COWDENBEATH will be playing football in the Third Division next season after suffering a 2-1 extra-time defeat against Arbroath, which sees the Angus side go through to a final against Stranraer.
Cowdenbeath shaded the first half, the best chance
coming from Marek Tomana who had his shot tipped over the bar by Darren Hill. The Blue Brazil took the lead on 71 minutes as Arbroath defender Craig Tully struggled with a Tomana cross and substitute Paul McQuade rammed the ball over the line.
The home side then looked to defend their narrow lead but failed to do that as Roddy Black levelled for Arbroath on 83 minutes.
The match went into extra time and it was Arbroath who snatched victory five minutes from time, as Robbie Raeside glanced the ball in from the edge of the area.
Stranraer 3 Montrose 0 (Stranraer win 4-1 on aggregate)
STRANRAER and Montrose have been closely matched in the league all season, but in the end it was Derek Ferguson's side that booked their place in the play-off final with a 3-0 victory over the Gable Endies.
The first half was a cagey affair with Montrose controlling the game, although there were few real scoring chances for either side. The game came to life in the second half and it was Stranraer who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
Gregory Tade gave them the lead on 68 minutes with a powerful header and Michael Mullen seemed to have put the game out of reach ten minutes later, picking up the ball from Alex White and firing in across the face of goal.
Andy Gibson made sure of victory from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining.
The full article contains 313 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
