Raith Rovers 2 Cowdenbeath 1

Well, Cowden could not repeat last year’s 1-0 win in the same cup, as John Baird, who was the thorn in Cowden’s side in last season’s league encounters, helped himself to a double. Although Cowden looked the better side in the first half, they could not repeat the form they showed in the pre season’s matches.

It was a beautiful day, but that was not enough to attract the crowds which these games usually pull in, maybe something to do with the entrance fee? Official attendance is given as 1098, but looked well less than that.

Cowden came out in their new away kit to a chorus of when the sun shines, but within a minute into the game, Toorie Winter miss kicks, but keeper Bejaoui saves us from any danger. Cowden are looking decent on the break, but Raith are making it hard for us to break them down. Both teams’s had a few chances, but the first half finished at deadlock, 0-0.

Raith look a different side in the second half, as they dominate possession, and they take the lead through that man John Baird ten minutes into the second half, as he takes the chance to head the ball into the net at the back post from a Joe Hamill cross. It’s all Raith, and they double their advantage in 80 minutes, with Baird again, as he pounces to stroke the ball home after Hamill’s volley cannon’s of the post.

Cowden look down and out, but they slowly come back in to the match, and grab a goal with six minutes left, when Lewis Coult rises to head home a Dean Brett cross. Raith nearly added a third when Winter was short with a pass back, but the Raith striker shot wide.

So Cowden go out of the Ramsden’s cup at the first hurdle, Cowden’s attention will now turn to this Saturday’s Communities Scottish League Cup tie versus Stenhousemuir at Central, kick off 3pm.

Ramsdens Cup, First Round
Saturday 23^rd July, 2011
Starks Park, Kirkcaldy

RAITH ROVERS  (0)2    COWDENBEATH (0)1
Baird (55,80)                 Coult (83)
 Att: 1098

1   Bejaoui,
2   Brett,
3   Adamson,
4   Cameron (Miller,84),
5   Winter,
6   Mbu,
7   Morton,
8   Robertson     ,
9   Ramsay (Coult,62),
10 Stewart          ,
11 Linton (Milne,72).

Referee M. Tumilty