Match Report

Sunday, 27th February, 2011

by Darren Johnstone

Falkirk 2 - 0 Cowdenbeath: Comfortable ride for Falkirk as they outgun Beath

at Falkirk Stadium

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley paid Cowdenbeath the obligatory post-match compliments after seeing his side ride to a comfortable 2-0 victory. But in truth, had the Bairns been more ruthless they could have had the match dead and buried before half-time after carving open the Blue Brazil on several occasions.

Stewart Murdoch's first-half goal was all the First Division promotion hopefuls had to show for their endeavour by the break. Ryan Flynn's 56th-minute strike secured the points on a day that title rivals Raith Rovers and Dunfermline also won.

"I actually read comments from Jimmy (Nicholl) prior to the game saying they had been working on their defending and I thought that was evident," said the Falkirk boss.

"They looked organised and were difficult to break down - it made for a difficult afternoon. I didn't think the pitch was conducive to our fast football; we showed a lot of determination to see the result out."

The Bairns were on the front foot from the off and laid siege to the visitors' goal with wave after wave of attack. The only surprise was that it took the hosts 20 minutes to find the net. Prior to the youngster Murdoch's strike, the Bairns had fashioned no fewer than five chances to break the deadlock.

Pedro Moutinho had a shot that crashed off Kenny Adamson for a corner and from the resulting set-piece, on-loan Rangers defender Ross Perry's volley was cleared off the line by Mark Ramsay. Carl Finnigan then had a close-range effort saved as the Blue Brazil's inept defending gave encouragement to the Bairns in their bid to gain the upper hand.

The visitors then somehow survived a goalmouth scramble before Tam Scobbie's delicate chip bounced the wrong side of the post.

Nicholl's side finally caved in under the incessant pressure when Murdoch created space in the box after accepting Burton O'Brien's pass, then flicked the ball into the net past David Hay.

Then Falkirk's Ryan Flynn and Murdoch both missed the target with efforts before Beath striker Archie Campbell served a reminder of the threat posed by the visitors with a 20-yard volley that bounced wide.

Moments after Beath's Joe Mbu rifled a shot inches past Robert Olejnik's upright, Falkirk finally had the two-goal cushion they craved on 56 minutes.