An own goal was all that prevented
Ross County from breaking their duck under Willie
McStay, having pinned Cowdenbeath to the ropes for long
spells.
Having had his debut in Dumfries
wrecked by floodlight failure on Tuesday night, striker Steven
Milne took an impressive first bow for County.
Milne was quick to make an impact
on a heavy pitch that had passed an 8.00 am inspection.
County came tearing out of the
traps with a Mark Corcoran strike deflected wide and Milne cracking
the inside of the post minutes later. Corcoran's dynamic
bursts down the left were troubling Cowdenbeath no end and a
Milne overhead kick was clutched by keeper David Hay after eight
minutes.
Cowdenbeath continued to resist the
onslaught, but there was nothing they could do on 30 minutes;
capitalising on debut man Milne's neat lay-off, Jason Marr thrashed
a spectacular shot into the corner of the net from the right hand
side of the box.
Four minutes after the break, a
great defence-splitting Stuart Kettlewell pass sent Garry Wood
clean through on the keeper, Wood unfortunately dragged
his shot wide - and it was to prove costly soon after.
On the break, Cowden's Archie
Campbell crossed from the left and County's Mark Fitzpatrick had
the misfortune of stabbing into his own net from six yards.
County looked to make
immediate amends; it took a great block from Hay at
Milne's feet to keep the scores level. McStay then shuffled
the pack bringing on attackers Michael Gardyne and Andy
Barrowman as they went in hunt of the winner.
However things could have taken a
turn for the worse when Campbell showed trickery to almost catch
County with a second sucker punch, but his swerving strike from the
18-yard line rattled the upright.
As the clock ticked County
encircled the Cowdenbeath box, with good chances
from Milne, Vigurs, Gardyne and
Barrowman all going agonisingly
close, but once again it was not to be and
The Staggies had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Attentions now turn to the visit of
Stirling on Saturday 12th February.
