A Son of the Rock

Central Park, 10/1/09

Well, that was depressing.
From being unbeaten away we suddenly can’t win, or even draw.
As someone near me at the end said, “They’re a bit less pish than us,” but I still thought they were a better Cowdenbeath side than the last time we played there, in the CIS last season. They were sharper on the ball, more composed.

I must be getting old; I sat in the stand because I didn’t want to endure the uncovered terracing in a downpour. But I still got wet because the roof doesn’t protect the first six rows. The conditions were atrocious; wind and rain, crappy pitch. When it’s like that there’s no sense trying to play football but we always do.

We had one attempt on goal all game. The chance fell to Mark Canning and he screwed it wide. Keegan ought to have bundled in an equaliser but tried to play it with his feet instead. He’s a hold-up striker who can’t hold the ball up and does not have a striker’s instincts.

Cowden had few chances as well. They created nothing inside the box. With the aid of a one-two their left back waltzed from his own half as if our midfield wasn’t there (which, to be fair, it wasn’t) to hit a long shot for the first goal. Mike Dunlop then committed a last man challenge and got sent off, putting the game beyond us. He’d already been booked so should have left the guy. As it was he got a straight red. Cowden didn’t have to push for a goal second half and we created nothing. After a mix-up in our defence their second was a long-range effort as well. Perhaps we should try that, especially with the wind behind us.

Kieran McAnespie, while solid enough, didn’t look like the answer to our midfield problems; the trialist left back didn’t have as good a debut as wee Craigie had in his first game (Ah, I remember it well) but didn’t do much wrong (and may even have a decent throw-in!) Ben Gordon did put a foot wrong but still looked class. Stevie Murray didn’t impact on the game at all. Derek Carcary when he came on rummled them up a bit with his pace but didn’t get enough service.

The ref had a good game up until the last five minutes when he became a homer. Not that it mattered, except for Mark Canning’s booking which wouldn’t have happened if we’d been given the foul we ought to have had a few seconds before.

At least we’re still in the top four.