Cowdenbeath vs Ross County

26/01/08

SFL Division 2

Ground number 13 was Central Park, Cowdenbeath.  Another great day for us but not quite so lucky for our hosts who went down to a 4-2 defeat against Ross County thanks to two own goals in the first half an hour followed up by a defensive aneurism and a goalkeeping blunder in the second half. 

An odd sort of  game all round really – County (whose nickname, i understand from their website, is ‘the staggies’, which makes me smile for some reason) look like they’ll probably win the second division title this season but they didn’t look particularly impressive on this showing.  While they’re a big, physical team and much quicker to the ball than Cowdenbeath (cue much resigned, muttering along the lines of “well, they are a full time side” from the home supporters), i don’t recall seeing much in the way of flowing, passing football from them during this game.  In fact, neither side seemed to knock the ball around nearly so well as either Montrose or Forfar (both a division below) did during our last outing – though the pitches might have had something to do with that, i guess.  It was a horrid, wet and windy day in Cowdenbeath yesterday and i’m sure the pitch wasn’t running anywhere near as sure as Links Park’s artificial grass.

Cowdenbeath look a frustrating sort of a side.  John O’neill still looks like a player, Jay Sheils is feisty and good to watch (so long as you don’t expect him to pass the ball to his own players) and the two goals they scored were both terrific finishes.  If only they could keep the ball a bit better and not be so outrageously rubbish at the back they might be ok…

Anyway, we had a fine old time as usual.  Met up at lunchtime and took the train over to Fife where we hooked up with our guest fortytwogrounder of the day - a venerated non-executive officer of the club, no less, who was on hand to provide us unworthy liggers with a tour round the club’s boardroom (complete with real, honest to goodness trophy cabinet) before the game, not to mention a free cup of tea and french fancy at half time.  Great stuff.  We should so try this at every game – way more civilised than shivering on the terraces and spilling your tea on your shoes.  Maybe we could tell clubs we’re doing a michelin star thing on their catering departments.  Would that work?  Surely there’s got to be a way to make that work!

Anyway, more thoughts to come during the week no doubt.  In the meantime, here are some photos.  Pay especial attention to this one, which was taken literally seconds before the last goal went in – this is as close as i’ll ever come to an exciting action shot.

Here are some very dull match reports written by journalists.

And here are some much, much more interesting match reports written by people who sound like they actually care – one from the home side’s perspective and one from the away side.