled Daryl Healy at the edge of the penalty area, Docherty stepped up to fire home a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Rutherglen, however, responded and came close in the ninth minute when Ross Smith's curling effort glance the crossbar, but then needed White to produce a smart stop from Docherty's 18-yarder after he got beyond the away side's defence.

Blue Brazil goalkeeper, Ruaridh Lynch, was then called upon to produce a fine save from Dylan Collins' low, angled 14-yarder, before he equalised just before the half hour mark.

The home defence failed to clear a simple low cross, which allowed Collins to bundle the ball into the net from five yards out for the equaliser.

Glencairn finished the half strongly, with the diving Lynch holding Roan Fitzpatrick's low free-kick, and they made a bright start to the second half, by having a lot of possession, but failed to test the Cowden goal.

Dougie Hill's men came close to regaining the lead 10 minutes after the restart, when Olly Whyte's low shot from inside the box was saved by White, who soon afterwards made a fine, diving stop from Haston.

Dougie Hill watched his side progress and set up a meeting with The Spartans of SPFL League Two. (Image: David Wardle.)

The substitute was denied again by White, who bravely blocked his close range header on the line, but he wouldn't be denied and, in the 68th minute, found the net with a good individual finish to put Cowden back in front.

However, within four minutes, the Blue Brazil conceded a spot-kick after Collins was felled inside the box, allowing Scott Jarvie to pull Rutherglen level for a second time in the tie.

But the Blues reacted well and, in 73 minutes, a superb solo run along the bye-line by Docherty saw him clip the ball into the net, from a seemingly impossible angle, for what proved to be the winner.

There were chances at both ends thereafter, but the hosts had done enough against their tiring opponents to seal their spot in round two, and a trip to SPFL League Two The Spartans.

Cowdenbeath: Lynch; McDonald, Kerr, Denham, Jordan, Burke (Haston 55), Whyte, Fusco (McLean 46), Healy, Docherty, Newman.

Subs not used, Hill, Blair (GK).

Rutherglen Glencairn: White; Fitzpatrick (Durham 81), Meechan, Maguire, D McLaughlin, Black, Paton (McGuire 65), D McLaughlin (McManus 81), Jarvie, Collins, Smith (Connor 81).

Subs not used: Chrystal, McDougall. Referee: Ross Menzies.

Attendance: 244.