SFL Div 1, Central Park, 10/11/12

Yes, you did read the post’s title correctly.

It’s a win in Div 1. And at Cowdenbeath, where we haven’t won in a long time. (In the cup in 2004, but the last league win there was in 2000.)

Plus the other novelty of a clean sheet.

Into the bargain we could afford to miss a penalty. (Their keeper was given their man of the match award presumably for the penalty save as he didn’t actually have that much to do. Neither did Jamie Ewings in our goal; apart from free-kicks – at least two of which he dealt with brilliantly.)

We were worth it too. The players worked for each other, pressed the ball and gave Cowden little opportunity to create.

Not that we made many chances ourselves even though we dominated the first half. We had something like five corners one after the other at one point and hadn’t scored so I was thinking it wasn’t going to be our day but then a great move down the left saw the ball crossed over. It had seemed to miss everybody but up popped Mark Gilhaney to hit it first time sweetly into the far corner.

The second half was nerve-wracking simply because of the situation but Cowden were not allowed a clear chance.

Maybe it was actually a good thing that the penalty was missed (as were the two follow-up efforts) since that meant the lads couldn’t relax even subliminally.

The ref was okay until midway through the second half when suddenly Cowden got the benefit of every decision going including a ridiculous dive from Cowden player-manager Colin Cameron.

I had joked to Onebrow on the way to the game that it wasn’t unknown for cobbled-together back fours to keep a clean sheet but I never seriously expected that to happen today.

I know Steven McDougall provided the cross for the goal but he had a strange one in general. He ought to be capable of more but too often dribbled his way up a blind alley. His replacement Mark Lamont seems too light for the position he plays. James Creaney had a solid game at left back (but shouldn’t have allowed himself to get booked for back-chat.) Jamie Ewings was commanding in his penalty area and Jim Lister made sure Cowden’s Joe Mbu knew he was in a game. All the players deserve credit for the performance though.

The win monkey is off our back now. I’m not surprised it was in an away game as the fans are very supportive away from home. Can we keep it up at home next week?

Pity Hamilton also won today.

So. It’s Hamilton at home for us next in the Cup.

I didn’t get either of my hopes for the next round then. I had a feeling it’s been a long time since we last beat the Accies – it certainly felt that way in the early 2000s – but apparently it’s only five games.

Our overall record against them isn’t brilliant it has to be said.

SFL Div 1, The Rock, 22/9/12.

Again I wasn’t at the game and I really don’t know what to think about this.

On the one hand we came back from a goal down to lead 3-1.

On the other we lost a two goal lead. Two minutes of normal time left and two goals up – well the game should be safe. But it seems no-one knows where the added time came from.

I was watching it on teletext and thought the equaliser must have been the final score coming through. Then I started inwardly cursing.

It looks like we have to score four to win. Six games and eighteen goals lost is beyond poor.

At least we’ve shown we can score; even if the first was an own goal. (It might have taken something like that to get us off the mark again.)

And we’re not pointless.

(Winless: but not pointless.)

I don’t know if I can face going to Livi next week.