Cowdenbeath 1, Bo'ness United 2.
Lowland League
MOMENTS of slackness from the Blues opened the door for Bo'ness to win this very tight clash at Central Park on Saturday.
After the disappointing performance at East Kilbride in midweek, Cowdenbeath led at the interval by a goal in this one and it really should have been 2-0.
And they were doing pretty well at the start of the second-half, then but two moments where concentration lapsed saw the visitors latch on to opportunities to grab the lead.
Meanwhile in the closing seconds the visiting goalkeeper made an incredible save from a 20 yarder from Cowden sub, Jamie Docherty, and consigned the Blue Brazil to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions.
In the second minute back in action home skipper, Robbie McNab, sent a fine pass to Greg MacPherson and his low cross was just missed by Olly White at the far post.
Play was held up after 18 minutes when referee Andrew Craven fell heavily and needed attention before continuing, and after 22 minutes united threatened when Lucas Stenhouse sent over a dangerous cross which Smart Oadolor almost got his head to.
Then in 25 minutes Michael Travis got a 10 yard shot away which bounced off Ruaridh Lynch’s right hand post, then Ryan Porteous hit an eight yarder which Lynch held.
In 33 minutes Cowdenbeath took the lead when the United defence failed to deal with a pin-point cross and Matty McDonald clipped the ball home from eight yards out, then before the break Jack Denham was unlucky not to score following another home corner.
Referee Craven was replaced by one of his line officials at the break, while United made a double substitution at the interval, with Lewis Hawkins and Tom Grant making way for Ryan Stevenson and Louis Kennedy, and in 51 minutes Kennedy’s cross was headed narrowly over by Oadolor.
On the hour Bo'ness levelled the game. The home defence failed to mark Porteous, at a Lucas Stenhouse corner and his six-yard header gave Lynch no chance.
Then ten minutes later, the visitors went ahead. A slack pass by McNab let Kennedy get space 22 yards out and he sent a curling shot into the top left-hand corner.
With 13 minutes to go Cowden went close when a free-kick deep into the box was met by Gregor Jordan and his header was saved at the second attempt by ‘keeper Cade Melrose.
Then in the dying seconds home sub, Jamie Docherty fired in a fierce shot which Melrose somehow got a finger-tip to, to ease the ball millimetres over the bar. It kind of summed up Cowden’s luck at the moment.
Cowdenbeath: Lynch; G MacPherson, Newman, McLean, Jordan, Denham (Healy 67), Whyte, McNab, Sutherland (Docherty 80), McDonald (Haston 86), Walker.
Subs not used: Burke, Hill, Trialist, Docherty and Blair (gk).
Bo'ness United: Melrose; Hawkins (Stevenson 46), MacAulay, Duffy, Travis, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Oadolor, Porteus, Grant (Kennedy 46).
Subs not used: Gemmell, Malcolm, Henderson, McLindon and Campbell.
Attendance: 275
Referee: Andrew Craven.
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