East Kilbride 8 Cowdenbeath 3, Lowland League

COWDENBEATH crashed to a second successive defeat as East Kilbride struck eight times to claim an emphatic three points last night (Wednesday).

The Blue Brazil headed to K-Park for the Lowland League clash on the back of a three-goal defeat to St Cadoc's in the South Challenge Cup, but found no solace against Mick Kennedy's promotion chasers.

Dougie Hill was again short of numbers, with four first team regulars missing, and the hosts took advantage to go in search of goals from the start.

The dangerous John Robertson fired them ahead in the opening minutes, and Cowden were struggling soon after when Jack Leitch doubled the Kilby's advantage.

Although the Blues kept at it, and created chances, they failed to provide the necessary finish and, five minutes from the break, Cami Elliott put East Kilbride three goals up.

Then, in a goal-laden second half which saw the ball hit the net on eight more occasions, Robertson converted a penalty three minutes after the restart to make it 4-0.

Greg MacPherson then pulled one back for Cowdenbeath, but that seemed to encouraged Kilby to turn up the heat.

Regan Minmaugh, Nathan Flanagan's double, and Steven Boyd took their tally to eight, but Cowden did add to more goals of their own, through substitutes Rhys Walker and Jake Sutherland.

The result leaves East Kilbride second, one point behind leaders Caledonian Braves, whilst the Blue Brazil sit 14th, with 11 points from 12 games, and are five points and four places above bottom side, Broomhill.