Source: FOOTYMAD
Cowden Coach Fails To Park Pars
Dunfermline Athletic came from behind to beat Fife rivals Cowdenbeath and take over at the top of Division One. Pars 2 Blue Brazil 1It will give Dunfermline Athletic fans a chuckle when they hear Cowdenbeath were almost named Cowdenbeath Rangers when three teams in the mining town came together in 1880 to discuss amalgamation and one team to represent 'Beath.It was more like the Ballingry bus (which takes in the route Cowdenbeath to Dunfermline) than the Blue Brazil on Saturday afternoon as the underdogs from that self same former mining town decided to treat East End Park as their Theatre of Dreams. Many Blue Brazilians will tell you that in the past a win at East End has been the equivalent to Scotland winning at Wembley, whatever the outcome of the season bragging rights locally have in the past sometimes been enough.Ex-Rangers man, now Cowden boss, Jimmy Nichol seemed to take his ' coaching ' manual from Rangers at Man U the other night. Cowdenbeath started like Greyhounds out the traps but after an opening 20 minutes full of intent they disappeared down a hole like a Jack Russell chasing Rabbits, in the end it was their undoing in this historic fixture in the centre of the Kingdom.Marc McKenzie fed John Dempster in the sixth minute and his close-range shot went past Pars keeper Chris Smith to send the travelling Blue Brazil support into ecstasy, their first goal at East End Park in 17 years since Willie Callaghan scored twice to give Cowden a 2-0 win in the 'Beath's last sojourn into the First Division. The first 20-25 minutes was like the Cowden of old. Upstarts coming to their more illustrious neighbours and putting down a marker. It was shades of 1970 when a part time 'beath defeated a Pars side still playing in European competition or 1993 when an already relegated Cowden decided to come to East End and dent their neighbours promotion hopes just for the hell of it.However, playing in their yellow and green away kit Cowden suddenly forgot the traditions of the blue shirted terriers that had come to East End before them and got all Rangers at Old Trafford on us. A second goal might have stunned the Pars completely and finished the game as a contest but by the half hour mark the tactic seemed to be get out of town with a 1-0.Of course the longer the game goes on the riskier that strategy gets and Dunfermline got a leveller after 64 minutes when Joe Cardle's header found Steven Bell and he nodded home. The hosts' increasing pressure against a Cowden side now unwilling to get beyond the halfway line it would seem told when substitute Patrick Clarke's cross was converted by Cardle with 13 minutes left, a goal that would see Dunfermline overtake leaders Raith Rovers at the top of the table. Next stop for the Pars ? Appropriately Rangers in the CIS Cup looking for a first Ibrox win since the early 1970's. Some Pars players and fans were scathing of Jimmy Nic's tactics after Cowden took the lead on Saturday but for this particular cup tie they might be asking for the Northern Irishman's pre-East End Park notes.Of course, folk from Cowdenbeath will tell you they don't do buses in Dunfermline. it will have to be a Luxury Coach... especially against the Champions in midweek!Dunfermline: Chris Smith, Woods, Dowie, Higgins, McCann, Gibson, Mason (Phinn 72), Bell, Cardle, McDougall (Clarke 46), Kirk. Subs Not Used: Allison, Burke, Keddie Goals: Bell 64, Cardle 77Cowdenbeath: Hay, Baxter, Armstrong, Mbu, Adamson, Ramsay (Fairbairn 79), Winter (Sibanda 82), Cameron, Linton, Dempster (Stewart 82), McKenzie.Subs Not Used: Roy, Brett Booked: Baxter, CameronGoals: Dempster 7Attendance: 4316Referee: Charlie Richmond Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
